I'd like to kindly request you a profile evaluation on my candidacy for INSEAD. Here goes.

Nationality- Moroccan
Residence - France
Gender- Male
Age - 29
Grad- 3,6 GPA (Tier1 engineering school)
GMAT- 700(Q49, V37, IR6, AWA5)

Post MBA Goals:
Short Term : MBB Consulting
Long Term: Founding my own company with a focus on the African market // maybe do politics

Work Exp :
- 5+ years in a big telco company : I have joined the company within a specific an attractive recruitment scheme designed for high-potential graduates from the best international engineering and/or business schools. Rate of admission: 25 among 1500+ candidates (~1%).
- 4 different jobs/promotions in 5 years: deputy technical team manager (+100people), financial controller (~40m€), E-commerce strategist (Reporting to France's B2C E-commerce VP), Transformation program director (my current job).
-> Thanks to this experience, I have a transverse vision of the company that I want to consolidate with a mba from INSEAD (my dream school)
- Intrapreneurship: Since 2016, I devote part of my time to implement a solution that has become a major project: sponsored by an executive and included in the roadmap of the direction to which I belong.

Awards and Recognition :
- Merit scholarship awarded by the Moroccan government to pursue my studies in France
- Part of the high potential pool of my company
- Got promotion to the next level (there remains only one level to become top manager) as one of the youngest to access
- Had the opportunity to present my intrapraneurial project to the CEO and the executive committee.

Extra-Curricular Activities:
- Contribution to the seminaries organization dealing with strategic topics for the development of Morocco (politics has always interested me)
- Created and led, with HR, a think tank (50+ young employees, experts and senior executives ) on youth engagement based on design thinking techniques to empower young people in my company.
- During my studies, Moroccan representative within the “Assembly of Delegates of Residents’ Committee “ of the International University Campus in Paris which is the largest site hosting foreign students and researchers in France and maybe in the world (+12,000 students, researchers, artists and athletes from 127 countries !!!). My task was to represent the residents’ views on all issues to do with living on the International Campus and create bridges with other cultures.

Hello MBADecoder,

Thank you a lot for your evaluation. What do you think about my GMAT score ?

Hey!

I would like you to kindly review my profile and possibly comment on its quality.

Age: 30 , Gender: Male , Nationality : Indian

GMAT : 750

Bachelor's : Symbiosis International University
Bachelor in Accounts & Finance , graduated with 3.10/4 in 2010

MBA : Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi (considered one of the best college's in Asia for Trade)
MBA in International Business (specialisation Trade) , graduated with 2.62/4.33 in 2016

Certifications: CFA LvL 3 & FRM LvL 2

Languages : English, Hindi & French

Work ex Post - MBA:

- 3 years(current) as a Trade manager responsible for procuring, transporting and importing dry bulk commodity into 14 African countries(biggest importer of clinker in African continent & handling traders in excess of $100million independently) based out of Middle East with constant travel to all 14 country's.

Work ex Pre - MBA:

- 2 years with Lloyd's London working in Maritime Insurance with one of the biggest Property & Casualty Insurance Brokers.

- 2 years entrepreneurial venture(business development) - expansion of existing family business in setting up educational institute (K+10) which unfortunately had to be wound down dude to sanction and licensing legalities.

Post MBA: would like to be involved in operations role of European energy trading firms(very briefly).

I wanted to know, in particular, whether I am have a competitive profile for INSEAD, keeping in mind this would be my second MBA and how much of a factor would my low MBA gpa play?

Please comment.

Thanks in advance,

Hi,

Can anyone give feedback on my chances to INSEAD?

Want to shift career into Management Consulting. So, hopeful that MBA would be a trampoline for this.

Asian, currently working in UAE.
Age: 30
Diploma of Electronics Engineering, 2010, 3.2/4.0
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, 2010, 3.0/4.0
Work Experience: 6 years
Job: Researcher in University
GMAT: 710
Can speak 3 foreign languages apart from my native language.
Have been living abroad for the past 8 years.
Interned in big tech plant in Europe 5 years ago.

many thanks in advance.

