Get ready to read about Narendhar Sunkisala’s b-school adventure at London Business School’s Sloan Masters in Leadership & Strategy Program – here and on his blog

Accepted: First, can you tell us about yourself: Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad?

Narendhar: I was born and brought up in Godavarikhani, a small town located in Andhra Pradesh, India. I completed my Bachelors in Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh, India) in the year June 2000. Over the last 12 years I worked extensively in the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Industry in diverse roles across the globe.

I enjoy traveling, reading, playing tennis, cycling, cooking and lately blogging.

Accepted: Why did you choose to attend London’s Sloan Fellows Program? (In other words, why pursue the degree and why London?)

Narendhar: Management is what I liked inherently ever since I was in college. In 2008, after gaining some work experience, I started researching for a 1 year management program. I first heard about the Sloan Masters at London Business School (LBS) when one of my ex-managers joined this program. After doing a lot of research about Sloan Program, I decided that Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy at LBS is the ideal program for me for the following reasons:

• Curriculum fit with my objectives: This program has several courses that would enable me to realize my career goals.
• Class maturity: Sloan students at LBS come with an average of 16 years’ experience and are already accomplished professionals in their industry.
• School credentials: LBS has been consistently ranked among the top b-schools in the world.
• Value for money: The fee at LBS is the lowest of all three Sloan programs offered worldwide at LBS, MIT Sloan and Stanford.

Accepted: What is your current job? Do you plan on continuing in that industry/function after you receive your Sloan MSc or switching careers?

Narendhar: I am currently working as a Principal in Telecom Practice based out of Melbourne with Infosys Limited, Australia. I work in consulting roles with telecom service providers in the Australia and New Zealand region.

Consulting and Product Strategy are two key functions I worked in all through my career. Post Sloan program, I would like to continue in the same industry and would like to transition into leadership roles in strategy in IT Product/Telecom companies.

Accepted: It looks like you’ve lived/worked/studied all over the world. Where do you think you’ll end up long-term, or do you plan on continuing to globe-trot?

Narendhar: Travel is something that I enjoy personally as it gives opportunities to meet new people, visit new places and experience different cultures.

However I am more keen about the role I would get than the geography. I would like to get into a role where I can apply the skills acquired during the program. In the long term I would like to settle in India.

Accepted: As a successful applicant to a top program, you must have some good admissions advice. What would you say are your top three tips for Sloan MSc or MBA applicants?

Narendhar: In my opinion, applicants have to spend quality time on the following (assuming GMAT is done at this stage):

1. First jot down your career goals. Think objectively to see if an MBA program will help you get there. This clarity is important for sustained motivation.
2. Find a school/program that helps you achieve your goals. Do thorough research on school websites (course details, faculty, class profile, career reports, research centers etc), attend information sessions, and talk to admissions officers, current students and alumni.
3. Be honest and accurate in your essays. It is important to demonstrate that you bring in a breadth of experience and quote relevant examples from different projects/instances spanning your entire career.

Accepted: Why did you decide to blog about your experience?

Narendhar: When I started my application process for Sloan, the primary source of information was the school website. I wanted to get more insight into the actual student experiences right from the application stage to what goes on during the 1 year at school. While I could find a few articles here and there, I could not find everything at one place. The idea of this blog is to share the information, resources combined with my experiences with prospective students.

I am glad that a lot of prospective students are finding this blog informative and useful. As of today this blog is followed by readers across 48 countries.

I also do career counseling as a hobby. I am providing a starting point to prospective students through this blog.

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com’s blog, Accepted Admissions Blog? If you want to share your MBA/EMBA journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.







Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

A companion student exit survey, the 2013 Global Management Education Graduate Survey, shows that similar to last year, six in 10 business school graduates already had job offers in February or March. The annual employer and graduate surveys, looking at the current employment outlook from both sides of the market, were released Tuesday by GMAC.

The 2013 Corporate Recruiters Survey of 935 employers around the world finds 75 percent plan to hire MBAs, up from 71 percent that hired MBAs in 2012. The proportion of employers planning to hire other types of business school graduates is up from last year for master in management, master of accounting, master of finance, as well as other specialized business master’s.

Both surveys show a healthier job market for business school graduates from five years ago, when just 50 percent of corporate recruiters planned to hire MBAs and 43 percent of class of 2009 graduates surveyed had early job offers.

