Hi
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, I see a strong mix of tech pedigree (IIT + NYU + VMware) and social impact through your family-run education group. The move from Palo Alto back to Hyderabad to scale an educational institution shows maturity and purpose, which fits well with schools like Stanford and Haas that value mission-driven leadership.

Your GMAT score also looks strong. The key will be storytelling, clearly articulating why MBA now and why the pivot from running an educational group to PM/VC makes sense. You’ll need to highlight tangible leadership impact and innovation at your institution -new initiatives, growth, or modernization you led. You’ve got a rare mix of elite academics, international exposure, and a purpose-driven path. Polish your narrative and you’ll be a strong contender for your target schools.

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 your CV at: priyankak@aringo.com
Good Luck!

Thanks for sharing your profile @dpk290 ! Let's start with how each target school might likely view you:
Stanford- Reach, but realistic with a standout story. Stanford seeks founders, product leaders, and early-career high-potential candidates. Your tech + MS + operator leadership in education is very aligned with Stanford’s entrepreneurship/education innovation interests, but Stanford admits are extremely selective (ideal matriculants often have 4-6 years + a unique, high-impact trajectory). You need an exceptional narrative (product/edtech traction, or a clearly differentiated leadership accomplishment at scale).

HBS- Reach / possible. HBS values general management potential and scale of leadership. Running an education group with thousands of students is directly relevant. HBS will ask for evidence of strategy, measurable outcomes, and how an MBA will broaden your ability to lead at scale and enter EdTech/VC. Your 685 is good; HBS is holistic but extremely competitive.

Berkeley Haas- Target / strong fit. Haas prizes tech + product + social impact and has Bay Area EdTech connections. Average work experience there is roughly ~5-6 years, and they admit applicants who combine technical depth with leadership and product orientation. You’re a natural fit; Haas could be an excellent bridge back to product roles in EdTech.

UCLA Anderson- Target / realistic. Anderson recruits well into product and entertainment/tech hubs; your US tech experience + current leadership in education is attractive. Average experience ~5-6 years, and Anderson values demonstrated leadership and career pivot clarity.

Columbia- Target / realistic. Your VMware background + operations/scale leadership at the education org is valuable for Columbia recruiters; being explicit about New York / remote PM roles and how Columbia’s access to VC helps your 4-5 year plan will matter.

Strengths you should highlight:
Technical credibility: IIT + NYU MS + engineering at VMware. Quant + product instincts.
Scaled leadership: VP role at an organization educating ~25k students is a rare asset; quantify scope (budget, staff, enrolment, KPIs).
Global / tech experience: US tech experience gives you product language and recruiting credibility for EdTech companies.
Clear sector focus: Education > EdTech > VC is coherent and compelling when framed as a sequence of capability-building steps.

Gaps/risks:
1) Tighten your Why MBA / Why now.
Admissions want concrete short-term outcomes (2 years) and how the MBA connects you to them. Example:
Short-term: Product Manager (Growth/Product Strategy) at a leading EdTech (Duolingo / Coursera) or product-focused role at a major tech company.
Why MBA now: to acquire customer-centric product, analytics, and managerial skills, plus access to VC networks.
For top reaches (Stanford/HBS), you must show why an MBA provides unique value vs staying in the org or returning to tech directly.

2) Quantify outcomes in your education group
Provide crisp metrics: number of institutions, student headcount (you gave 25k), staff size, annual budget, revenue or subsidy model, retention/graduation rates, initiatives launched, measurable impact of programs you led (like placement %, new programs launched, partnerships formed). Use these in essays and LORs.

3) Recommenders who validate both tech and strategic leadership
LOR 1: Senior professional from VMware (ex-manager/tech lead) to validate product & technical chops.
LOR 2: Prefer a senior independent board member or an external stakeholder (government stakeholder, partner university dean, major donor/client) who can credibly speak to your strategic leadership and independence.

4) Direct product/EdTech traction
If possible, lead or document a short product pilot: like launch an edtech feature, platform pilot for X students, or a measurable digital learning initiative (user engagement, completion rates, revenue/monetization signals). Even a few months' pilot with clear KPIs is powerful.

5) Clarify the pivot to VC (mid-term plan)
Admissions like realistic pipelines: MBA > Product Manager > Growth/PM in EdTech > VC associate/operating partner. Show specific firms/roles and how each step builds skill sets.

Draft a sharp 2yr + 5yr career plan for each school application; be explicit and tailored.

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. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

You can take a look at this HSW Essay Workshop YouTube video.