Hey Joloochu,

Here you go,

By the time you will start program, you will have work exp of 7+ years. Combination of work exp and GMAT (710) is decent. Your international exposure is pretty good with living 8 years abroad and speaking 3 languages, adding to diversity.

About your post mba goal of Management consulting, a lot of applicants write the same in application. Need to figure out how are you different, showing UNIQUENESS. I can't comment on other important factors - Leadership and Giving to learning community, need more inputs from you.

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
INSEAD Class of December 2017
----------------------------
Applying to INSEAD R1 Sep 2020?
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Schedule a 45 min Session here.

Hi, Can you please help me in evaluating my profile for INSEAD MBA, Class of 2021

Nationality: Indian, Female, 24 years

Graduation(B.Tech.) - Tier 2 college-7.5 CGPA

GMAT:710(Q49,V36)

Work-Ex: 4 years in Data Analytics and Business Analysis field
2 years: ZS Associates
2 years: BCG

Extra Curricular:
-Leading the CSR group (60 people) at BCG and managing their monthly activities
-Active member of Robinhood army
-Core member of Women Leadership Initiatives at BCG, Events Team at BCG


Post MBA goals: Front end Consulting

Anything else:
12th - 91.4%
10th - 89%

Posted from my mobile device

Hi,

Could you please be more specific about your work experience? Exactly what did you do at these two companies? Did you get promotions? what were your achievements? Did you gain some international experience?
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Hi prashanths,

Thank you for your post and for sharing your profile. Your profile could yield an admit to INSEAD, should you successfully speak to your (i) professional experiences, (ii) your need for an MBA, and (iii) how you intend to use your time at INSEAD to help you grow. A few comments on the different components of your profile below:

Academics: Your academics are good, but you do need to show INSEAD that you are able to handle the rigor of their degree, and an increased GMAT will work in your favor.

Professional Experience: Your professional experience is good. I recommend you address your international-client-facing exposure and how it has helped you see your need for an MBA. Also, speak to why you need an MBA to pivot your career.

Community Engagement/ECs: You did not mention any community engagement in your post. Are you/have you been involved in your community via volunteer work, extracurricular, etc.?


I would love to learn your story and see how we can help you with your career ambitions. When you are ready, please reach out.



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Hi Sayan,

I like your profile. At this point, I see nothing amiss and think you have a fair chance at INSEAD. Needless to say, you still have to submit a strong application and present your experiences in an impressive way. Reach out if you'd like to take help.
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Hi Prashanth! As you might already know, INSEAD clearly outlines their admissions criteria - Ability to Contribute, Academic Capacity, Leadership Potential and International Motivation. Let me tackle this one by one in your profile:

Ability to Contribute - On the face of it, your work experience looks interesting. However, you need to show growth within your role and be able to come up with pointers on how you will be a valuable asset to the class.

Academic Capability - In absence of steller undergraduate and MBA scores, GMAT will play a large role in your profile. I am glad you are planning to retake it. Aim for 730 or higher for your profile to be competitive.

Leadership Potential - You haven’t mentioned this in your post but I am hoping you have some leadership experience at your workplace. If not, look for instances where you have taken initiatives and led people (even if it was in an informal setting). Remember, INSEAD is not looking for leadership “experience”, they are looking for leadership “potential”.

International Motivation - This seems to be lacking in your profile. Since you asked for suggestions to improve your profile, this will be a great place to start. Take on some international assignments if that is a feasible option. Otherwise, come up with a storyline around how you are internationally motivated and ready to be a global leader.

Second MBA is always tricky to explain. Make sure to talk about why a second MBA is a necessity for reaching your future goals.

Feel free to get in touch if you are interested in an in-depth profile evaluation.

Also, if you are based in or around Bangalore, don’t miss out the MBA Bootcamp - a one-day Workshop to help you get a detailed understanding of the best MBAs suitable to your profile. The workshop will offer suggestions and strategies to facilitate the building of a winning application and one-to-one interactions with alumni from top business schools such as Wharton, Kellogg, INSEAD and Oxford, in addition to exclusive panel discussions with Admissions Officers from ISB, IIMB EPGP and the Schulich MBA. Click HERE to know more and book a seat well in advance.

Good Luck!
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