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sujoshKAHALI
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Joined: 16 Jun 2025
Last visit: 17 Jun 2025
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My Story: Hotel Leadership to INSEAD and How I Help Others Like Me 16 Jun 2025, 19:25
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From hospitality to INSEAD — how I built my MBA story without a traditional background
I wanted to share my journey for anyone out there who feels like they don’t “fit the mould” of the typical MBA applicant.
Before INSEAD, I worked in hospitality — running hotel operations, leading large teams, and managing guest experience and sales under pressure. No consulting experience. No finance internships. Just real-world leadership, long hours, and results.
When I first considered applying, I had all the usual doubts:
  • Is my profile MBA-worthy?
  • How do I frame my story?
  • Will I be taken seriously against the MBBs and analysts?
What helped me break through was figuring out how to translate my operational experience into a strategic narrative. Not by pretending to be someone else — but by understanding what schools like INSEAD really value: leadership, resilience, and clarity.
[hr]
If you’re coming from a non-traditional background (hospitality, retail, military, ops, etc.) and trying to figure out how to tell your story, feel free to reply here or DM me. You can also email me at sujosh.kahali@insead.edu

Happy to share what worked for me and what I’ve learned from others I’m now helping.
Sometimes, the thing that makes you different is exactly what makes you stand out.
— Sujosh
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Mrc00ool
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Joined: 25 May 2025
Last visit: 26 Sep 2025
Posts: 29
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Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: ISB '26
GPA: 3.3
Schools: ISB '26
Posts: 29
Kudos: 5
My Story: Hotel Leadership to INSEAD and How I Help Others Like Me 23 Jun 2025, 11:05
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Thanks for sharing, will reach out
sujoshKAHALI
From hospitality to INSEAD — how I built my MBA story without a traditional background
I wanted to share my journey for anyone out there who feels like they don’t “fit the mould” of the typical MBA applicant.
Before INSEAD, I worked in hospitality — running hotel operations, leading large teams, and managing guest experience and sales under pressure. No consulting experience. No finance internships. Just real-world leadership, long hours, and results.
When I first considered applying, I had all the usual doubts:
  • Is my profile MBA-worthy?
  • How do I frame my story?
  • Will I be taken seriously against the MBBs and analysts?
What helped me break through was figuring out how to translate my operational experience into a strategic narrative. Not by pretending to be someone else — but by understanding what schools like INSEAD really value: leadership, resilience, and clarity.
[hr]
If you’re coming from a non-traditional background (hospitality, retail, military, ops, etc.) and trying to figure out how to tell your story, feel free to reply here or DM me. You can also email me at sujosh.kahali@insead.edu

Happy to share what worked for me and what I’ve learned from others I’m now helping.
Sometimes, the thing that makes you different is exactly what makes you stand out.
— Sujosh
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Prateek_Sood
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Last visit: 17 Oct 2025
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Schools: ISB '26 INSEAD Aug '26 HEC Sept '26
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Schools: ISB '26 INSEAD Aug '26 HEC Sept '26
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My Story: Hotel Leadership to INSEAD and How I Help Others Like Me 24 Jun 2025, 22:29
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Thanks for sharing
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pintukr
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Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
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GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
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GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
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My Story: Hotel Leadership to INSEAD and How I Help Others Like Me 29 Jun 2025, 11:55
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That is quite motivating..Thanks..