Your international exposure is going to make you stand apart, especially at B-schools such as INSEAD and Tuck where you can build it into your narrative to tell who you are as a person and how your experiences have shaped you. Your short term career goals sound reasonable, but wondering why you want to wait until the long term to enter the tech industry- exactly what do you have in mind, and why not do it now in the short term? the entry barrier to tech is less, esp. when compared to consulting, so your reasoning should be strong here.
In terms of application timeline, IESE, McDonough and INSEAD are doable now, but Tuck and MIT Sloan could be a challenge for R3 (a far more selective round). Your GMAT score is below their class averages but it has a significant role in the applications. If you apply to these programs in R1, you can take another dig at the GMAT and try getting the score up 665+

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

Very strong profile! I can tell that INSEAD especially has references of similar profiles from the fisheries industry (personally know some). Late rounds in the top US schools can be a bit of a challenge (although not impossible), but I am very optimistic about IESE and INSEAD. The international exposure is the cherry on the cake.

This time, INSEAD has a slightly greater focus on the goals strategy. Hope your goals in technology are as motivational as they are aspirational for you. Show how they connect with your past experiences or perhaps how you see them as a means to solve bigger and more complex challenges in the economy. Highlight specific problems that you have seen and make the adcoms/interviewers see that Promethean fire in you. Passion is infectious, and they must be rooting for you to succeed in your goals strategy in no time.

Feel free to get in touch should you need guidance on your interview preparation strategy.

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927(message for faster response)| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com­

Hi @juanecuador, your profile presents several strong differentiators that could make you a compelling candidate: a good GPA (89/100), leadership experience in Ecuador's top industry, deep expertise in strategic management and operations, and a strong international profile with exposure to 23+ countries. Your self-taught programming skills and experience driving digital transformation further enhance your profile, aligning well with consulting’s emphasis on analytical problem-solving and operational excellence. However, your GMAT Focus score of 645 is slightly low, especially for highly competitive programs like MIT Sloan, INSEAD, and Tuck, where the typical GMAT is 700+. Given that Round 3 is highly competitive with limited seats, a higher GMAT (ideally 20+ points) would significantly improve your chances. If retaking the GMAT is not feasible, IESE and McDonough could be more realistic options, while Sloan, INSEAD, and Tuck remain stretches unless your essays, recommendations are exceptionally strong. Networking with alumni and leveraging your global exposure in essays will be crucial to demonstrating your fit. If consulting at MBB or top-tier firms is your goal, securing a top MBA program with strong consulting recruitment is key, so you can consider aiming Round 1 with a higher GMAT for a stronger shot at your top choices. Overall, your profile appears to have good potential.

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Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hi juanecuador
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, I see a really interesting mix of experiences. 5 years of experience, with a significant amount of that time spent leading teams in Ecuador's key frozen shrimp industry looks valuable. You weren't just a cog in the machine; you were making decisions and driving results, that is what adcoms look for. And then, you've gone out of your way to learn programming, on your own, it again demonstrates a real drive, a willingness to learn new things.

Your GMAT score might be of a slight concern, specifically since your target schools have a higher average. Your travels across 23 countries, that is gold. Your exposure to different cultures and business practices should immensely add value to your application.

Your target schools like IESE, Sloan, and INSEAD look for applicants who can lead, innovate, and make an impact. Your experience in manufacturing, combined with your tech skills, gives you a unique perspective. You need to tell your story to the adcoms in a way that highlights your strengths and shows how you plan to translate into in consulting and, eventually, in the tech industry. Think of it like this: your journey from shrimp manufacturing to top-tier consulting is a compelling narrative. You need to connect the dots and show how your past experiences have prepared you for your future goals.

I would like to know about the business lessons that you picked up from your extensive travels. Did you notice any recurring patterns or differences in how business is conducted in different parts of the world? And within the realm of consulting, what specific areas are you most passionate about?

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You can also email me at: priyankak@aringo.com