Yours is a tricky case, as the GMAT does not inspire confidence but the work history has potential that might just compensate.
The career goals still need more introspection. Not sure if you have enough time to build a strong application in the limited time left, so you also have the option of retaking the GMAT and applying later with an improved profile.
Hey guys!
I wrote GMAT thrice - first in 2018 and then twice in November, 2021 but wasn't able to score more than 660(Q49/47,V32/34). I know it is a below par score but given my profile, I thought to get a second opinion. So, I would really appreciate if someone can help me with my profile evaluation.
Below are my details :
- 31, Male, India
- B.E. : 2008- 2012, Computer Science, VTU, Bangalore 76%
- 10th: CBSE 87%
- 12th: CBSE 87%
- GMAT: 660 (V34 Q47) 640(V27, Q49)
- WE: 9 years
Work Experience :
1. Aricent Technologies (now Capgemini): 2012- 2014, Software Engineer
Used to work on Base-station (BTS) for the client - Nokia Solutions Network. Key responsibilities were to enhance & debug legacy modules for a new 3G BTS and build new features for Packet Abis(NSN's proprietary interface).
Was awarded with best project award during the training period.
The only fresher in my batch that was hand picked for NSN's project and sent onsite within 6 months on floor.
Was awarded with best performance for 2 consecutive years and got promoted to senior software engineer in less than 22 months.
2. Bugfree Travel: 2015-2018, Founder
So I got bit by entrepreneurial bug and thus, left Aricent to start my first startup called Bugfree Travel- a marketplace for travel agents. The idea was to make travelling and travel booking really easy & seamless for travelers, remove the middle agents as well as the unwanted commissions and markups, and reduce the total travel cost as well as burden of planning.
Received some traction in the beginning but things got harder with time, especially after months of low revenue and thus, eventually we failed miserably and ended up shutting it down. Major reasons of shutting down were, of course the low revenue, lack of funding, not so credible team and most of all lack of planning, vision & execution.
During those 3 years, I managed to create several strategic alliances with domestic & international travel operators, attended several OTMs that gave a lot of exposure, travelled to 15 states in India & met the real players on the ground level that actually manage the most basic of a travel itineraries.
Pitched the idea to several VCs but wasn't successful in raising funding.
In a nutshell, it was a bittersweet journey but except knowledge & exposure, I couldn't really get anything out of Bugfree
Before I talk about my next experience, I need to tell you that this was the time when I had applied for ISB for the first time. My score was just 640(Q49, V27) but I had spent a good amount of time in the application. So, I thought let's just apply. So what I mean to really say is that this time I will be a re-applicant!
3. Foreignerds: 2019-Current, Founder
After being dejected and heartbroken because of my failed startup, low GMAT score and rejection from ISB, I had just lost my way and starting thinking to join a company but one fine day, during a conversation with another startup founder, I realized that I have few sales & marketing skills that got built because of my journey in Bugfree and the same skills could be put to a better use and thus, Foreignerds, a digital transformation agency, was born.
I had a decent idea about software development and digital marketing, and thus, I thought I could help other startups to avoid mistakes that I did and may be earn a decent living. That was my only goal at that point of time but little did I know about what God had in mind for me. Within first year we clocked revenue of $80,000 USD and increased the team size from 4 to 12. This was small but gave me enough motivation to continue.
Next 2 years, we worked smart and created several partnerships with accelerators, incubators, PR agencies, consulting firms, marketing & development agencies in US, UK and Canada. These partnerships gave us access to a huge pool of funded startups and stable white label work every month and thereby, increased our revenue to $450,000, team size to a whopping 78, and our service offerings to 12.
Why MBA & ISB?
I have a great offer at hand and I am 99% convinced to take an exit. Major reason being I think I have got the maximum I could get out of Foreignerds! Given that it was bootstrapped with virtually zero investment, it has reached to a stage where the number of challenges have also increased exponentially, for most of which my plans have failed repeatedly, and it has become absolutely hard to maintain the same level and cross a certain level, I feel that after doing & learning things the hard way, now it is the time to learn things from the experts.
ISB's PGP program is really compact, pretty immersive and can have a really big impact on someone's personality. The amount of diverse exposure that ISB offers alone can impact the way one thinks, perceives a situation or handles it. Moreover, ISB has a global appeal as well as reach that can help one to build a network and leverage it if there is an opportunity.
Extra-curricular: Not much to say in that area
- Have been an active participant in drama & theatres since school. Haven't really won anything though!
- A lot of awards and certificates for volleyball (district, state, zone level) and cricket (club level)
- Active member of a pet care NGO
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27 Nov 2021, 02:45
