Thanks for sharing your profile @abhi1245678ram . You have the core signals top programs want: good academics, rapid promotions, domain expertise at a recognised payments org (NPCI), leadership, and award recognition. Your 655 GMAT FE score places you in a reasonable range for many top programs, but the right narrative and targeted evidence (product outcomes, promotion story, recommenders) will make the difference. ISB and INSEAD can be reachable with a well-packaged application; HEC MiM is possible but may not be the best fit given your >2 years’ experience and your aim for product/consulting (MiM programs typically target earlier-career candidates).

Recently, we've had the opportunity to work with an Associate Consultant with 3 years of work experience and a 655 GMAT FE score, she got an admission offer from HEC and received an ISB interview.

ISB can be a good target, it values leadership, promotions, and measurable impact. Your NPCI product work and team leadership align strongly. ISB’s class GMAT averages are high (~720 classic), but ISB is holistic, strong work outcomes and leadership matter a lot.

INSEAD Round 3 (possible / reach → target depending on positioning). INSEAD expects 2-8 years (recommended 5-6), so your 3.5 years is within the acceptable range. It values an international mindset, a clear post-MBA plan, and leadership. Your payments + AI product experience is attractive, but INSEAD is highly competitive; emphasize productization, global impact, and how INSEAD’s multi-campus, accelerated MBA fits your trajectory.

If your aim is product/tech consulting, an MBA (INSEAD/ISB) is likely a better fit than MiM. If you strongly prefer HEC, consider HEC’s other master's (or check HEC MiM recent class work-experience ranges).

What adcoms will love about you: NPCI / payments domain, real, mission-critical product work in national payments is rare and highly recruitable for fintech/product roles. Rapid promotions + team lead, shows managerial potential and upward trajectory. AI engineering → product pilots, bridge from engineering to product-minded roles if you quantify outcomes (user metrics, pilot success, adoption). High academic performance, good GPA + departmental topper, a clear signal of academic rigor.

Things you can do:
1) Make the PMI (product > MBA), credible story. Adcoms need to see how an MBA changes your path. Right now, your background is technical with product pilots. Articulate the missing skills (strategy, product management frameworks, stakeholder management, go-to-market, general management) that the MBA will provide. You can draft a crisp 2-year post-MBA role (like Product Manager at PayTech/Fintech or Tech-consulting associate at a top firm) and 5-year plan (like lead product at a scaleup > build your own product team / join consulting to shape fintech strategy).

2) Quantify pilot outcomes & product metrics. Admissions and recruiters love numbers. For each pilot (Rupay Loyalty, UPI Help), provide: timeline, your role, success metrics (pilot conversion, retention uplift, user growth, revenue or cost saved), deployment scope, team size, and any client/adoption commitments. If metrics are internal/confidential, use percentages or ranges. Try to create 3 good STAR bullets with metrics.

If you’re comfortable with your current score, proceed, but if you feel you can boost your score, you’ll reduce risk at INSEAD & ISB and might increase scholarship chances. Also, decide whether HEC is a priority and which HEC program aligns with your experience & goals. For LORS, choose recommenders who can quantify product impact & leadership: a direct manager at NPCI who witnessed promotions and a stakeholder (product manager/partner) who can speak to your productization and cross-functional leadership.

If you are at the essay crafting stage, “Why MBA / Why INSEAD / Why ISB”, or building your story, feel free to get an expert's eye on the essay drafts and a profile evaluation session. You can take a look at this YouTube video: INSEAD MBA Essay workshop.

Network well and schedule short alumni calls (INSEAD, ISB, HEC) and note one concrete program feature from each call to reference in essays. Question for you: Which short-term role do you want immediately after the MBA (Product Manager at a payments company / Tech Strategy Consultant at X)? Name 1-3 target employers if possible.

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