Training others on IB topics shows that you have built up a solid conceptual understanding over the years. But if your goal is to move into a front-office position after the MBA, for eg. in M&A, capital markets or coverage, you will need to demonstrate not only your expertise, but also your experience in deal execution, client engagement, and financial modeling, likely from the past IB experience.

At the moment, your description suggests you have been in more of a middle-office or support role (but maybe I am wrong). That’s not a deal breaker, but you need to be strategic. Schools and recruiters will want to see why the move makes sense and how your previous experience will add value to a front office role. You might want to do that:
1. Start telling a story that connects your previous work to your deal making skills.
2. Highlight any modeling, valuation or pitchbook experience.
3. Showcase a vision in terms of industries or problems you want to impact.

Your GRE is too low. Target upwards of a 327 as you are focused on a finance heavy domain.


Wondering how your profile stacks up? Get a free profile evaluation and discuss a tailored MBA plan that aligns with your goals.
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

Hi @bellabournvita
Thanks for sharing your profile!

You’re at the senior-most end of the full-time MBA applicant pool with 9 years of work-ex, especially for programs like ISB, HEC Paris, and Imperial. That said, your depth of domain exposure within Investment Banking, both in front-end roles and more recently in Learning & Development, makes for a unique profile but also comes with certain risks in terms of perception and re-entry into front-office roles.

You hold 74% (~3.7 GPA) from your undergrad which is decent. But the GRE score of 315 is currently the weakest link in your profile. Given the high competition at ISB and global schools, and your aim to pivot back into front-office IB roles (which themselves are extremely selective post-MBA), your GRE needs to be at least 327+ to be considered competitive. It's good that you're planning to retake the GRE as this will be a make-or-break factor for schools like HEC and ISB.

Your 7 years of front-end IB work in multinational firms is a major strength, especially if you can showcase deal exposure, leadership in transaction execution, and progression across roles. The pivot to L&D is unusual and may raise questions, not because it lacks merit, but because it may suggest a drift away from the core finance track. That said, you can frame this well if you present it as a strategic pause where you deepened your domain expertise and developed training/leadership skills while staying within the IB vertical.

To strengthen your work narrative:
- Quantify your deal experience (volume, sectors, clients).
- Clarify why the switch to L&D happened and how it connects to your renewed drive to return to front-office roles.
- Speak of your mentorship and leadership in your L&D tenure.
- If available, talk about international exposure in your IB role

Your stated goals which is to return to Investment Banking in front-end or strategy roles are clear but need better nuance. Schools will want to know:
- What kind of IB work — M&A advisory, ECM, DCM, restructuring, sector-focused?
- How will an MBA fill gaps you currently face in getting back into IB?
- Are you open to corporate finance or strategy roles as a bridge?

IB hiring, especially in front-office, is still extremely competitive, even for traditional candidates. Your background will be respected, but re-entering IB after 2 years in a non-transactional role and with 9+ years of experience puts you in a trickier position unless you can clearly articulate your continued relevance and preparedness. You might want to hedge your post-MBA plan slightly by being open to roles in corporate development, financial strategy, boutique advisory, or even PE operations. These often welcome more seasoned professionals.

Speaking of your School Fit & Application Strategy:

- ISB: A good fit but remember that ISB is very GMAT/GRE sensitive. A 315 won’t cut it, but a 325+ might.
- HEC Paris: Strong for finance, especially in Europe. However, EU IB roles are tough to crack for non-EU citizens unless language or work rights are present. Again, GRE must improve.
- Imperial: This is a more realistic selection but also not a major IB feeder. Could work well if you're open to post-MBA UK roles in corporate finance or strategic finance.
- IIM EPGP: Good choice if living in India and fast-tracking to senior roles in this region is your objective.

For global mobility and IB aspirations, consider adding ESMT Berlin, ESADE, or Rotterdam as geographic hedges.

We’d love to offer a 1-on-1 profile evaluation to dive deeper into your strengths, talk through your fit across schools, and co-create a tailored application game plan!

Feel free to reach out to us at the coordinates below!
Email: gwyneth@thembaedge.com
Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

Thank you for sharing your profile @bellabournvita. Based on your profile, there’s a lot of depth, leadership potential, and domain expertise that you bring to the table.

