Ayantikasen
Hi am from India with 5.5 years of work experience as a fashion designer.
I have done bachelor in design (fashion) from NIFT. My gpa was 6.9.
Last 5 years I have been working with export house, retails and e-commerce brands. I have designed seasonal collections from uk & us based brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, Wrangler etc.
I have also worked with licensee brands such as disney, warner brothers to create graphic heavy collections for indian brands such as Max india and Tokyo talkies.
At my last job I have also redesigned the indian size chart for indian women to make create more body positive styles.
My post mba goal is to work with international luxury brands for brand management or marketing.
I am planning for 2026 sept intake for my mba.
I am planning to write my gmat by sept mid.
Please let me now given this profile what are my chances at INSEAD?
Thanks & Regards
Ayantika
Hi
Ayantikasen!
Target for a GMAT FE score in the range of 665–685. If targeting R1 deadline Sept 16, 2025(
maximizes scholarship chances), taking the exam earlier would be better. Do you have a mock score?
With a design background and GPA below 7, demonstrating quant readiness is key and important. You must highlight your creative-to-strategic pivot story: from designing collections to influencing brand strategy and sizing innovation. Emphasize your global brand exposure and customer empathy in your post-MBA goals. Quantify your contributions wherever possible (like number of SKUs launched, increased conversion/sales due to size chart revamp, or customer feedback impact, etc). Mention any experience managing interns, junior designers, or leading campaigns. INSEAD loves an international outlook + multicultural sensitivity. You can frame your export house and licensing work as cross-cultural brand collaboration.
Also, if you're INSEAD-focused but open to global options, you can explore ESADE, IE, SDA Bocconi, LBS, and NYU Stern.
Start prepping essays, LORs, & resumes as soon as possible because the application is lengthy.
Questions to reflect & answer (for Essays/Interviews):
1. What is the strategic insight you’ve developed from your design experience that can help global brands?
2. How have you influenced business decisions beyond design (like go-to-market, pricing, inventory)?
3. How would an MBA help you move from
“maker” to
“manager”?4. What does inclusive fashion mean to you, and how would you scale that impact?
All the best for your exam. Happy to learn more about your story! Feel free to
book a profile evaluation session.