The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast
Get an inside look at how top business schools assess MBA applicants. Interviews with MBA Admissions Directors and students from the world's top-ranked MBA programs. Discover what makes each business school unique. Strategies and tips on how to craft winning MBA applications. Straight talk on how to get accepted to MBA programs like Harvard, Insead, LBS, NUS and many, many more.
Episodes
#236 Get Ahead Before You Apply with MBA Pre-Assessments
Many top-ranked MBA programs in Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia actively encourage applicants to connect with admissions teams before submitting an application. But most applicants don't know this - or are too nervous to reach out.Should you contact admissions before you're ready? What if you haven't taken the GMAT yet, or your resume isn't polished? And how do you make sure th
#235 EDHEC Global MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Sandra Richez
Sandra Richez has spent two decades overseeing each aspect of the EDHEC Global MBA - from admissions and curriculum to career outcomes and alumni relations. As Program Director, she has a clear view of what distinguishes the program, and she didn't hold back in this conversation.We cover a range of topics: EDHEC's history, reputation and location in Nice, France, how the program's 10-m
#234 HKUST MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Stephen Shih
The HKUST MBA has been one of Asia's top-ranked MBAs for many years - the Financial Times has ranked it top 25 globally 15 times. But, what is it actually like to study there?Stephen Shih, Associate Dean of MBA Programs at HKUST Business School and a former Partner at Bain & Company, shares what makes the HKUST MBA unique. We cover Hong Kong's strategic importance, the benefits of stud
#233 6 Ways to Make Your Application Stick (Repost)
Your MBA application is a "movie preview" of what is to come - a pitch for your candidacy. Imagine an admissions officer reading hundreds of applications. How can you get this gatekeeper to pay attention, remember you, believe you, care about you, and act on your application in a positive way (we must interview her!)?In this reposted episode, Darren uses the marketing classic Made to Sti
#232 IESE MBA Admissions Insights with Patrik Wallen
What does IESE look for in MBA applicants? How do they evaluate your academic aptitude, post-MBA career goals, leadership potential and fit? In this episode, IESE MBA Admissions Director Patrik Wallen shares candid insights into what makes candidates stand out — and what makes IESE’s two-year MBA unique.Program Highlights - What Makes the IESE MBA Unique?Introduction (0:00)What Makes the IESE MBA
#231 Crafting a Personal Narrative that Stands Out with Ellin Lolis
How can you stand out from thousands of MBA applicants with impressive CVs?Darren sits down with Ellin Lolis, Founder and President of Ellin Lolis Consulting and one of the top ranked MBA admissions consultants on Poets & Quants, to learn how she helps MBA applicants craft powerful personal narratives. With a near 99% success rate, Ellen shares the process she uses to transform an applicant
#230 Five Keys to MBA Admissions Success with N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif, Insead MBA '26
Darren talks with N'doli Jean-Hugues "Cherif," a French and Ivorian candidate who gained admission to both INSEAD and London Business School's MBA programs. Cherif, an older full-time MBA candidate with diverse experience across five roles - including audit, management consulting, investment banking and infrastructure project finance in the public and private sector - shares his
#229 AI's Impact on MBA Careers: An Insider's Perspective
Darren confronts his own "AI anxiety" with Sabine King, Director of the Career Accelerator at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at University of New South Wales (UNSW). Together, they explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the demand for MBA graduates, the evolving strategies of career services, and how leading business schools are equipping their students to thriv
#228 3 Exercises to Design Your Life and Find Best Fit MBA Programs
Darren shares 3 design thinking exercises from Bill Burnett and Dave Evan's Designing Your Life that will help you build a joyful life - and find MBA programs you are excited about. Topics Introduction (0:00) Make Odyssey Plans - Imagining Life 1, 2 and 3 (3:45) Prototype - "Building is Thinking" (8:20) Wayfind - Following Energy and Engagement (13:30) Show Notes Designing Your Life - How to Bu
#227 Inside the Frankfurt School Full-Time MBA: Admissions & Recruitment Insights with Ann-Marie Stephenson & Colleen McLister
Ann-Marie Stephenson and Colleen McLister, Senior Recruitment Manager and Admissions Manager of MBA Programmes at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, discuss the Frankfurt School MBA's admissions criteria, admissions process, scholarships and more. After listening to this episode, you will have a thorough and nuanced understanding of how to submit your strongest application to the Frankf
