Hello Sameer,
Please evaluate my profile and provide me guidance on which B-schools should I select.
My MBA interest: Strategy & Business mgt, (essentially Brand Management), Marketing.
GMAT - targeting between 710-740 (Will give the test in September)
Total Work Exp: 6 yrs (1.5 yrs event management + 1.5 yrs Publishing industry + design consulting mainly in Corporate Identity design 3 yrs)
Education:
BA (Hons) in Philosophy (1st division, stood 3rd in class)
Post-grad Diploma at NIFT (National Instt of fashion technology) in Fashion communication (Gold-medalist)
Foundation degree Award in Graphic Communication from University of the arts, London (scored 78%)
Sex – Female
Age – 30 yrs
Nationality - Indian
Responsibilities:
Event Management -
Handled 27 events, out of which 9 were handled independently. Integral part of the creative and the marketing team while also supervising the overall production process. Created design themes and promotional material for the events. Formulated comprehensive sales presentations and innovative marketing strategies and campaigns.
Publishing - Conceived and executed creative solutions for their illustrative books from concept to completion. Collaborated with editors to design covers and jackets for their fiction and non-fiction titles. Created computer-generated artwork for marketing and promotional materials. Supervised the entire production process.
Supervised and trained junior designers and artists. Liaised between the editors and the authors.
Design Consultant (corporate identity Specialist)-
Visualized and developed the corporate identity for the brand. Created the vision and the graphic image of the brand. Styled photo shoots for the ad campaign & product catalogue.
Target market research and devising the advertising strategy.
Worked very closely with the marketing director and trained and supervised junior designers and artists.
Achievements:
1. Won the prestigious ISTD (International Society of Typographic designers) competition and currently a member of the society.
2. Awards at NIFT (a) All-round Excellence (b) Best Diploma Project
3. Received several awards in academics, debating and elocution at school and college level.
4. Promoted twice: once from events assistant to events executive and the next time from graphic designer to Sr. Art Designer.
Leadership Roles:
1. Organised cultural events at College level
2. While in event management - handled 9 events independently as the Team Lead- handled the creatives, client-servicing and the production of the events.
3. Organised CMYK- the end-of-course graduate exhibition (University of the Arts, London) and co-ordinated with industry recruiters.
4. Joined The RN Group as the Corporate Identity Specialist, leading a team of junior designers, desktop publishers and production artists.
ECs:
1. I have worked very closely with the Art of Living Foundation in their rural projects in India- literacy and vocational training projects.
2. Organised medical camps.
3. Participated in the World Youth Peace Summit organised by International association of human values.
4. Raised Rs. 25 lacs through a youth musical concert “mantra” to help in rural development.
5. Organised a campaign for the ban of plastic bags.
6. Organised an exhibition of the pottery, metal art, embroidery, canework , etc. created by people in rural areas. The proceeds of which went towards the development of schools in those areas.)
Sort term Goal - creative director or Brand/Account Manager in a big advertising firm.
Long-term Goal - I want to start my own advertising company.
I would like to know:
1. How my profile looks for an MBA from the top 10-20 B-schools?
2. What, in your opinion, are my strengths and weakness?
3.Do my community service activities have to be very recent or could they also be 3-4 yrs old?
4. Please mention what should I do to make my case stronger for final call.
5. Please list the best schools for Entrepreneurship, Strategy & Business mgt, Marketing.