Hi GyanOne,

Thank you for the feedback on my profile. I am currently very stuck, and would appreciate your input.

I complete 1 year of work ex at my current organization on 31st July 2018 (a month from now). I have been unhappy in my job for some months now, simply because I see myself stagnating creatively. The executive education domain doesn't allow for much in terms of creativity. However, I realize that quitting would negatively harm my application.

However, one of my most reliable former freelance clients has just approached me with an offer. They want to diversify, and set up a new business- high quality fashion prints, and would like me to lead the efforts. They are willing to invest, and want me to take charge of the entire creation and execution- I'll be allowed to hire my own team and consultants as needed. It is an exciting offer, but there is an enormous risk involved (as is with all startups).

I can't apply in R1 (Sept 15) if I quit my job and take the other offer- I don't think that would look good on my application at all. On the other hand, if I quit and take the offer, and apply in R2, the startup will still be in nascent stages so I may or may not be able to show tangible impact.

Should I just stick to my current job, despite it not being what I want to do in the long run?

I have absolutely no idea what to do.

Hi Suraj

Apologies for missing out on your query earlier. Fell through the cracks. However, you seem to be applying this year, so this will hopefully still be useful.
- Your academics are about average. Class XII is low, and the BBA marks are not outstanding either. A bit surprised that 58% in your BBA is in the top 10% of your class; however, if that is the case, please note this in the additional comments section of your ISB app.
- A GMAT score of 720 is great; your experience in the social sphere is outstanding. TFI experience is valued by ISB as well. The 1.5 years of IT experience earlier also counts, but will be less important now.
- What will be critical for you now is how you build your goals and relate them to the need for an MBA and a fit with ISB.
- Please also go through this article: https://www.gyanone.com/blog/mba-after-teach-for-india/

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed.
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FROM UK BACK TO INDIA? SECOND MASTERS FOR A CIVIL ENGINEER | ISB PGP



If you thought getting a master’s degree abroad is remarkable, what would you think of a person who has signed up for the ride all over again? genius right? Spurthi Joglekar’s story so far is nothing short of inspiring. Her academic caliber, the brilliant work experience and the strong drive to make a difference in this world makes her strive harder. A brief look at her profile allows us a peek into the mind of someone who is not only bright but has been able to use that brilliance to pursue a passion as well. With a keen interest in infrastructure and sustainable businesses, she has always hoped that she can find creative solutions to global problems....READ MORE

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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ISB R1 interview calls for the Mumbai interview location have gone out October 1 late evening onwards. Most interviews slated to be over the weekend (Oct 6) in Mumbai. Lead time given before the interview varies from 5 days to 3 days.
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ISB MFAB Program Review - Things You Should Definitely Know

Keshav Aggarwal, now an ISB MFAB student, is a graduate from London School of Economics and joined his family business right after his graduation. He took ownership of complete operations of the manufacturing plant, focusing on introducing new technologies and methodologies to improve the product and process quality. On this journey, with several plant improvements and initiatives to his credit, he realized the need to get formal education in family business and entreprenuership. Then is when ISB MFAB happened, and here is his take and insights into the program for all you MFAB aspirants!



Why did you select the ISB MFAB program?
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READ MORE ON ISB MFAB APPLICATION PROCESS
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Hi GyanOne,

I applied in R1 for Class of 2019-2020. I have been waitlisted. I would like to know any wait list conversion ratio if possible, based on previous year data and trends. I'm currently in a fix and I've got to wait until March 20, 2019

Regards,
HK

Please reply to my query ?

Posted from my mobile device

Hey GyanOne,

I do understand, here are the things you've asked for

I'm a Re-Applicant.. Last year Rejected after Interview
GMAT - 710
10th - 74.42
12th - 87
UG - 68.51 [Undergrad Institution - Anurag Group of Institutions, Hyderabad]

Work experience - 5 years 8 months

Graduated in 2013 - Started working as an analyst for Google through a vendor, an year later went back to support my family business. Two years later switched to a corporate role, where I work as a business development executive. I have my own venture as a part of my family business as well ( distribution and consulting firm).

