Advice to get into GSB/HBS

Question

I am a 25-year-old Indian male currently pursuing a Master’s in Financial Analysis (MFA) at London Business School. Before joining LBS, I worked for a year as an Investment Banking Analyst at a middle-market investment bank in Mumbai, India.

I have three potential career pathways ahead of me:
 1. Bulge Bracket Investment Bank → Transition to a high-growth startup (Chief of Staff role) → HBS/GSB

2. Strategy & M&A at an Indian Aerospace & Defence Manufacturer → Move to a Defence Tech startup → HBS/GSB

3. Strategy & M&A at an Indian Green Energy Manufacturer → Join a high-growth Green Energy startup → HBS/GSB

4. Tier 1/Tier 2 Consulting → Chief of Staff at a startup → HBS/GSB

Given my background and the fact that LBS is arguably the top business school outside the U.S., which of these pathways would best position me for admission to HBS or GSB?

MBADecoder · Answer

What I understand is- you have given two job roles after your MFA course, followed by the MBA plan. I think its a lot of future planning and you don't know whether the second job change will work out or not. So let's stick with the immediate post MFA career path, where you have 3 options: BB, defence manufacturer, Energy manufacturer- all 3 options are in an M&A role Firstly, do you have offers from these firms or is this only planning? The BB IB career path is tried and tested and you cant go wrong in that. Regarding the other two - it depends on how big these companies are, how stable would your job be, how much M&A activity are they doing and what would your role be? Both are growing sectors in India, but the companies that you wish to join - are they known players in this space? Defence deals are huge and you can get great exposure so it can be an exciting opportunity, but you'd not want to work in a company that is riddled with bureaucracy or is a promoter-tight-controlled business. Just saw the fourth option- consulting and I find that least exciting. Namita Garg, Founder, MBA Decoder Email: contact@mbadecoder.com Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation : https://mbadecoder.com/services/free-pr ... valuation/ Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

dhoffamerasia · Answer

You have a strong foundation with your LBS MFA and Investment Banking experience, and it’s great to see that you’re already thinking strategically about your long-term pathway to HBS/GSB. The clients I've worked with in the past who start this process a year or two in advance always seem to do well in the admission process.

Each of the four pathways you outlined has the potential to position you well for these top MBA programs. However, the key to maximizing your chances will lie in differentiation, leadership impact, and alignment of your personal narrative with what I call the DNA of the MBA programs you decide to target. Here’s how I see your options:

1) Bulge Bracket IB → High-Growth Startup (Chief of Staff) → HBS/GSB

Strength: Strong brand names and a well-trodden path for HBS/GSB applicants.
Risk: IB is an overrepresented pool, so your differentiation will depend on the uniqueness of the startup you transition to and your leadership impact there.
Best If: You can gain high-visibility, strategic exposure at a startup and showcase transformative leadership.

2) Strategy & M&A at an Indian Aerospace & Defence Manufacturer → Defence Tech Startup → HBS/GSB

Strength: Unique and differentiated—Aerospace & Defence is niche and growing, especially with global shifts in geopolitics.
Risk: If the industry exposure is too narrow, it may limit post-MBA flexibility.
Best If: You develop an international, tech-driven perspective and can link your story to broader innovation and policy implications.

3) Strategy & M&A at an Indian Green Energy Manufacturer → High-Growth Green Energy Startup → HBS/GSB

Strength: Sustainability is a top priority for business schools, and Green Energy is a high-impact, rapidly evolving industry.
Risk: Execution matters—your role should show clear impact on industry transformation rather than just corporate strategy.
Best If: You are passionate about sustainability and can showcase thought leadership and tangible contributions in this space.

4)Tier 1/Tier 2 Consulting → Chief of Staff at a Startup → HBS/GSB

Strength: Consulting provides strong problem-solving and leadership training, and a Chief of Staff role could demonstrate high-impact, cross-functional leadership.
Risk: Consulting is also overrepresented, so differentiation will come from the startup experience.
Best If: You can accelerate to leadership responsibilities early and articulate a compelling vision for your post-MBA career.

My Recommendation:
If your ultimate goal is HBS/GSB, I recommend focusing on differentiation and leadership impact. Pathways (2) and (3) offer unique industry positioning, especially if you can demonstrate influence in high-impact sectors. Pathways (1) and (4) provide brand credibility but require extra effort to stand out.