“These results positively answer many of the primary questions MBA candidates ask about the opportunities an MBA degree may present to them, by not only confirming the value of the MBA degree in today’s dynamic job market, but also clearly illustrating the industries in which it might currently best be leveraged,” says Mark Peterson, president of the MBA Career Services Council.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Here’s a talk with Jenna Lee, a soon-to-be graduate of NYU Stern. Jenna talks about her b-school experience, and offers some important advice about planning ahead when applying to b-school. Thank you Jenna for sharing with us!

This interview is the latest in an Accepted.com blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Accepted: First, some basics: Where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate? Do you hold any other degrees?

Jenna: I am originally from Seoul (Gangnam), S. Korea, but was educated and worked mostly in the U.S. I studied engineering in undergrad. Before returning to b-school, I also studied economics and accounting at Harvard.

Accepted: What year are you in your MBA studies?

Jenna: 2.5 year – I began my Stern MBA as a part-time student under employer sponsorship (weekend commutes between Boston and NYC); eventually, I relocated to New York and took courses on a full-time basis. (Note: you cannot formally join the full-time core but can accelerate progress in special circumstances with permission.)

Accepted: Why did you choose NYU Stern? Which other programs had you considered?

Jenna: It was one of the few part-time programs offered by top business schools and within a commute distance from Boston. I also considered Chicago Booth, but the commute option was limited (flight only).

Accepted: Are you currently working? How do you juggle your job with school obligations (not to mention other obligations…)?

Jenna: I finished my coursework in February and am working full-time for TechStars, a premier seed stage Venture Capital/Accelerator. I help our portfolios companies in all facets of early stage company building – strategy, branding, investor pitch, customer acquisition, market research, hiring, and connecting with investors/domain experts/business partners.

Accepted: Can you share some application tips for our NYU Stern applicants (or applicants in general)?

Jenna: Plan ahead – Know where you stand against competition and build additional credentials or experience as necessary. Get the GMAT out of your way ASAP. Reflect deeply on why you want to pursue an MBA, now, and at [Stern]. Your answers should be very specific and personal.

Accepted: What one piece of advice would you give to incoming NYU Stern students?

Jenna: Know what you want to get out of the program beforehand. It will help you focus, prioritize (a.k.a. keep your sanity), and ultimately, reach you post-MBA goal. And make sure to play hard too!

For one-on-one guidance on your b-school application, please see our MBA Application Packages.

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com’s blog, Accepted Admissions Blog? If you want to share your MBA/EMBA journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.






Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

James (Jim) W. Dean Jr.

Chancellor Holden Thorp and Chancellor-Elect Carol Folt announced Dean’s appointment, effective July 1, in an email to the campus community on May 23.

Dean was appointed as Kenan-Flagler’s dean in 2008. Thorp said Dean had successfully positioned Kenan-Flagler as a leading global business school that is a valued member of the campus community and a major contributor to the welfare of North Carolina, the nation and the world.

In a news release, Folt called Dean an “accomplished scholar and outstanding educator” who is widely respected for his “visionary leadership” and “interdisciplinary approaches he takes to ensure excellence in research, education and public service.”

“As the chief academic officer, his deep knowledge of university strengths across schools and commitment to providing an outstanding education for our undergraduate, graduate and professional students will assist me in engaging the entire community in building a bright future,” Folt said.

An interim dean will be announced later, along with plans for a search committee to find Dean’s successor.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

photo courtesy of Indiana University

Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business has announced that Idalene “Idie” Kesner will head the school as its next dean, pending approval by the IU Board of Trustees.

Kesner, who becomes the first woman to lead the business school, has served as interim dean since October 2012. She succeeds Dan Smith, who left after a seven-year tenure as dean to become president of the IU Foundation.

She joined the Kelley School faculty in 1995, coming from a titled faculty position at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“Being selected as the dean of the Kelley School is an honor of a lifetime for me,” Kesner said. “As a graduate of the school, I can say with certainty that the successes I have had throughout my career are attributable to the great education and countless opportunities afforded to me by the Kelley School and its alumni network of nearly 100,000 living alums.”

Kesner received both her MBA and Ph.D. in business administration from IU; her doctorate was awarded in 1983. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University in 1979. Kesner has repeatedly been recognized for her teaching, winning 24 teaching awards during her career. Most recently, in 2012, she won a teaching award from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, which has a joint MBA Program with the Kelley School.

She has taught in more than 100 executive programs and served as a consultant for many different national and international firms working on strategic issues. Her research has focused on the areas of corporate board of directors, chief executive succession, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions.

