@Ticiana Figueiredo - your consulting exposure and MBB/ Big-4 brands are strong angles. What were your role(s) e.g. what kind of projects have you worked on? And have there been any promotions?

The GPA seems on the lower side - any reasons? Aim for a strong GMAT, ideally 10-20+ points above the published averages of your target programs, in order to increase your chances.

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

Hi!! Thanks for the reply! No promotion by now, since I changed firms - I have been working with tech projects within financial services and CPG industries. And have developed 2 chatGPTs for clients. GPA is not the highest because I was leading and founding student organizations about entrepreneurship, leadership and social impact. Willing to explore it in the essays...

Hey
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, 8 years of experience, including MBB and Big 4 strategy consulting places you in the category of candidates with strong analytical, client-facing, and problem-solving skills. This background will be very attractive to adcoms at top MBA programs. Your goal of transitioning into big tech, specifically within AI practices, is a natural next step given your consulting foundation, but the key will be making your story distinct and credible.

Your GPA might be a concern for some highly competitive schools. To balance this, you will need to aim for a strong GMAT score to reassure Adcoms of your academic potential. You may also want to highlight any quantitative or technical coursework or certifications. You will also need to clearly show how an MBA at this stage is essential for your pivot and how you will contribute mature perspectives in the classroom.

You can strengthen your application by tying your consulting projects to AI and digital transformation work you have already done, to build a bridge between your past experience and your post-MBA goals. Showing leadership in these projects will also help demonstrate your readiness for a senior role in big tech post-MBA.

Outside of work, what activities or community involvement highlight your leadership, personal impact, or values, areas that adcoms at top schools look for.

I’d 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.

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

Hello Ticiana,

Your consulting pedigree at MBB and Big 4 strategy is strong, but your GPA 2.9 is a red flag across top U.S. and European schools. Without a GMAT or GRE, your application will not be competitive, you need a 700+ GMAT or equivalent to offset the academics.

Your work experience aligns with post-MBA goals in big tech and AI, but right now, your academics will drag you down at HBS, GSB, and INSEAD.

Consider programs like LBS or Kellogg’s one-year MBA, where professional brand and international exposure can weigh more heavily if you pair it with a strong score. Without fixing the GPA/test issue, even mid-tier schools will be difficult.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant
Schedule 1-on-1 call
https://admitportal.ameerkhatri.com/pro ... n-calendar

Thanks for sharing your profile, @Ticiana Figueiredo! You’ve got a distinctive profile: Brazilian, 8 years in strategy/consulting (MBB + Big 4), pivoting to AI-driven roles. That’s attractive to top programs and to recruiters in tech/AI strategy, if you neutralize the GPA and show clear AI fluency. Tier-1 consulting pedigree; cross-industry pattern recognition, International diversity (LatAm) + female candidate = positive portfolio effect. Clear post-MBA path (AI/tech strategy) that maps to current employer demand.

Your 2.9 GPA is below the median for most of the B-schools. You’ll need a strong GMAT and/or fresh quant signals. R2 is tighter on seats/ scholarships than R1; still doable, but execution must be crisp. Target a great GMAT FE score (695+). If you plateau, consider the GRE. Consider taking a graded calculus/ stats/ analytics course. Use the optional essay to contextualize GPA and point to recent A-level work.

For big tech AI strategy/ops, schools near NYC/ the Bay Area/ London, plus hands-on labs, will help. Prioritize AI product, data strategy, responsible AI, and build a portfolio that you can show in interviews.

How you can frame your story in the Essays:
1) Client leadership - “Partner-trusted operator” who moves ambiguous AI problems to board-ready decisions.
2) AI with judgment - Not just modeling; show problem framing, change management, and risk/ethics.
3) Inclusion & ecosystem - LatAm perspective in global AI adoption (talent, infra, regulation) and how you assemble cross-border stakeholders.

For Scholarships, R2 funds exist but are tighter. Raise test scores, show recent A-level academics, and highlight women-in-tech/LatAm leadership to access named awards at INSEAD/LBS/Judge/Saïd and merit awards at U.S. programs.

Quick questions to reflect on:
1) Which region do you want post-MBA (U.S., Europe, or both), and do you have work-authorization constraints?
2) Within AI, are you targeting product strategy, go-to-market, ops & enablement, or AI governance/risk?
3) Biggest client impacts you can quantify (revenue, cost, NPS, time-to-market)?
4) Do you have coding/ data exposure (SQL/Python) or mostly strategy/ops?

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. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

You can join our Coffee Session: “MASTER YOUR MBA APPLICATION ESSAYS FOR INSEAD, HEC, LBS, AND IESE!” which is 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