If you're looking for a coach to guide you through this process, please feel free to reach out at dhoff@amerasiaconsulting.com or https://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/contact. I would love to discuss further and help you craft a strategy that aligns with your strengths, interests, and long-term goals.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi chicken6969 ! It's great to get a glimpse of your blueprint in progress! Your LBS MFA and investment banking background provide a good foundation, but securing admission to HBS/GSB will require a leadership-driven, high-impact narrative beyond pedigree. Among your pathways, the IB → High-Growth Startup (Chief of Staff) route is the most traditional and competitive, but it demands that you create significant value and leadership impact at the startup to stand out. The Green Energy M&A → Green Energy Startup path offers strong differentiation, aligning with sustainability trends that HBS and GSB favor, provided you contribute to policy shaping, international deals, or breakthrough innovations. The Tier 1 Consulting → Chief of Staff route is viable but less unique unless you land at MBB and drive substantial strategy initiatives at a scaling startup. Meanwhile, the Defence Tech pathway could be compelling if it involves global partnerships, cutting-edge innovation, or policy influence, though its international appeal may be limited. Ultimately, your impact and leadership will matter far more than your job title or firm name, prioritizing roles where you can drive strategic change, scale businesses, and showcase entrepreneurial leadership will best position you for HBS/GSB. Wishing you the best! Planning to target top business schools in the next rounds/intake? BOOK A FREE PROFILE EVALUATION CALL NOW SUCCESS STORIES YOUTUBE WEBINAR Don't Miss Out - Register For The Next Webinar Session Now! https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=83649 GMAT-Club-Forum-tazvqtvz.png

SarfrazAP · Answer

Purely from the perspective of which option has the greatest probability of getting you into GSB/HBS, I would go with Bulge Bracket IB or MBB Consulting → Chief of Staff → HBS/GSB

Do keep in mind that this will also be a very common path, so you'll have to work very hard to differentiate yourself from other applicants, maybe through the deals you work on or some leadership roles.

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi chicken6969 interesting problem there, but do you have any concrete offers among these?

From a storytelling standpoint, options 2 and 3 are the most attractive, but then you need to thoroughly research what impact and leadership opportunities you will have in AeroDef Manufacturing or GreenEnergy Manufacturing.

Working in AeroDef will give you experience in policy-driven industries, geopolitical dynamics, and closing deals where the stakes are high, which can be a strong leadership aspect. Keep in mind, however, that the defence industry is often constrained by national politics and government contracts, which may limit your opportunities to work internationally before the MBA (international experience is a major factor for the highly competitive programs). Defence technology startups can also face regulatory and procurement hurdles. If the startup you join is struggling, it could impact your MBA narrative. I also see some risks with visa hurdles.

Green energy is at the intersection of policy, finance and technology, which puts you in contact with a broad network of stakeholders. Unlike defence, there are fewer geopolitical restrictions in green energy, which makes it easier to work internationally before or after the MBA. But again, if you join a startup that fails or doesn’t scale, it could hurt your MBA application unless you have a strong leadership or turnaround story. So stay calculative.

Path 1 is the most well-trodden, but also the most competitive. HBS/GSB or not, you can be sure you will have a secure career with good exit opportunities.

Feel free to reach out for a complimentary discussion to get your profile evaluated.

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

chicken6969

I am a 25-year-old Indian male currently pursuing a Master’s in Financial Analysis (MFA) at London Business School. Before joining LBS, I worked for a year as an Investment Banking Analyst at a middle-market investment bank in Mumbai, India.

I have three potential career pathways ahead of me:
1. Bulge Bracket Investment Bank → Transition to a high-growth startup (Chief of Staff role) → HBS/GSB

2. Strategy & M&A at an Indian Aerospace & Defence Manufacturer → Move to a Defence Tech startup → HBS/GSB

3. Strategy & M&A at an Indian Green Energy Manufacturer → Join a high-growth Green Energy startup → HBS/GSB

4. Tier 1/Tier 2 Consulting → Chief of Staff at a startup → HBS/GSB

Given my background and the fact that LBS is arguably the top business school outside the U.S., which of these pathways would best position me for admission to HBS or GSB?

ARINGO · Answer

Applying to Stanford MBA? watch this video for tips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auPWzXbibLM

Advice to get into GSB/HBS

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