Essay 1 - I've mentioned I started a venture, did some expansion and got an opportunity to help about 25 small businesses and our work got recognised by MOF
Essay 2 - Shift from current role to Management Consulting, specifically Strategy Consulting. I have some prior experience in Entrepreneurship and Operations because of expanding my family business and venture and now I plan to get into that role in the short term and in the long run work as a partner at a prominent consulting firm and engage with clients at a global level [Goals]

Re app essay - mentioned my developments since last year

Interview is as follows -

Location: Hyderabad
Date: 21st October 2018
Interview time: 16:00 hrs GMAT: 710 Exp: 5 years 8 months

Re-Applicant
Last year: Rejected after interview

The campus is an hour away from where I stay and I wanted to reach the location by 15:30 hrs. I started early to have lunch on my way and about 14:40 I get a call from the ISB team saying that the panel is running early and I was 10 mins away from location and I rushed to the location. After my registration I called the number from which I had a gotten a call and informed them about my arrival and 5 mins later I was called upstairs and I felt nostalgic and was thinking about the last time. Around 15:00 hrs I see a girl walking out of a room and a minute later I was called and I I have a legal name that is different from how I am called in real life and I told them call me X in short and I went into the room and pleasantries were exchanged. Two panel members (P2). Lets call them A and B. B informed about my name and how I like to be referred as X


B: How are you feeling?
Me: Hungry and nervous
A and B: why so? (surprised look)
Me: I started early to have lunch but i got a call saying that the panel was running early and I came
B: but are you comfortable?
Me- yes this is more important than a meal, please go ahead
B: ok so you did engineering and did all these i.e walk me through your resume
Me: gave them answer . made a mistake and the panel caught it and were like what.. I took my time to explain..

I was holding onto my passport and the panel told me you don't have to hold it and I replied I was nervous

B: Ok what work did you do at these companies
Me: Answered
A: you have venture (family business) why don't you join there
Me: answered
B: Current role and what does your company do
Me: Answered
B: oh so do you have a product that you sell?
Me: yes explained
B: is it like skype
Me: answered
B: oh if not like skype so it is like product M
Me: yes that is our competitor but in india it doesn't have that much presence etc

All in like 5-7 mins

A: okay what is your most ruthless business principle
Me: i didn't get you
A; repeated the question with an example
Me: I gave an answer which wasn't in sync with the question
A: ok forget that so how are you trying to compete with Y
Me: answered
A: but still product M is from a million dollar company how are you going to do? It will buy your company etc . I don't care about 1,2,3 features of your product, I have a company of my own.
Me: told them we work in economically backward countries and price is low so we always have customers for our product
A: ok you are targeting country K
Me: yes
A: Do you know when the million dollar company started? any guess?
Me: about 2000
A: yes, so about 15+ years of brand and what are you going to do
Me: answered
A: okay now product M is launched there what will you do ( country K)
Me: gave an answer
A: okay now you know product M is getting launched what will you do
Me: answered, mentioned price as a factor and certain features
A: okay let us say that product M is offering the same features then what you do
Me: product M is not designed that way, we already have it ready so you can save time by choosing our product
A; okay after 4 months the product is launched and now what do you do ?
Me: will focus on brand loyalty and referrals to increase business
A: but again it is a million dollar company they can buy you out. what do you do. you are offering for 100 rupees but the other company is offering at 90 rupees
Me: answered
A: okay now you are hired by the million dollar company for double the salary how will you market product M and take over the market share of your company
Me: answered
A: now switch roles you know that someone in other company is trying to overtake your market share

My face looked so sad and dejected. A apologised sorry X, I am putting you in a difficult situation, your work title is this and you need to make such decisions. I infact thanked him for such questions. I took a 30-45 seconds to prepare my answer whenever a cross question was thrown at me. I had a pen and paper in front of me and noted down bullet points and expanded on that

Me: will give additional features and market the product
B: (after a long time ) okay but wouldn't that take additional cost
Me: yes but we do have features that people don't use and we would showcase those as new features and showcase it as better
B: so you are telling me that you will out-innovate a million dollar company
Me: i will try to , we may not have the resources or finance but I will do my best because a million dollar company is trying to compete with us we will do our best.
A: okay so now it's a million dollar company the best is to sell it
Me: discussed about not selling
A: okay now the company wants to buy your product and how will you motivate the team to sell/not sell

