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rome2534
Joined: 23 Oct 2022
Last visit: 01 Nov 2025
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 7
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Leadership
Schools: Columbia CBS'26 Fuqua '26 HEC Jan'24 Intake
GPA: 4
WE:General Management (Manufacturing)
09 Aug 2023, 03:14
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Hi
im planning to apply for ISBs pgp program. I have 3+ years pf work experience in family business. Since interviews revolve around past work experience, I wanted to know what kind of questions might come up. If anyone with family business background has had an interview, could you please share your experience regarding the same
im planning to apply for ISBs pgp program. I have 3+ years pf work experience in family business. Since interviews revolve around past work experience, I wanted to know what kind of questions might come up. If anyone with family business background has had an interview, could you please share your experience regarding the same
09 Aug 2023, 03:31
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Hello rome2534,
Based on your note, it seems you are applying to ISB's PGP program and NOT ISB's MFAB program. Clarify if my interpretation is incorrect.
Assuming I am right, I am curious to understand why is your concern regarding the Interviews right now? Ideally, you need to first focus on creating a compelling narrative in your essays and rest of the application so that you achieve the first milestone of receiving an interview invite. Things that you will need to address in both your application as well as during the Interview are follows:
1. Why did you chose PGP vs MFAB ? Have you done a thorough research on the similarities & differences between PGP & MFAB and how has that research influenced your decision making.
2. How will you add value to a cohort comprising mostly of people from corporate background.
3. Are your career goals post MBA aligned with growing your Family Business or venturing into something different?
4. 2nd/3rd generation Family Business is often assumed to have predictable revenue streams and cashflows. So how have you added incremental value in such a well oiled setup? Did you actually have meaningful contribution or were you just an overseer of things maintaining status quo.
I wrote a blog on this topic sometime back - https://www.crackadmission.com/getting- ... ackground/
Hope this gives you some additional clarity.
I am an ISB PGP alum,CO15, and have been personally guiding applicants successfully get into MBA programs in India and Globally. Please feel free to reach out to me (coordinates in signature) if and when you seek professional guidance.
Cheers and all the best !
Based on your note, it seems you are applying to ISB's PGP program and NOT ISB's MFAB program. Clarify if my interpretation is incorrect.
Assuming I am right, I am curious to understand why is your concern regarding the Interviews right now? Ideally, you need to first focus on creating a compelling narrative in your essays and rest of the application so that you achieve the first milestone of receiving an interview invite. Things that you will need to address in both your application as well as during the Interview are follows:
1. Why did you chose PGP vs MFAB ? Have you done a thorough research on the similarities & differences between PGP & MFAB and how has that research influenced your decision making.
2. How will you add value to a cohort comprising mostly of people from corporate background.
3. Are your career goals post MBA aligned with growing your Family Business or venturing into something different?
4. 2nd/3rd generation Family Business is often assumed to have predictable revenue streams and cashflows. So how have you added incremental value in such a well oiled setup? Did you actually have meaningful contribution or were you just an overseer of things maintaining status quo.
I wrote a blog on this topic sometime back - https://www.crackadmission.com/getting- ... ackground/
Hope this gives you some additional clarity.
I am an ISB PGP alum,CO15, and have been personally guiding applicants successfully get into MBA programs in India and Globally. Please feel free to reach out to me (coordinates in signature) if and when you seek professional guidance.
Cheers and all the best !
MBAGuide
Joined: 24 Jul 2019
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
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Concentration: Operations, Marketing
Schools: Insead Sept'18 (A$$) ISB '19 (A)
09 Aug 2023, 23:39
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rome2534
rome2534
Don't wait for the interview panel to lead the interview. Instead, consider which best stories and aspects you want to emphasize to the panel, and cleverly steer the interview in that direction.
I have worked with applicants from family businesses. To be honest, the questions are not very different from those asked of an applicant from the corporate sector. The goal is to find out if you really have a deep understanding of the industry in which your family business operates, and what nuances of market forces are at play that shaped your entrepreneurial thinking and decision-making when you were challenged during your responsibilities for your family business. One thing that is highly valued by business schools and recruiters is that applicants have hands-on experience directly managing a variety of high-impact projects (if you come from a family business, you should have had this experience). So make an exhaustive list of all your projects.
Questions will focus primarily on your work profile, expertise, industry knowledge, risk tolerance, people management, and leadership skills and goals..
Think about the contributions you have made to your family business and focus on the key success metrics you have achieved on your own. Candidates who have experience growing a family business can bring a unique perspective, having experienced firsthand what it takes to make decisions around specific goals. As a new generation in the family business, you can also state your case by example and cite your fresh and unconventional approach to business (as opposed to the traditional norms followed by management in family businesses) as your motivation for applying for a PGP at this time. The experience of working in a family business comes with immense learning experiences and challenges that, if properly presented in your application, would make you a strong candidate.
If you would like to ace your B School interview prep, reach out.
Get personalized advice tailored to your specific situation. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process.
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com