“Many of the school’s most prestigious programs, such as our full-time MBA program and department of management entrepreneurship, have Idie’s clear imprint on them, and her passion for IU and the Kelley School are unmatched,” said Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie in a statement announcing the news.

“I am confident that, under her leadership, the Kelley School will build on the outstanding legacy left by former dean and current IU Foundation President Dan Smith and continue to be home to some of the finest business educators, scholars and students anywhere.”
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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

The third annual competition, hosted and organized by Kellogg and INSEAD, challenged graduate students to propose and defend a sustainable investment strategy that supports progress on global impact issues. Twelve finalist teams presented their proposals to a panel of judges, including experienced officers and investors of family foundations, pension funds and university endowments.

Innovation in Healthcare

The winning team, Outcomes Innovation Capital, included Kellogg students William “BJ” Bronston, Rebecca Johnson, Ratula “Milly” Shome and Nikki Tyler. The team won first place for their outcomes-based security to address the diabetes epidemic in the United States.

“Our team is thrilled at the support we have received regarding the outcomes-based security we developed,” said Tyler, speaking on behalf of the team. “We are excited by both its financial and social potential and look forward to continuing its development in the future.”

The team will receive $10,000. The overall runner up, Thammasat Business School from Thailand, was recognized for EThree Fund and will receive $5,000.

High Performance, High Reward

“This challenge provides a platform for graduate students to create and pitch high-performance, high-reward and high-impact investment strategies to prospective institutional investors,” said Jamie Jones, director of social entrepreneurship at Kellogg.

“Once again, the judges were impressed by the innovative and displays of financial creativity exhibited by the finalists on topics like flexible farm financing, medical education loan models, and funds to address urban food deserts.”

The International Impact Investing Challenge is supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, World Bank Institute, Morgan Stanley, McCall Foundation, Milken Institute, Equilibrium Capital Group, and Impact Assets.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Here’s a talk with Tom, a SoFi scholar and current student at Columbia Business School. Tom is a U.S. Army veteran who loves b-school so much, that’s he’s trying to extend his education and stay for another year! Read on for some excellent advice about applying to Columbia (or to b-school in general). Thanks Tom!

Accepted: Let’s start by getting some background info: Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad?

Tom: I’m from the Bay Area in California (Newark) and went to the military academy at West Point for undergrad.

Accepted: How did your experience in the U.S. Army lead to you wanting to pursue an MBA?

Tom: I helped with development and created jobs by hiring local nationals in Afghanistan during one of my deployments. I guess that planted the seed. I was involved with the basics of monitoring cash flows, reviewing business agreements, and negotiating contracts—albeit in more simplistic, yet arduous conditions than the confines of graduate school. I also enjoyed managing people, resources, and projects. If I wanted to leave the Army and continue to do those things without taking too much of a step backwards in my career, then an MBA was crucial.

Accepted: Was the transition from military life to student life difficult?

Tom: I don’t think I had a difficult time with the transition. I fully embraced being a civilian and tried not to compare the new environment with the one in the past. Military life and civilian life is completely different—I think those who struggle with the transition often forget about that and want to resist the change as much as they can. I also laid out the foundations of my transition by being proactive with networking and reaching out to various mentors who were more than willing to help me along the way. Months before transition, I did everything I could to prepare myself for what laid ahead. It was like training for a marathon. Transition is a total mental and physical process that requires the same level of devotion.

Accepted: Can you tell us about your experience with SoFi? How did you find the organization? How have they helped you in your b-school journey?

Tom: A fellow veteran & friend of mine recommended that I check out the company. He knew I was interested in working in technology and in the startup scene. I researched SoFi and was amazed by how they were turning an inefficient and antiquated model upside-down. I got excited and after a few phone calls and e-mails, was able to help them out as a MBA student ambassador here at Columbia Business School. They’ve been so great to work with and it’s a model that I’m completely confident in—so much so that I took out a loan through them as soon as I could. This past December, they even hosted a few students at Columbia during an education-startup networking event. It was a great turnout and really started generating the conversation about disrupting outdated models and looking into working either within the social impacting sectors or with startups.

Accepted: What do you plan on doing once you receive your MBA?

Tom: Try to see if I can extend my MBA for another year .

Accepted: What was your admissions experience like as an “older” applicant? And what is your current experience like as an older student?

