Hi,
I would love to hear your opinion on my brief profile.
Targeting INSEAD Jan intake R1, Kellogg 1yr MBA R2 and MBB consulting after that.
GMAT score: 730 (Q50, V40, IR 7)
Demography: 32 years, Male Indian
Undergraduation: Computer Science Engineer from NIT-Trichy (Ranked consistently in Top 10 engineering institutes in India)
CGPA: 8.62/10 (First class with Distinction)
Postgraduation: MBA (2 year full time flagship PGP course) from IIM-Ahmedabad (Harvard MBA-equivalent & consistently ranked #1 MBA in India)
CGPA: 2.777/3
Work experience (in brief):
Current total work experience of 8.5 years:
• Last 4.5 years of work experience in technology (SaaS-based software) sales roles (business development & account management) in mid & leadership levels across 2 emerging companies (each with an annual revenue of ~20 million USD). Led teams sized 12 account managers in one of the organizations where I got promoted twice.
• 1.5 years in Product Marketing in a Fortune 500 software MNC. Awarded the best new joiner of the year across 40 B-school recruits. Won the best marketing campaign award by US-based HQ office, organized across 13 geographies. Won Quarterly Spot award – conceived & executed marketing strategies to sell Cloud at 140 universities
• 2-month summer internship during my MBA in Strategy & BD at a Fortune 500 company
• 2.5 years in technology consulting (pre-MBA) in a niche boutique consulting firm where I worked closely with US-based tech law firms & US-based Fortune 500 tech companies. Got promoted once. Helped a client receive settlement of USD 20 million in damages against seven Fortune 500 retail banks
• Will be joining a Fortune 500 technology company in a Sales role next month
• All above work locations in India
International exposure details:
• During my work experience at the niche boutique consulting firm, I worked with US-based tech law firms & US-based Fortune 500 tech companies to deliver ROI on tech intellectual property & perform due diligence. Worked in the US for about 3 months in 2011. Travelled to meet & work closely with clients in 6 cities across east coast and west coast in the US.
• During my MBA at IIM-Ahmedabad, as a part of the student exchange program, I did one term (3 months) at France Business School in 2013. Did a backpacking tour to 14 countries in Europe during the exchange program.
• During my product marketing role with the Fortune 500 software MNC, I worked closely with teams across geographies to orchestrate global marketing campaigns. Travelled to the USA for marketing training workshop & events.
• Personal immersion trips with family (not sure if these count): A 2-week holiday trip across multiple cities in Japan in 2016, a 2-week holiday trip across Thailand in 2017 and a 10-day holiday trip to Dubai in 2019
• Currently learning Spanish and targeting to clear the SIELE global exam A1 within the next 2 months
Extracurriculars:
• Trained in Indian Classical vocal music for 15 years. Performed across venues during school & college days, with concert reviews in leading newspapers. Winner of multiple awards in school & college
• Performed in English plays, attended by 300-people & reviewed in leading newspapers
• Cleared Mensa worldwide test – Top 2%. Member of Mensa international
• Active NSS volunteer, organized community service camps and tree-planting schemes at college
Other academic achievements:
CAT 2011 (Common Admission Test - India)
Taken on Oct 2011: 99.65 Percentile
Number of test takers - 189,000
AIEEE 2005 (All India Engineering Entrance Exam)
Taken on May 2005: 98.81 Percentile
Number of test takers - 800,000
Do you think I stand a chance of INSEAD interview & admit, or am I being too ambitious (given my lack of direct international work ex & above average 8.5 years current work ex)?
You have very solid and relevant work experience, and impressive background. The lack of direct international experience should not a deterring factor. What type of career opportunities are you looking to pursue after obtaining an MBA? If MBB, what specific areas and why? It will be important to articulate this well in your essay responses, leaning on the years of experience you have had in technology, marketing and now sales.
Can you also please suggest other B-schools as well (both Europe & US), given my profile & aspirations of MBB consulting? Your profile is strong enough to consider many schools. Just a few to consider would include Europe - IESE, HEC, Cambride; US - Dartmouth Tuck, Chicago BoothOpen to doing a brief pre-MBA internship or stint in a consulting/strategy/EA to CXO role once I get an
MBA admit, to increase my chances of a shortlist with MBB consulting.
This would be a good idea for the summer before you begin the program, if your schedule/timing allows, however, it may be difficult to find these types of short-term opportunities prior to being in the MBA program. I would suggest to begin networking now and utilizing your work experience and other degrees as leverage.Given a choice, I would prefer a 1-year MBA (since I’ve already done a 2-year MBA), but open to a 2-year MBA if the internship helps pivot from sales into consulting/strategy.
Top consulting firms put a greater value on the 2-year MBA, however, your situation may be a little different with your prior degree. You will need to build your strategy and story in your applications to reflect what additional knowledge and skills you are looking to gain with the additional degree, and how it will increase your value in management consulting. Looking forward to hearing your feedback,
Thanks much!
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31 Oct 2020, 06:22
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