Hi Ishika, what I understand is that you have a full time job in digital marketing & international relations. Alongside this, you have also been running a fashion startup profitably since the past 5 years and now want to pivot to luxury marketing in Europe.

If that's correct, you have a very strong profile. Its so cool to do two jobs together and succeed in both- it shows determination and ability to stretch yourself to achieve goals- something post MBA employers would really value, as would b-schools. Make a note to show all your achievements on the resume. highlighting the quantified impact.

The choice of b-schools looks alright. You may want to add IE and SDA Bocconni for their strength in luxury management. IESE could be another b-school- Spain has its own share of high street fashion (Inditex, Mango et al) and designer houses (I can remember Valentino) and you can check if they hire from Spanish b-schools.

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: [email protected]
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Hey Ishika
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, I see an interesting mix of entrepreneurship and professional work that could stand out in your target schools. Running your own fashion startup for five years, especially one that sources from women’s self-help groups shows social impact, creativity, and leadership. This is the kind of personal story adcoms remember.

Your 3 years of work experience adds variety to your profile. Combined with your startup, this gives you both creative and business skills. A GPA looks decent too and will not be a concern, especially if you perform well on the GMAT.

Your post-MBA goal of building a career in the luxury market in Europe is clear and matches your background in fashion and marketing. You should focus on highlighting your startup experience and demonstrate your transferable skills for consulting and luxury marketing. Highlighting your learnings about leading people and solving problems from working with women’s self-help groups will further strengthen your profile.

To help sharpen your positioning across platforms, ARINGO is offering a free LinkedIn profile optimization, which can help you better align your story for both adcoms and recruiters.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR FREE LINKEDIN OPTIMIZATION.

I’d also be happy to offer you a free profile review for your target MBA 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.

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Good Luck!

Thank you for sharing your profile, @Ishika Paul! You have a mix of entrepreneurship + consulting + creative industry exposure, which can be attractive for European programs that value diverse career paths and impact-driven ventures.

Strengths that can stand out: Entrepreneurial leadership > Running your fashion startup (especially one that partners with women self-help groups) is a good differentiator. Schools like HEC, INSEAD, and ESSEC like candidates with a clear impact and social responsibility angle. Consulting + digital marketing + international relations = you’re not just a “numbers” person but also have cross-cultural communication and strategic thinking skills. Exposure to international relations helps make the case for thriving in global MBA cohorts.

For your target schools, aim for a GMAT FE score of 675+, it can strengthen your case, especially as a female entrepreneur from India (an overrepresented demographic in consulting, but underrepresented in luxury/fashion focus). You can take a look at this success story.

While you have fashion experience, make sure to show a direct understanding of the European luxury market, which can be through partnerships, research, collaborations, or certifications. You’re currently aiming post-MBA for consulting, but you’re also interested in luxury marketing. This needs a tight narrative. Are you looking at luxury-focused consulting (like Bain’s luxury practice) or pure marketing roles? Adcoms like focus.

Luxury industry credentials: Take a short luxury brand management course. Network in Europe, join LinkedIn groups, attend ESSEC/HEC luxury webinars, and connect with alumni in LVMH/Kering/Richemont and others. Show measurable social & business results from your startup.

Questions for you:
1) Are you leaning more toward consulting in luxury/retail or direct brand marketing roles post-MBA?
2) Do you have international travel or exposure to European markets yet?

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experience, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. If you'd like, feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

Join our Coffee Session: “MASTER YOUR MBA APPLICATION ESSAYS FOR INSEAD, HEC, LBS, AND IESE!” on August 22, 2025 | 9:00 PM IST | 11:30 AM ET. KNOW MORE DETAILS

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

Hello Ishika,

Your GPA is modest at 3.3, which is not a dealbreaker but is below the average at INSEAD and HEC. The bigger concern is that you have not taken the GMAT yet. Without at least a 700+, INSEAD and HEC will be very tough. Your consulting experience plus running a fashion startup with a strong social angle is a differentiator, especially for European schools that value entrepreneurial and international elements.

If your long-term goal is luxury marketing, you must build credibility by demonstrating tangible results from your startup and aligning your story with exposure to luxury/retail markets. For ISB, your profile will be competitive if you deliver a high GMAT. ESSEC is a good safety option, given your sector interest.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant, Schedule 1-on-1 call with me for detailed profile review
https://admitportal.ameerkhatri.com/pro ... n-calendar

Hello @Ishika Paul!

You have a compelling blend of experiences, given the digital marketing, content, and international relations angles. The entrepreneurial stint running your own fashion startup is a strong differentiator.

Your post-MBA goal looks aligned with your background, make sure to have a robust narrative covering your transferable skills and how the MBA would help you get there.

The GPA seems a bit low - which undergrad university did you attend, and any reasons for the GPA e.g. did you score low in any particular semesters?

Aim for a strong GMAT/ GRE, ideally 20-30+ points above the published averages of your target programs, in order to increase your odds.

Hope this helps. Feel free to reach out for a deeper discussion.

Regards,
Arvind Kumar (Founder, admitStreet)
Website: https://admitstreet.com/ | Book a free discovery call: https://admitstreet.com/#contact

Hi @Ishika Paul,

Your profile blends consulting experience with entrepreneurial drive through your fashion startup, which is a strong differentiator, especially since it has a social angle (women self-help groups). Your 3.3 GPA is solid, though not standout, so the GMAT will be critical in strengthening your academic side; for top European schools like INSEAD, HEC, you should target a score of 685+. Your career goal of pivoting into luxury marketing in Europe aligns well with these schools, as they have strong ties to the luxury sector. To maximize competitiveness, highlight measurable impact from your startup (growth, revenues, partnerships) and your consulting skill set to show both creativity and analytical depth.

Highlighting your leadership, professional achievements/tangible impact, relevant skills, career goals, unique experiences, and fit with the program effectively will be crucial in crafting a compelling application. To maximize your chances, consider applying to a balanced mix of reach, target, and safety schools.
Feel free to book a free call with our MBA experts for a more detailed discussion. You can also contact us directly at [email protected] or +91-7780769732.