ESSEC MBA Essay Prompts & Writing Guide 2025–2026

This essay is your chance to demonstrate genuine alignment between your career aspirations and ESSEC's distinctive model of responsible leadership in a hyper-connected world. You have substantial space (5,000 characters), so use it strategically to move beyond generic MBA motivations. Start by anchoring your response in a specific professional or intellectual moment that clarified why an MBA is necessary right now, not just eventually. Rather than saying "I want to develop business skills," describe a concrete situation where you realized a gap in your knowledge or network: perhaps you led a project but lacked financial acumen, or you identified an industry trend that demands digital literacy you don't possess. ESSEC readers want to see self-awareness and intentionality about timing.

When making the case for ESSEC specifically, do your homework on the program's three defining pillars: digital leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, and strategic sustainability. Many applicants mention that ESSEC is prestigious or has a global network, but these details apply to dozens of schools. Instead, show that you have studied ESSEC's reimagined curriculum, its boutique cohort model (roughly 80 to 120 students per year), and its Jesuit heritage which translates into a humanistic approach to business. Reference specific elements such as the "Towards Responsible Innovation" consulting mission, the career learning labs in your target industry (luxury, finance, consulting, or product management), or the opportunity to study in multiple geographies. If a particular elective cluster in sustainability or digital business resonates with your goals, name it. Specificity signals that you are not recycling the same essay for every application.

Remember that ESSEC values candidates who demonstrate they understand themselves. Show how your professional background, academic trajectory, or personal values align with ESSEC's commitment to creating innovative and responsible global leaders. If you have international experience or exposure, highlight it; ESSEC actively shapes cohorts with diverse cultural perspectives and expects participants to thrive in multicultural team settings. Finally, avoid hedging language or overstating your certainty about five-year plans. ESSEC acknowledges that your career goals will evolve during the program, so focus instead on demonstrating that you have thought seriously about your direction and can articulate why ESSEC's specific learning environment and resources will accelerate your progress. This is not a box to check; it is your opportunity to show that you have chosen ESSEC thoughtfully and that you would be a contributor, not just a consumer, of the program.

ESSEC is looking for candidates who demonstrate not just ambition, but a commitment to responsible leadership, innovation, and creating meaningful impact in a globally connected world. This essay is your opportunity to show the admissions committee that you have seriously reflected on your trajectory and can articulate a path that aligns with ESSEC's core pillars: sustainability, digital transformation, responsible leadership, and entrepreneurship. Your career goals should feel grounded in your past experience while also showing intellectual rigor and strategic thinking about where you want to lead.

For your immediate post-MBA role, be specific about the function, industry, company type, and geography in a way that demonstrates you understand both the market and your own strengths. Rather than saying "I want to work in consulting," explain why that function leverages your background and what you hope to accomplish in those first 2-3 years. Name specific companies or company types (e.g., multinational tech firms focused on AI and ESG, scaling fintech disruptors in Southeast Asia, sustainable fashion brands headquartered in Europe). Reference a geographic region and explain why it matters to your goals. Is it because of market growth, regulatory innovation in sustainability, or a chance to serve an emerging market? This specificity signals to ESSEC that you have done your homework and can articulate a realistic next step. If your goal involves a sector or role that ESSEC emphasizes (such as digital leadership, sustainability-focused finance, or social entrepreneurship), flag that connection explicitly. For instance, if you aim for a product manager role at a sustainability-focused startup in Asia, mention how ESSEC's focus on digital innovation and ESG aligns with the skill set you'll need to succeed.

Your medium-term and long-term goals should follow a logical progression that feels credible given your starting point. Think in terms of 5-10 years ahead and paint a picture of the leadership level and scope of impact you want to achieve. Perhaps you move from a product manager role into a VP of Product role with P&L responsibility; or you transition from a finance function into a chief sustainability officer position; or you build experience in corporate strategy before launching your own venture. The admissions committee wants to see that you understand career ladders and can articulate how you will grow your impact and influence over time. What problems do you want to solve at scale? Which industries or regions matter most to you, and why? Be honest about your evolution of thinking, but also show conviction. ESSEC particularly values candidates whose long-term vision connects to the school's emphasis on innovation and responsible business practice. If you ultimately want to drive sustainability transformation in an industry, lead digital innovation in emerging markets, or build a social enterprise, say it clearly and show how those later stages build logically on your near-term roles.