I asked for a minute and noted down points

Me: answered on how to sell and motivate the team
B: but you did not address the employees for the product what about me
Me; Oh i forgot, answered
A: so you know how to sell your product better?
Me: yes
both A and B: are you taking the learning to work
Me: i was answering no to a question and there was coincidence to this question above and I said no thats not what i meant and i explained myself
B: you mentioned uplift in your resume for sales. How do you quantify that?
Me: I look at previous quarter revenue and look at % growth
B: you mentioned you're taking some courses ( mentioned in my re-app essay about taking some online courses)
Me: Answered about the courses
B: why ISB
Me: gave a standard answer and also said need a network to expand my family biz as well ( not sure if that was a good point)
B: ok so you want a network
Me: yes i want to expand my venture so i need that
B: you were mentioning that you need some skills from MBA.. can you mention what skills
Me: yes i want to be an entrepreneur
B; so by just joining will you become one?
me: i may not but ISB will put me in the right direction
both A and B looking at each other: any questions:
Me; the interview was really wonderful I got to look at things bla bla .. I am sorry that I could not hold back my words.
A: i understand it is okay
Me: asked my question
A and B: replied

we shook hands and I told mr.A that it will always be a memorable interview and i walked out. i forgot my passport and went back to get that and I could see them discussing on something

It was 35-40 minutes interview with too many cross questions and tough situations. every point I made was being countered. Yes i did fumble and made some mistakes, there's no perfect interview but I came out feeling not bad. I do not know what to make out of this interview as well. As always may be I could have done better?

Looking at the larger picture - no why mba no goal related questions . I wanted to get into consulting and no case related questions etc
only why isb resume questions and product competitor questions

Over the course of 6 years I've had a few interviews but this one stands out for the way it was conducted and thanks to Mr.A first and Mr. B as well . I asked the company Mr.A owns and he told me about along with the address.

I would like to now know where do i stand because without a wait list number, the next four months are just blank for me. I have taken it as a reject and moved on and I'm looking at other colleges as of now. I really look forward to your reply on this

Regards,
HK

PS - excuse typos

Hi HK

Thanks for the detailed post. This was really helpful. Here is out analysis:
- Although you did your best (and did do well too) in the interview given the cross-questioning, our sense is that overall their impression would be that of mild conviction, and your interview performance may not be the top decile types. In hindsight, some elements like telling them you are nervous and hungry could have been avoided. The rest is of course a response to what they asked.
- The goals part in essay 2 was a little less convincing. Strategy consulting may not be an easy sell given your experience and scores. Also, it is a goal often mentioned by applicants. That is the part that is creating confusion here. Given your corporate experience and family business exposure (+ your venture), a better/more understandable goal is to become an entrepreneur, not go into consulting. Our hunch is they were not convinced with the direction you are taking, hence so many questions (while a few goals questions are par for the course in any interview, these were probably a lot more than usual).
- Our assessment is that given this interview and the overall profile, chances of conversion are medium to low for your case. Please do not take this to be an incontrovertible opinion. Our effort here is only to provide an assessment so you can plan your time better now. You should probably be looking at other schools apart from ISB that are on your radar, and putting in strong applications (and sort out the goals part certainly, please) to those. If ISB converts, consider it a bonus.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed.
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Hey GyanOne,

I'd appreciate a profile review, if you don't mind!

Background: 3 years in Risk Management at a large Investment Bank with considerable brand equity; helped save a cumulative sum of $0.5 billion. 2.5 years founding a FinTech start-up, scaling, growing it into a $3M company that saved investors $1M and selling it for 5x projected revenues.

Extracurriculars: Published writer, Performer in Broadway-style shows, Non-profit co-founder and CFO

Nationality: Indian

Sex: Male

Undergrad school/major: Bachelors of Technology [Engineering; non-Tier1 school]

Age at matriculation: 25

Stats:
GMAT: 760 [Q49 V44]

Undergrad GPA: 66% [~ 3.1/4.0]

MBA Info:
Goal: Early-stage Venture Capital for a few years to work with high-growth tech companies and help them solve problems of scale. FinTech entrepreneurship in the long term. (Already have a sense of what I want to build.)

Applying to: Mostly T-20 schools but thinking of keeping ISB R2 as a viable option too.

Appreciate the help!
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