INSEAD, one of the world's leading business schools, is renowned for its international focus and rigorous MBA programs. With campuses in Europe (Fontainebleau, France) and Asia (Singapore), INSEAD offers a diverse and dynamic environment for aspiring global leaders. INSEAD MBA stands out among other top B-Schools for its accelerated 10-month program, designed to immerse students in a transformative learning experience. Emphasizing a multicultural approach, the school fosters a collaborative community where students gain insights from diverse perspectives and develop skills to navigate complex global challenges.
Sarthak planned his transition from a consulting role at EY to pursuing an MBA. Armed with an MIM from Duke Fuqua, and four years of consulting experience, he strategically charted his course towards INSEAD. Explore his insightful journey below as he candidly discusses the reasons behind his career shift, dives into the details of his GMAT preparation journey, and shares his experiences navigating through the MBA application process.
Background, Career Journey, and the Motivation for an MBA
I completed my undergraduate degree in computer engineering from NMIMS in Mumbai. Those four years were fantastic as I loved learning programming and technical concepts. I was also heavily involved in extracurricular activities and became the general secretary of the student council in my final year. This role made me realize how much I enjoyed working with people, making decisions, and solving problems daily.
Though I enjoyed programming, I decided I wanted a more people-oriented job. I aimed for a business consulting roles, but transitioning directly from engineering was challenging. So, I pursued a MIM at Duke Fuqua to learn foundational business concepts and prepare for consulting. The one-year MIM program was a great experience, but the pandemic struck towards the end. This forced me to return to India. I then worked at a technology startup, managing digital tools and projects to improve their operations.
After a year at the startup, I joined EY in their business consulting team. Over three years, I worked on diverse projects across finance, marketing, product management, and financial risk analysis, mainly in the telecom sector. I collaborated with clients from the Middle East and India, traveling to some of these countries. I was promoted to senior consultant within a year.
My desire to pursue international roles and further develop my skills led me to explore MBA programs. The pandemic had hindered my initial plan to work internationally, so I saw the MBA as a chance to achieve that goal. Additionally, I always intended to do an MBA eventually, and the MBA would help me transition into management consulting.
INSEAD MBA: Key Factors in Choosing Target Business Schools
Three main factors guided my school selection:
Geography: I wanted to study in Europe.
Focus on teamwork and collaboration: Having been part of a collaborative environment at Fuqua, I believe in the importance of teamwork. Success in any business field relies on working well with others, whether it's with clients, colleagues, or subordinates.
Post-MBA opportunities: I looked for schools whose graduates typically work in Europe or the Middle East, regions I am interested in for my career.
Based on these criteria, INSEAD was one of my target schools because it fit all three factors. Oxford was another choice due to its focus on sustainability and collaborative environment.
GMAT Prep: Overcoming Challenges
While preparing for the GMAT, I found that my engineering background made the quantitative section relatively easy for me. Initially, mock tests confirmed this, so I didn't need to focus much on quant. I took the older GMAT version, which included sentence correction, and while I was good at critical reasoning and decent at reading comprehension, SC was a challenge.
I allocated my study time accordingly, putting less effort into the areas I was already strong in and focusing more on my weaker areas. I used various online resources and practised with questions from different companies. This targeted approach paid off as my verbal score ultimately surpassed my quant score. Additionally, I took six mock exams before the actual test, which helped reduce my nervousness. These mocks gave me a good idea of my potential score, and consistently scoring above my target in these practice tests made me confident when taking the actual GMAT.
For my baseline preparation, I used Magoosh - their videos and resources helped me build a solid foundation. However, I realized that no single resource provided a complete 360-degree preparation. For quant, Magoosh was sufficient along with the official guide practice questions. For verbal, I needed more help. I used e-GMAT materials, particularly for sentence correction and reading comprehension. I also used Manhattan's Sentence Correction book for additional practice.
Application Journey: Process, Challenges and Successes
I started my application process a bit later than usual and didn't enrol in a full holistic package. Instead, I opted for standalone services like essay reviews with Management Masters, since I had already selected the schools I wanted to apply to.
As I had opted for standalone services, we tackled each essay individually. I would draft some pointers and share the flow I envisioned for each essay with Piyush. We then had a call to discuss his insights on what was working and what wasn’t. After these discussions, we had a structured approach to each essay. I would write the essay, and share it with Piyush, and he would provide comments and feedback. I would then update the essay based on his feedback or discuss any differing viewpoints. This back-and-forth process typically took about three to four rounds of edits per essay.
We followed a similar process for the resume and interview preparation. For the interviews, Piyush connected me with multiple INSEAD alumni. Since INSEAD conducts alum interviews, this connection provided an excellent mock interview experience.
Overall, this structured and collaborative approach helped me through the application process effectively. While working with Management Masters, I received admits from both INSEAD and Oxford. For Oxford, I applied on my own, leveraging the content we had developed for INSEAD.
Working with Management Masters & My Experience
I was referred to Piyush from a connection in my ISB group (I had a YLP admit). I also did my due diligence and looked up Management Masters and Piyush online. I saw that people had successfully gotten into my target school, INSEAD, and various other top schools through Piyush. This seemed promising, so I decided to contact him. During our initial conversation, I appreciated his straightforward feedback—he didn't sugarcoat anything. That honesty and the vibe of our conversation convinced me to work with him.
Working with Piyush was an amazing experience. He develops a personal bond with the people he works with. I've met others who worked with him—one of them is going to INSEAD with me, and I met few more candidates at some events. Everyone had the same positive feedback. Piyush truly understands your story, takes the time to listen, and probes deeply into your motivations and decisions.
It's almost like a therapy session, as he helps you think about why you made certain choices in your career or life, even delving into your childhood. This introspection was reflected in my essays, which became personal and brought out compelling stories with strong motivations. The whole experience was fantastic. The process automatically feels successful when the desired outcome is achieved. However, I am a big believer in the importance of process and intent. The outcome is secondary to these aspects.
Advice to Future Aspirants
An advice that I would like to give to future aspirants would be, first and foremost, to be really clear on why you want to pursue an MBA. Having clarity about your reasons, whether it's for a career transition, career growth, or a geographical change, can significantly streamline your decision-making process. This clarity will help you determine the kind of schools you should apply to and focus your applications more effectively. Knowing your motivation will not only aid in structuring your applications but also ensure that you choose schools that align with your goals and can genuinely achieve them.
Second, if there is a school you like, give it a shot. I firmly believe that the answer is always no until you take a chance. Apply to the schools that you feel passionate about and don't self-reject. It's important to balance your applications by applying to a mix of dream schools, target schools, and safety schools. Even if you think there’s only a slight possibility of acceptance, taking that chance is crucial. You never know what might happen unless you try.
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