Throughout this essay, the strongest approach is to weave together your past professional achievements with your future ambitions, showing how each builds on the last. Reference specific accomplishments that demonstrate competencies you will need in your target role (project leadership, P&L management, cross-functional collaboration, innovation). Finally, while ESSEC does not explicitly require you to state how the program will help you achieve these goals in this particular essay, keep in mind that the admissions committee sees your career goals as evidence of seriousness and fit. Avoid overly vague language, clichéd ambitions (e.g., "I want to make a difference"), or goals that lack clear connection to your background. Your career narrative should convince the reader that you know who you are, where you are going, and why the MBA is a logical and necessary step in that journey.

This optional essay is genuinely optional, but with a strategic caveat. With 5,000 characters (roughly 800-900 words) at your disposal, ESSEC is giving you significant latitude to strengthen your candidacy if there is something worth saying. The key is to write only if you have something that meaningfully adds to the complete picture the admissions committee needs to evaluate you. If your required essays and application materials already paint a cohesive, compelling story with no gaps or unaddressed questions, you may choose to skip this essay without penalty. However, if there is an opportunity to deepen the committee's understanding of who you are or to clarify something they need to know, this is your chance to do so strategically.

You should absolutely write this optional essay if any of the following apply to your profile: you have an academic weakness (low GPA, a failed course, or subject gaps in quantitative areas) that requires context; you have employment gaps or an unexplained career transition that might raise questions; your GMAT or standardized test score is below ESSEC's average and does not reflect your true analytical capability; you are reapplying and need to demonstrate how your profile has strengthened; or you hold an unconventional or notably junior recommender. Beyond addressing weaknesses, you can also use this space to highlight a significant achievement, leadership role, community contribution, or unique aspect of your background that was not explored in your mandatory essays. Given ESSEC's deep commitment to responsible leadership, innovation, and humanistic values, you could use this essay to elaborate on a project, volunteer initiative, or professional accomplishment that demonstrates your alignment with these core pillars (especially if it showcases sustainability, ESG considerations, ethical leadership, or inclusive decision-making).

When you do write, be factual and concise. Do not waste space on excuses or emotional explanations for weaknesses; instead, state the context clearly, take responsibility where appropriate, and then focus on what you learned and how you have since grown or improved. For example, if you faced a personal challenge that affected your undergraduate GPA, explain it briefly, then show concrete steps you took to rebuild your academic strength or develop critical skills elsewhere (coursework you completed, certifications earned, analytical projects you led at work). If you are addressing a resume gap, explain what you did during that period that demonstrates resilience, reflection, or new skill-building. ESSEC's admissions team values self-awareness and evidence of growth over defensiveness. Make your response tight, well-organized, and focused on one clear thread; do not try to pack multiple unrelated topics into this space or repeat content from your other essays. Avoid the trap of using this essay to re-pitch why you want ESSEC or to simply add another achievement story that could have fit elsewhere. Instead, treat this essay as a targeted addition that bridges a specific gap or illuminates an important dimension of your candidacy that remains unexplored.

In terms of competitiveness, submitting a well-crafted optional essay that adds meaningful value will strengthen your application and signal diligence and self-awareness to the committee. However, many competitive applicants have pristine applications with no gaps to address, and they choose not to write one, which is entirely acceptable. The decision ultimately depends on your profile. If you have nothing significant to clarify or add that is not already powerfully present in your other materials, leaving the optional essay blank is strategically sound and shows respect for the admissions readers' time. Write if you have something important to contribute; otherwise, let your strong core application speak for itself.