#226 HEC Paris MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Sara Vanos
Sara Vanos, Executive Director of Marketing & Admissions for MBA Programs at HEC Paris, discusses what makes the HEC Paris MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction to HEC Paris MBA and Sara Vanos (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the HEC Paris MBA Unique? (3:20) HEC Paris MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (29:1
#225 Is an MBA Worth It for Startup Founders? with Bridget Pujals, Berkeley Haas MBA '24
Should aspiring entrepreneurs get an MBA? Bridget Pujals, University of California Berkeley Haas MBA '24 and Co-Founder of Saelo, shares her experience being an active founder during her Full-time MBA. What resources did she find most helpful? What should active and aspiring entrepreneurs consider before and during their MBA? And finally, what differentiates the MBA as a launchpad for founders? Br
#224 Important Things to Look for in MBA & EMBA Programs with Prof. Steven DeKrey, HKUST Business School
Steven DeKrey, Senior Advisor and Professor Emeritus at HKUST Business School, has over 40 years of experience in building and running top-ranked MBA programs worldwide, including at Northwestern Kellogg, the University of Florida, Asian Institute of Management and HKUST, where he was Founding Director of the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program. Darren asks Professor DeKrey about the value of top MBA pro
#223 How to 3x Your Chances to Top 10 MBA Programs with Melody Jones, Vantage Point MBA
Melody Jones, Co-Founder of Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting, has been helping applicants get into top 10 MBA programs for over a decade. How does Vantage Point help applicants triple their chances compared to other applicants? Melody shares key learnings, examples and questions you can use right away to craft a compelling application. Topics Introduction (0:00) Melody's MBA Story, Career
#222 Mid-Career MBA Alternatives with Richard Campbell (HBS Program for Leadership Development, LBS Sloan Masters in Leadership & Strategy, 500 Global Accelerator)
What should you do if you have 10+ years of working experience but are looking for an MBA-type experience to build your skills and network? Richard Campbell, Founder and CEO of 10Adventures, joins the show to discuss his experience with three mid-career MBA alternatives: Harvard Business School's Program for Leadership Development (HBS PLD), London Business School's Sloan Masters in Leadership and
#221 Excellent Advice for Living (and MBA Applications!)
Inspired by Kevin Kelly's Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I Knew Earlier, Darren shares 10 bits of wisdom that could materially improve your chances of getting into business school and building a successful career. Topics Introduction (0:00) School Selection (3:00) Support Network (8:20) Positioning (10:30) Resumes (15:45) Essays (20:05) Interviews (22:00) Communication (26:10) Show N
#220 GLOBIS MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Tomoya Nakamura - "Find Your Kokorozashi"
Sometimes, it's hard to differentiate MBA programs. That is not the case with GLOBIS University, Japan's number 1 MBA, which prizes entrepreneurial skills, societal impact, and helping its students find their kokorozashi (personal mission). Professor Tomoya Nakamura, President of GLOBIS USA, discusses what makes the GLOBIS MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities an
#219 From Military to MBA, Consultant & More with Beau Gresham, NYU Stern MBA '20 - "Find Your Champions"
Beau Gresham, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Mastercard and NYU Stern MBA '20, shares his journey as an applicant, student, and alumni of NYU Stern. How did Beau transition from the military to consulting through the MBA? How was the NYU Stern Full-time MBA experience? How did Beau break into mergers & acquisitions consulting at Deloitte, and then land his current job at Mastercard? And how
#218 Lessons from Listeners (Vol. 2): Drawing a Roadmap for Admissions, Prioritizing Conversations, Prematurely Applying, Being Strategic Yet Flexible
Darren shares more hard-earned application lessons from four listeners (now graduated MBAs): drawing a roadmap for the admissions team, prioritizing conversations when picking schools, "prematurely applying" and being strategic yet flexible Want to share your hard-earned application lessons? Contact us at https://touchmba.com/contact Topics Introduction (0:00) Tips for the Untraditional Applicant
#217 Lessons from Listeners (Vol. 1): Working for Unknown Companies, Determining Best-Fit Schools, Dealing with Dings
Touch MBA's goal has always been to offer you evergreen content that will help you shortlist and get into best-fit MBA programs. We invite listeners to share lessons from their MBA application journeys not just on the podcast, but in written form, too. These short reflections are full of timeless application wisdom! Darren shares three lessons from three listeners that have stood the test of time:
#216 The GMAT Focus Episode (GRE, too)
How are top business schools using the GMAT Focus exam, which will replace the GMAT in January 2024? What do you need to score and on which sections? Do schools prefer the GMAT, GMAT Focus, or GRE? Darren asks Admissions Directors from two top schools – Toronto Rotman (#1 in Canada by the Financial Times) and IESE (#1 in Spain by the Financial Times) – tough questions about the GMAT Focus test and
#215 Frankfurt School of Finance & Management MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Dr. Adrian Buss
Professor Adrian Buss, Associate Professor of Finance and Academic Director of MBA Programs at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, discusses what makes the Frankfurt School’s MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights – What Makes the Frankfurt School MBA Unique? (4:20) Frankfurt School MBA Admissions & Schol
#214 Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Prof. Wan Wongsunwai
Professor Wan Wongsunwai, Associate Dean of MBA Programmes and Director of MBA Programmes at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School, discusses what makes the CUHK MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the CUHK MBA Unique? (4:30) CUHK MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Y
#213 Duke University Fuqua MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Shari Hubert
Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, discusses what makes the Duke Fuqua MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights – What Makes the Duke Fuqua Daytime MBA Unique? (6:55) Duke Fuqua MBA Admissions & Scholarships – How to Improve Your Chances? (29:10) Career Opportuni
#212 Georgia Tech Scheller MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Jonathan Clarke
"We pride ourselves in being at the center of business and technology... We've asked employers, 'How would you describe our students?' and most often the words we get back are 'humble, hardworking and good problem solvers.' I think that's fantastic and that's how I would describe our students as well." Dr. Jonathan Clarke, Interim Dean at Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business, discusses what
#211 Vanderbilt MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Sue Oldham
Sue Oldham, Associate Dean at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management, discusses what makes the Vanderbilt MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the Vanderbilt MBA Unique? (4:40) Vanderbilt MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (19:30) Career Opportunities at
#210 Georgetown MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Shelly Heinrich
Shelly Heinrich, Associate Dean, MBA Admissions and Director of Marketing at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, discusses what makes the Georgetown MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the Georgetown MBA Unique? (3:30) Georgetown MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve You
#209 How Wharton Reviews MBA Applicants & More with Thomas Caleel, Former Head of MBA Admissions for Wharton
Thomas Caleel, former Head of MBA Admissions for Wharton, takes us behind the scenes of how an Admissions Director builds a class and what he or she looks for from applicants. What are the key qualities and characteristics that admissions committees look for? How did Thomas' team review 8,000 applicants per year? And how can you craft a thoughtful, authentic and compelling application that st
#208 Undercover MBA Subrankings
You’ve heard about US News & World Report and Financial Times Global MBA Rankings, but did you know Financial Times also ranks business schools’ alumni network and career effectiveness? Or that QS ranks business schools worldwide according to specialization? After updating Touch MBA’s school matching algorithm, Darren shares his top 5 “undercover” subrankings that can help you shortlist best-fit M
#207 NUS MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Wedad Sunny
Wedad Sunny, Deputy Director and Head of Marketing and Admissions of MBA Programmes at National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, discusses what makes the NUS MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. NUS is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top universities by QS (#11 in 2023), Times Higher Education (#19) and US News & World Report (#26). It
#206 Strategies for Optimal MBA Student Loans with Nikhil Agarwal from Juno
Nikhil Agarwal, Co-Founder of Juno, shares optimal strategies to minimize your MBA student loans in 2023. Nikhil shares everything you you need to know about the following variables to secure the best financing package for your situation: Loan terms Repayment schedules Variable vs. fixed interest rates Federal vs. private loans Juno has helped thousands of students access over $700M in loan
