Hello VBV,

You bring strong operational leadership from HCCB, with Six Sigma credentials and team management. Your academic track is excellent, but your GMAT Focus 645 is a concern, especially for Harvard and INSEAD.

It falls below average for Indian applicants, where competition is steep. Your career goals are ambitious but broad; schools will want a sharper focus between consulting and product management. ISB, NUS, and IESE are attainable, but you should retake GMAT if you want a credible shot at INSEAD and HBS.

Let’s connect to tighten your career story and address the GMAT gap.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant

Book a 1-on-1 call here: https://admitportal.ameerkhatri.com/pro ... n-calendar

Thanks for sharing your profile @VBV !
Starting with the main risks (and how to neutralize them): “Why MBA now” / Seniority question: You must show specific skill gaps the MBA will close (like product strategy, VC networks, consumer tech product management, advanced strategy/finance skills). Don’t answer “growth” generically, tie the MBA to 2-3 concrete courses, labs, or networks at each school (like INSEAD’s entrepreneurship & healthcare electives; HBS’s FIELD/entrepreneurship; IESE’s open-innovation & corporate strategy resources).

GMAT positioning: Your current Focus 645 (≈690–700 classic) can be decent for NUS, IESE, with great applications, but for INSEAD, a 675+ GMAT FE can make you competitive. If you want to improve odds at HBS or some top US feeder roles, consider a retake push to 695+ GMAT FE.

Tailor applications per school: consulting-leaning schools (HBS/INSEAD/IESE) vs product/tech-leaning (INSEAD/Haas/Stanford if you applied to the US). For consulting roles, prepare case stories demonstrating structured problem solving and quantifiable outcomes; for PM, emphasize product launches, cross-functional roadmaps, and improved KPIs.

Actions:
Write quantifying accomplishments (metrics: % cost saved, % improvement in OTIF, revenue impact, team size, budget managed, project timelines).
Map 3 school-specific “hooks” (examples: INSEAD’s entrepreneurship labs, HBS Field Project, IESE’s corporate partnerships) to your goals, and include them in each “Why school” essay. Lock 2–3 recommenders who can speak to strategic impact and leadership (a senior at HCCB + a cross-functional stakeholder or external partner). Give them your impact memo to ensure concrete metrics in their letters. Have you done any courses in Product Management or Strategy? If yes, include the certificate to show intentional up-skilling.

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, 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.

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