Tom: I don’t necessarily feel different as an older candidate. I think we reference old as being more experienced, but younger candidates/students can have or bring the same amount of experience as older ones. I know there’s a perception that older candidates will have a harder time being accepted into business school. I can’t say definitively that statement is true. But if you have relevant experience under your belt and understand your projected career demographics, age shouldn’t be an issue. If you see that it is, then you need to re-evaluate whether business school is the right thing to do based on your timeline (specifically for career changers).

Accepted: What is your favorite thing about Columbia Business School? Least favorite thing?

Tom: The people are amazing, bar none. As a veteran who puts a high standard on personal relationships like those established in the military, Columbia has exceeded my expectations. Whoever said Columbia students are cut-throat clearly never set foot on the campus here. Also, location, location, location! I can see a Broadway play on a random Wednesday night, have sushi delivered to my door in 15 minutes, or jog in Central Park. Plus, it’s pretty cool to say that you live in New York City! Least Favorite—Too many options, not enough time to do them all.

Accepted: Can you share some admissions advice for applicants who may be applying to Columbia Business School (or general advice)?

Tom: Start early! The MBA application process is a journey in itself as you reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, career goals, and personal motivations. Second, schedule on your calendar—literally—an hour or two daily, weekly, or whatever to work on your application. You’ll tend to do it if it’s actually blocked off instead of just mentally telling yourself you’ll do it. Third, Columbia has a rolling admissions policy—it’s always better to submit your application in early rather than at deadlines. Plus, nothing’s better than to have your admission’s decision in before the holiday season rolls around.

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com’s blog, Accepted Admissions Blog? If you want to share your MBA/EMBA journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

In his honor, one of the new buildings will be named the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Business Innovation. “Columbia Business School has its finger on the pulse of the changing nature of business education,” Perelman stated in a press release, adding, “The School’s commitment to developing transformative business thinkers is unparalleled, and I am pleased to pledge this gift to help them prepare the next generation of global business leaders.”

To get some professional advice on your MBA applications or the business school admissions process, contact mbaMission for a free 30-minute consultation at www.mbamission.com/consult.php.

The MBAT started with six participating business schools in 1991, and is set against the backdrop of HEC Paris’s 300-acre wooded campus. This year, a Harvard football team will compete with 14 top European business schools as part of the three-day sporting competition which will involve over 1,500 MBA students of 70 nationalities.

Sporting events range from rowing and basketball to chess and tug-of-war.  This 23rd edition, which will take place from May 9-12th, will also include salsa dancing, karting and poker.

Hosted and organized by HEC Paris’s MBA students, the MBAT provides business school students with the chance to network with other students and alumni from across the globe, develop their team-working abilities and, of course, take home a little sporting glory. There are also themed evening events such as a casino night, and a mini Woodstock to give competitors the opportunity to unwind and make new friends.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Harvard Business School students to this year’s tournament,” says MBAT co-organizer Emilie Flanagan. “The MBAT is the largest gathering of MBA students at a single event in Europe, and as Harvard’s involvement confirms, its popularity continues to grow”.

Participating schools include:

• University of Cambridge Judge Business School
• Cranfield University School of Management
• Harvard Business School
• IE Business School
• INSEAD
• London Business School
• Manchester Business School
• University of Oxford Said Business School
• RSM Erasmus University
• TiasNimbas Business School
• ESADE Business School
• IESE Business School
• Lancaster University Management School
• HEC Paris

For the organizers, creating the event has been a valuable experience. Flanagan says, “Working on a project like the MBAT has been a lesson to us all in building effective leadership skills, time management and strategy, as we’ve had to work as a team communicating with people all around the world as well as being faced with the challenge of putting this event together alongside our studies. It’s been a challenging but rewarding experience, and I’m looking forward to seeing the event come together in a few weeks’ time.”

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

In collaboration with the office of full-time admissions and the Chicago Women in Business Alumnae Network, or CWIBAN, these events are hosted by graduates who open up their homes or host events at local hot spots, explains Joanne Legler, associate director of admissions, on the Booth Insider blog.

Whether large venues or intimate gatherings, the goal of these events is to give prospective and incoming female students a chance to speak to women who have thrived while at Booth, she explains.

“Many women are just starting their MBA research, and what better way to jump start your deep dive into all that Booth has to offer with a small event hosted by those that have already been there/conquered that?” says Legler.

For recent admits, she adds that this is the perfect opportunity to meet your future Booth network, as well as share your wisdom with applicants who are right where you were just a few short months ago.

Women’s Week 2013 will be held May 4th through 22nd in cities around the world, including Chicago, London, New York, and Singapore, among others. RSVP for an event near you today.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.