@Kannika Sahni - your undergrad (SRCC) pedigree and GPA are strong.

The GMAT is a bit on the lower side: was the score in line with your mocks/ expectations, and do you foresee an improvement if you were to retake?

To clarify, your full-time work-ex (after undergrad) is 5 years as of 2027? I'd like to understand the nature of your work e.g. key projects, any promotions, international exposure, etc. to assess better.

Also, are there any extracurricular activities you've been involved in, ideally after undergrad?

Feel free to reach out for a discussion.

Regards,
Arvind (Founder, admitStreet)
Testimonials: https://admitstreet.com/testimonials/
Request a free profile evaluation: https://admitstreet.com/#contact
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvindkvenkat

A fellow alum (from a different generation) here. A few pointers for you to reflect on:
- Not every school may consider your CA articleship years as work experience. Check with each school you are aiming to apply.
- Audit may be seen as an ideal background experience by some schools. Your due diligence should help you find this out.
- Most VC firms in the USA do not hire/sponsor internationals.
- From Audit to VC via MBA education may be a difficult bridge for you to showcase.
Happy to speak if you wish to.
- Dee
MBA admissions consultant and management consultant | E: [email protected]

Hello Kannika,

Always a pleasure to interact with a fellow Chartered Accountant looking to venture beyond!

I have a basic evaluation for your profile :
GMAT Score : A 665 on GMAT Focus is a solid start, but for your target schools in the VC/finance track; think ISB, LBS, INSEAD, or CBS; the competitive range sits at 675–700+

Work experience : An internship in a Big 4 is definitely something that would be valued, however, internship is not usually considered as work experience for these colleges or even when you're looking for future opportunities. Your CFA adds on to your profile for sure and will aid you to showcase your inclination and interest towards your venture capital goal.

There are no extracurriculars mentioned in your profile. This is a gap for top MBA programs. Academics and credentials alone don't build a compelling application. Leadership, community impact, or entrepreneurial side projects matter.

I'd love to discuss your profile and preferences in detail over a quick profile evaluation call. If you're keen, you can reach out to me : https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrunaldeo1509/ and we can take the discussion from there!

Thanks! Looking forward to connect.

Thank you for sharing your profile, @Kannika Sahni. You’ve built a credible finance foundation, SRCC, CA, and Big 4 is a combination that schools respect. The challenge is, you’re in one of the crowded applicant pools, and your goals (VC) are among the hardest to convert post-MBA. So your outcome will depend on how sharply you differentiate and how you de-risk your goals.

About your strengths:
1. Academic Pedigree (great)
2. Professional credentials (strong)
3. Work experience (structured & recognized)- 5 years total, statutory audit, and global exposure. Schools trust Big 4 rigor, client exposure, and professional maturity.
4. As a female candidate in finance, you benefit from the diversity push at top schools.

What needs work:
1. GMAT focus score 665 for your target schools:
Wharton- Too low currently
LBS- borderline
INSEAD- can be competitive but not strong
ISB- fine

For your profile, 675+ can be a game-changer.

2. Work experience- “Audit Trap.” Audit is respected, but seen as compliance-heavy, less “strategic”. You need to reframe into: risk advisory, business insight, and financial decision-making.

3. VC goal- Let’s be direct. VC is extremely competitive, network-driven, and rare for auditors without startup exposure.

Schools will ask, “Why would someone hire you into VC?” Right now, your story doesn’t fully answer that.

About the schools:
1. Wharton- Top-tier finance and VC school. Requires a high GMAT score (~685+ FE) and strong differentiation. With 675+, it might still be a stretch target.

2. LBS- Strong finance and VC ecosystem. More flexible than the US M7. With a 665 GMAT FE score, it is possible but not strong.

3. INSEAD- Less VC-focused but strong general management. Good for consulting on the VC path. With 665, it's borderline.

4. ISB- Strong for finance roles, consulting. VC via ISB can be limited but possible. Good chance.

Things you can do:
1. Fix your VC story- Right now, Audit to VC is equal to a weak bridge. You need a credible pathway:
Option A (recommended): Audit > Transaction advisory/deals > VC
Option B: Audit > Consulting > VC
Option C: Audit > Startup finance/strategy > VC

Schools want a believable transition, not ambition alone.

2. Build VC exposure now- This is non-negotiable if you're serious. You can start angel investing platforms (small tickets), startup advisory/internships, or VC fellowships/part-time roles. Without this, your VC goal won’t be credible.

3. Reframe your Audit experience- You must highlight financial insights, business risks, and strategic recommendations.
Not just compliance but decision-making support.

5. Add a “Spike”- You need one strong differentiator. For example, startup involvement, investment thesis writing, or sector expertise (fintech, SaaS, etc.).

You can also explore other schools such as HEC Paris, IE, ESSEC, and ESADE.

Market reality:
VC hiring- Very limited post-MBA and strongly network-driven.
Most candidates- Enter via consulting/IB and then VC.

You should think about positioning VC as long-term, not immediate.

Your positioning can be “A finance professional with strong accounting and analytical grounding, building exposure to investments and aiming to transition into deal-making and eventually venture investing.”

Questions for you to reflect upon:
1. Have you worked on transactions/due diligence?
2. Any startup exposure so far?
3. What sectors in VC interest you?
4. Any leadership roles at work?
5. Current GMAT mock vs actual?

We have worked with applicants making it to PE, VC, Investment Banking....

You can check out a few success stories - [https://www.mbaandbeyond.com/mba-testimonials/ms-analyst-with-720-gmat-got-into-insead-and-lbs-with-55k-scholarship?utm_source=gmatclub&utm_medium=community&utm_campaign=DT_May4]Ms. Analyst with 720 GMAT got into INSEAD and LBS with 55K £ Scholarship[/url] and [https://www.mbaandbeyond.com/mba-testimonials/mr-senior-product-manager-lbs-insead-iese-25k-scholarship?utm_source=gmatclub&utm_medium=community&utm_campaign=DT_May4]Mr. Senior Product Manager- LBS, INSEAD, IESE (25K Scholarship)[/url].

We would like to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, international exposure, leadership experience, and what other skills you bring to support your goals.

Happy to discuss your profile in detail. You can book an evaluation session from here.

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

Hi Kannika
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, you have a strong academic and professional base-SRCC, CA, Big 4 experience, and a good GPA all help. Your GMAT score is decent, also, one important point, some schools may not fully count your articleship as FT work experience, which can impact how your total experience is viewed.

The bigger question is differentiation. CA + Big 4 audit is a common path, so you’ll need to clearly show impact, leadership, and a strong reason for moving into venture capital. VC is a tough goal, and schools will want to see some exposure to startups, investing, or anything beyond audit. Your story needs to clearly answer why MBA, why now, and why these schools.

To better understand your chances, I would like to know - what are your biggest achievements at work, any leadership or extracurriculars, and what steps you’ve taken toward VC?

I’d be happy to offer you a free profile review for your target programs to see where you stand and how to boost your chances, happy to help!
No pressure, no strings - just helpful insights on where you stand and how you can strengthen your chances.

Feel free to connect- Click here
You can also email me at: [email protected]
Good Luck!