#205 ESMT Berlin MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Rebecca Loades
Rebecca Loades, Director of MBA Programs at European School of Management and Technology (ESMT Berlin), discusses what makes the ESMT Berlin MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. ESMT was founded in 2002 by 25 leading companies - including Bayer, Daimler, and McKinsey - who wanted to develop management talent in Germany. The school is the fastest in history
#204 IESE MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Paula Amorim
Paula Amorim, MBA Admissions Director at IESE Business School, discusses what makes the IESE MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics: Introduction (0:00) IESE MBA Program Highlights - What Makes IESE Unique? (5:10) IESE MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances (33:50) Career Opportunities at IESE - What to Know & How to Prepare (59:55)
#203 What Are Your Game-Changing Differentiators? with Paul Bodine from Admitify
Paul Bodine, one of the world's most experienced admissions consultants and president of Admitify, shares how he helps clients with seemingly par-for-the-course profiles discover their game-changing assets. How does Paul help his clients dig deep to unearth their most remarkable stories? How does he advise his clients to present these stories? If you feel like your profile is nothing special, you
#202 Inside the National University of Singapore (NUS) MBA with Tilla Caveng, NUS MBA '24
Tilla Caveng, a full-time MBA student at National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, shares her top application tips and lessons learned from her first 6 months at NUS. Questions Introducing Tilla (0:00) Tilla's Pre-MBA Career & MBA Application Journey (2:52) Tilla's Best Application Tips (12:45) Tilla's NUS MBA Experience - What She Has Learned So Far (34:20) Applying for Internships
#201 Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Jochem Kroezen and Maria Tsachli
Jochem Kroezen, Academic Director of Rotterdam School of Management's (RSM) Full-time MBA Program, and Maria Tsachli, Recruitment & Admissions Manager, Americas, discuss what makes the RSM MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Introduction (0:00) | Program Highlights (4:00) | Admissions (25:00) | Careers (50:55) About Our Guests Jochem Kroezen is the Acad
#200 The 3S’s of Scintillating Storytelling
“A well-crafted story helps create a magical sort of clarity. It can illuminate an experience your audience could not have fathomed a few minutes before, or draw them so close that they imagine they can feel your heart beating.” - How to Tell a Story by The Moth Compelling stories make admissions officers feel closer to you - like they know you better. Inspired by How to Tell a Story by The M
#199 10 Application Lessons from 10 Years of Touch MBA
We're nearing 200 episodes of Touch MBA. Feeling nostalgic, Darren reflects on 10 lessons for applicants from 10 years of Touch MBA! 10 Lessons from 10 Years of Touch MBA Introduction (0:00) Know Your Must Haves (2:00) Work on Your MBA Pitch with Others (5:50) Master the MBA Coffee Chat (9:10) Connect Your MBA Objectives with Those of MBA Admissions (12:45) The GMAT Matters (16:15) Resumes: Show
#198 Inside the London Business School MBA & Honing Your Story with Chris Tran, LBS '22
Chris Tran, London Business School (LBS) MBA '22, shares lessons learned from applying to and attending LBS, as well as how he landed his first post-MBA consulting gig in London. Questions Introducing Chris (0:00) Chris' Pre-MBA Career & MBA Application Journey (3:45) Consulting as a Post-MBA Career Goal (9:55) Chris' Top 3 Tips for Applicants (12:30) How Chris Honed his Application Story (16:40)
#197 Pivoting Geographies & Breaking into EdTech with Tony Ngo, Harvard Business School 08
Tony Ngo, Harvard Business School '08, shares how he used the MBA to pivot to Vietnam, first in finance, and then as an edtech entrepreneur with Everest Education. Questions Introducing Tony (0:00) Tony's Pre-MBA Career & MBA Application Journey (5:00) Tony Pivots Towards Asia - Post-MBA Careers & Relationships (7:15) Networking Your Way to Jobs vs. Resume Drops (13:10) Having a Focus / One Quest
#196 How I Got Into Berkeley Haas MBA (and HBS, Wharton, UCLA too!) & Breaking into Product Management with Bridget Pujals
Bridget Pujals shares lessons learned from her MBA application journey, culminating in admits to Harvard, Wharton ($70K scholarship), UCLA Anderson ($100K scholarship), and Berkeley Haas ($175K scholarship). She will attend UC Berkeley Haas this Fall. While her results are spectacular, Bridget took the GRE three times, and spent two years researching, preparing, and applying to b-schools. As Bridg
#195 Business School Selection Simplified - How to Shortlist MBA Programs You're Excited About and Competitive At
“The most frustrating part I have found is the vast amount of information about schools, applications, and chances that is out there. It’s been hard to sift through all the noise and really figure out what schools are good for you and what your actual chances are.” – Margaret, USA Feel the same way? Trust me, you’re not alone. We’ve helped over 3,500 MBA applicants from 50 countries shortlist MBA
