MMahadevan:
Q: What are areas of improvement?
Your GRE score needs a major boost. You probably could benefit from another extracurricular activity or more achievements in those already on your list.
Q: How can I write a better convincing story?
For starters, you can hire an admissions consultant
In general, you have to think about leveraging what you have experienced so far in your career, how an MBA can get you to the next level, and what you believe you can achieve in the short- and long-term post-MBA. You have some of the pieces already in place.
Q: What are my safe colleges?
UCLA Anderson might be a "target" option. You have to drop your list significantly. I would look at schools like CMU Tepper, Cornell Johnson, Emory Goizueta, and Georgetown McDonough. Those seem more in your range.
Q: Would colleges even consider my profile given my experience and age factor?
Yes, but it will be very difficult. You are not disqualified on the basis of age but you have an uphill battle given your age and competitive demographic. You are actually closer to the part-time / executive MBA programs. The problem is that you are on the younger side for those programs. Unfortunately, you are sort of in this middle ground.
Still, I think you can make something work! You just need the right counsel and advice. How about reaching out to us for a free consultation using the link below? We are happy to talk about your background in a more personalized forum and walk you through our consulting services.
https://admissionado.com/free-consultation/