You’ve built a relevant foundation in investment banking across multinational firms, which positions you well for an MBA with a post-MBA goal in the same industry. The 7 years of hands-on experience in front-end IB roles are valued, particularly at schools that recruit heavily for finance. Transitioning to a domain-focused Learning & Development role in the same space can also be seen as a leadership-oriented pivot, as long as it is framed correctly in your application as a deliberate step that reinforced your expertise, communication skills, and mentorship capacity. You might want to take a look at this BLOG on How to Exhibit Different Forms of Leadership. Your academic credentials, including a 74% in a Commerce degree from Delhi University, which fall within an acceptable range for international MBA programs, especially if your transcripts include quant-heavy coursework.

The most immediate area for improvement is your GRE score. Great that you are already planning a retake. A 315 is below the average for your target schools, particularly ISB, HEC, and IIMA PGPX, where the average tends to fall in the 325-330+ range for competitive applicants. You may find this blog on Navigating Low GMAT/GPA Scores in MBA Applications particularly insightful. A 325+ GRE score will significantly improve your odds and help offset your age and slightly unconventional recent experience in L&D. Given your goal to return to front-office finance, the score will also serve as a signal of your analytical aptitude and preparedness for an MBA.

Another area to reflect on is the 2-year stint in L&D. While this experience is not inherently negative, it might raise questions about your trajectory. Adcoms may wonder whether the shift was driven by a slowdown in your IB career or by a strategic decision. Your application essays must clearly articulate how this phase complements your overall story and adds leadership and communication strengths that will enhance your post-MBA success in IB or strategic finance roles. This blog on Strengths and Weaknesses could be worth checking out!

ISB can be a good target, but with 9 years of experience, you are on the higher end of their typical age range. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but your application will need to emphasize leadership and scale of impact. A strong GRE score and clear articulation of your “Why MBA, Why Now” will be critical. HEC Paris and Imperial College London can be good fits too, especially given their openness to experienced professionals and strong finance placement. At HEC, international exposure and deal experience will be key to strengthening your candidacy. If you have worked on cross-border transactions, this should be highlighted. Imperial might be more forgiving on the GRE and is a strong brand in Europe for finance, though placement into front-end IB may require networking. IIMA PGPX can also be a good fit among your current targets. The program is designed for mid-to-senior-level professionals with substantial experience. You would need to demonstrate how your experience (especially the transition to L&D) aligns with your renewed goal to re-enter IB, while also showing the maturity and leadership that PGPX values.

Given your years of experience and goals, you may want to consider other global programs with strong finance recruiting and age flexibility, like INSEAD, Cambridge Judge, and Oxford Saïd.

Focus the next month on GRE prep, especially building quant strength. Simultaneously, begin introspecting on your career story and how to narrate the L&D switch effectively. Your age and experience are not liabilities per se, but they require a well-thought-out narrative that aligns career growth with post-MBA aspirations. Schools will ask: Why do you need an MBA now? How will it help you get where you want to go? Why did you step into L&D, and how does that make you a better leader?

Questions to Reflect On:
1)Can you point to deal-making or client engagement stories in IB that showcase leadership, ownership, and business impact?

2)What was the rationale behind your move into L&D, and how can you position it as a strength rather than a detour?

3)Are you geographically flexible post-MBA, or are you focused on returning to India or APAC?

If you’re open to it, we’d be happy to dive deeper into your profile to assess your chances. You can book a one-on-one profile evaluation with us anytime!

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hello, thanks for sharing your profile. Your 9 years in IB and domain-focused L&D pivot are impressive. But with a 315 GRE, you’ll need a 325+ to stay competitive for ISB, IIMs, and HEC, especially given your re-entry to front-end roles.

Let’s connect to craft a winning reapplication and school targeting strategy.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant
Schedule 1-on-1 call with me for detailed profile review:
https://calendly.com/ameer-khatri/profi ... th=2025-04

Thanks everyone for the insights. I will update after next GRE attempt. A list of additional target schools for 1 year MBA, with good placement within IB, will be helpful too.