#194 Building a Professional MBA Network with Nicolle Lee, Wharton MBA '22
Nicolle Lee, Wharton MBA '22, shares how building relationships helped her reach her MBA goals - including breaking into the real estate industry. After listening to this episode, you'll have a detailed and instructive case study of what's required to make a career pivot at a world-class business school. Questions Nicolle's Wharton MBA application & interview strategy (4:00) How Nicolle pursued h
#193 Hiring Trends & Salaries for Business School Graduates via the Corporate Recruiters Survey
What are corporate recruiters looking for from business graduate students? And how do median MBA salaries compare to those of specialized business masters programs? Darren shares 3 interesting findings from GMAC’s Corporate Recruiters Survey. This way, you can think more like an admissions officer, and put forward your strongest application. This episode is about taking advantage of GMAC’s free ma
#192 MBA Coffee Chats: Thoughtful Advice on How to Get the Most out of your MBA with Adam Putterman, Kellogg MMM '19
How can you make the most of your MBA experience? After reflecting on their own MBA experiences and those of hundreds of successful grads, Adam Putterman, Northwestern MMM '19, and Bob Manfreda, Stanford GSB '19, wrote MBA Coffee Chats: Thoughtful Advice on How to Get the Most out of your MBA. The book answers frequently asked questions from recent MBA admits, and aims to help this group have more
#191 Inside Harvard Business School - An Introvert's Experience with Graciela Brewer, HBS MBA '22
Back by popular demand, Graciela Brewer returns to reflect on her Harvard Business School experience. We discuss what she found easier and more difficult than expected, how she has made the most of her HBS MBA, and her thoughts on how applicants can best prepare for business school. Questions Introducing Graciela Brewer (0:00) Graciela's Harvard Business School experience: expectations vs. realit
#190 3 Timeless Application Strategies from MBA Admissions Strategy (2005) by Avi Gordon
Darren shares three foundational application strategies from Avi Gordon's MBA Admissions Strategy: From Profile Building to Essay Writing (2005) that have stood the test of time. It's always advantageous to master the fundamentals of any art form - including constructing a winning MBA application. Listen on to review the basics! Topics Introduction (0:00) Marketing to Adcoms (3:50) Attributes tha
#189 Breaking into Healthcare (as an MBA) with Veeral Desai, HBS '07
What do MBA applicants need to know about breaking into the healthcare industry? Darren invites Veeral Desai, Harvard Business School MBA ’07, to share his experience moving from Bain & Company's Healthcare Practice to senior executive roles at Vantage Oncology and agilon health. Veeral shares his best tips on narrowing your target list of organizations, connecting with alumni, and acing the recru
#188 Steve Dalton's The Job Closer - Giving Job Seekers Straightforward Frameworks that Work Fast and Work Well
Steve Dalton, a senior career consultant and program director at Duke University's Fuqua School, shares time-saving techniques for choosing a career and acing common interview questions from his new book, The Job Closer. Having worked in MBA career services for over 16 years, Steve also shares what MBA employers are looking for, how Covid-19 has changed recruiting, and one of his favorite exercise
#187 Imperial MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Amy Duckworth
Amy Duckworth, Director of Admissions at Imperial College Business School, shares what makes the Imperial MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:00) | Admissions (13:00) | Financing & Scholarships (26:10) | Careers (29:10) What is unique about the Imperial MBA? What are its key advantages? Imperial College is one of the world’s
#186 WHU MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Sabine Noe
Sabine Noe, Director of Recruitment & Admissions for WHU's MBA Programs, shares what makes the WHU MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (1:50) | Admissions (14:45) | Financing & Scholarships (27:00) | Careers (32:00) About Our Guest Sabine Noe leads the Recruitment & Admissions Teams for MBA Programs at WHU's Otto Beisheim Sc
#185 Cambridge MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Emily Brierley
Emily Brierley, Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment and Admissions at Cambridge Judge Business School, discusses what makes the Cambridge MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:30) | Admissions (17:30) | Financing & Scholarships (28:30) | Careers (36:45) About Our Guest Emily Brierley is Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment and Admissions
#184 Toronto Rotman MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Imran Kanga - "Choose Your Own Adventure"
Imran Kanga, Director of Recruitment & Admissions for Rotman School of Management's Full-time MBA at the University of Toronto, discusses what makes the Rotman MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:30) | Admissions (19:00) | Financing & Scholarships (35:30) | Careers (39:50) About Our Guest Imran Kanga is Director of Recruitment
#183 SDA Bocconi MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Francesca Roveda
Francesca Roveda, a member of the recruiting and admissions team for SDA Bocconi’s MBA program, discusses what makes the SDA Bocconi MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (5:30) | Admissions (28:26) | Financing & Scholarships (48:00) | Careers (55:30) About Our Guest Francesca Roveda recruits candidates for the MBA, Executive MBA a
#182 Inside the NUS MBA with Student Council President Safira Djati, NUS MBA '22
Safira Djati shares her journey from private equity analyst in Indonesia to the NUS MBA, where she is President of the NUS MBA Student Council. How has Covid affected the program and what has most surprised her about the NUS MBA so far? Safira shares the importance of student clubs and her takeaways from leading the 38th NUS MBA Student Council as its first female and Indonesian president. Finally
#181 Taking the Road Less Traveled with Tony DeGennaro, CUHK MBA '17
Most applicants get an MBA to step out of their comfort zones. But, what about pursuing your MBA and subsequent five-year marketing career in Hong Kong as an American? Tony DeGennaro, who majored in Political Science and Philosophy at Rutgers, shares his winding journey to the CUHK MBA, one of the top-ranked business schools in Asia, to running a boutique marketing agency targeting Chinese consume
#180 The Fully Funded MBA with Samuel Adeoye, UBC Sauder MBA '22
Samuel Adeoye, UBC Sauder MBA '22, has an amazing story to tell about applying to 18 business schools over two years, and getting full-scholarship awards at 8 of them. How was he able to do this? And what has he learned from his application journey from Abuja, Nigeria to Vancouver, Canada? Questions Samuel's background (4:18) Samuel's 2-year journey applying to over 15 business schools (8:00) Sam
#179 From Artist to MBA with Justin Taines, RSM MBA ’21
Justin Taines, RSM MBA ’21, shares his journey from developing kids and family entertainment shows in Los Angeles to the RSM MBA, based in the Netherlands. Why did Justin pursue an MBA (instead of an EMBA) despite having over 10 years of work experience? What was his experience at the RSM MBA as an older student and during Covid? Questions Justin's background (2:15) Justin's shortlist of schools
#178 The McKinsey & Insead Experience with Milan Mecklenburg, Insead MBA '18D
Milan Mecklenberg, Insead MBA '18D, shares his journey from studying theoretical physics at Cambridge to McKinsey Berlin to Insead and then back to McKinsey, this time in Vietnam. What has he learned from the journey? Questions Milan's background (2:20) Applying to Insead and getting sponsored by McKinsey (4:20) Preparing for the GMAT (8:55) Interviewing with McKinsey as an MBA student (11:20) Mi
#177 How I Got into the Wharton MBA / MA Lauder Joint Degree Program with Hunter Dong
Hunter Dong shares his best application tips for getting into the Wharton MBA / MA Lauder Joint Degree in International Studies program. How did Hunter pull together his diverse work experience working for the Hinrich Foundation in the Philippines, his family business in pharmaceutical packaging and IBM as a Data Scientist to make an ultimately winning case to Wharton and Columbia? Hunter walks us
#176 Use the 5 Senses to Make Your MBA Application Stick
After helping four MBA applicants with their resume and essays, Darren realized he was repeating similar advice. In this episode, Darren shares how you can use the five senses - sight, sound, smell, taste and touch - to make your application more three dimensional. Topics Introduction (0:00) Sight - paint the scene (2:23) Touch - make the reader feel something (8:00) Sound - have a point of view
#175 AGSM MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Dr. Michele Roberts
Dr. Michele Roberts, MBA Academic Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at University of New South Wales (UNSW), discusses what makes the AGSM MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (3:20) | Admissions (31:00) | Careers (47:30) About Our Guest Dr. Michele Roberts is the MBA Academic Director of AGSM at
#174 Mannheim MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Kai Stenzel & Sofia Syed Nasir
Chief Market Officer Kai Stenzel and Admissions Manager Sofia Syed Nasir discuss what makes the Mannheim MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (3:50) | Admissions (25:15) | Financing & Working in Germany (35:40) | Careers (48:30) About Our Guest Kai Stenzel is the Chief Market Officer for Mannheim Business School where he
#173 Bayes Business School MBA (formerly Cass), City, University of London Program & Admissions Interview with Alex Jones
MBA Recruitment Manager Alex Jones discusses what makes the Bayes Business School MBA (formerly Cass), City, University of London unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (4:10) | Admissions (19:30) | Financing & Scholarships (33:40) | Careers (37:30) About Our Guest Alex Jones is the MBA Recruitment Manager for Bayes Business School (for
#172 Melbourne MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Anastasia Georgiou
Anastasia Georgiou, Director of Admissions at Melbourne Business School, discusses what makes the Melbourne MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (4:38) | Admissions (19:00) | Scholarships (31:20) | Careers (34:00) About Our Guest Anastasia Georgiou is Director of Admissions at Melbourne Business School. Anastasia ha
#171 3 Positioning Strategies for Job Hoppers
Job hoppers, this episode is for you! Darren shares three strategies you can use to mitigate your track record of job hopping. How can you present this as an asset to your target MBA programs? Episode summary, show notes and more at: https://touchmba.com/mba-positioning-strategies-for-job-hoppers
#170 Nanyang MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Gilbert Chua
Gilbert Chua, Deputy Director of Marketing, Recruitment & Admissions at Nanyang Business School, discusses what makes the Nanyang MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:30) | Admissions (11:50) | Scholarships (31:45) | Careers (34:20) About Our Guest Gilbert Chua is the Deputy Director of Marketing, Recruitment & Admissions at Na
#169 CEIBS MBA Program & Admissions Interview with James Kent
James Kent, Marketing Manager for the MBA Admissions & Marketing Team at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), discusses what makes the CEIBS MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (3:00) | Admissions (23:40) | Scholarships & Covid-19 (39:40) | Careers (49:30) About Our Guest James Kent is the Marketing Manag
#168 Live the Questions
This episode is from my new podcast, ASE, which explores making a living and life as a solopreneur. I bring on artists, social entrepreneurs, and solo founders to explore the self-employed, creative life and how to do your best work. A number of my salsa friends in their 20s and 30s have found it helpful, so I thought I'd share it with you too. ASE showcases a different, more personal side to me (
#167 Breaking into Vietnam, Venture Capital & Professional Sports with Henry Nguyen, Founding Owner, Los Angeles Football Club & Kellogg MBA '00
How did Henry Nguyen, who graduated from Kellogg 20 years ago, launch Vietnam’s first technology venture capital fund, Vietnam’s first professional basketball team, and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise? Henry recounts his journey from travel writer to MD to MBA to Wall Street and then back to Vietnam, where he has built a career as an entrepreneur and venture
#166 Inside the Sofaer Global MBA with Manuel Fajardo '20
Why did a Colombian civil engineer choose to do his MBA in Israel? Manuel Fajardo shares his journey to the Tel Aviv University’s Sofaer Global MBA, and how the program’s focus on new venture creation has helped him pursue his business idea. About Manuel Manuel Fajardo will graduate from the Sofaer Global MBA this Fall. Before getting his MBA, Manuel worked as General Manager of EDS LA PAZ, and as
#165 How is Covid-19 Impacting B-Schools? Dirk Hopfl Shares IE Business School's Response
Darren invites Dirk Hopfl from IE Business School to share how Covid-19 has affected its MBA program and IE's plan moving forward. IE, based in Spain, is one of Europe's leading business schools with one of world's most international MBA programs, regularly admitting 90% of its students from 75 countries outside Spain. Its response offers one possibility for how MBAs will evolve to meet student ne
#164 Inside the Virginia Darden MBA with Tawan (Tina) Suvapatrachai '18
Tawan (Tina) Suvapatrachai shares her MBA journey from Bangkok to Virginia Darden and then back to Thailand to do strategy for Samsung. Like many international applicants, Tina didn't have the chance to visit her four target US business schools. How did she research schools and find her best fit? Why did she choose Darden and what did she take from her Darden MBA experience? Questions Tina's back
#163 How I Got Into Harvard Business School with Graciela Brewer
As a UX Designer and mother in Kansas City with no MBA network, Graciela Brewer wasn't sure if she "had a sliver of a chance" at her targets: HBS, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern and Cornell Tech. Four months later, she got into all four programs. In this episode, Grace shares how she shortlisted schools, submitted her strongest resume, essays, and recommendations, and stayed sane during a stressful applicat
#162 Don't Trust Your Gut for Career Decisions with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky has dedicated his professional life to helping others overcome cognitive biases and make better decisions. In this episode, Darren and Dr. Gleb discuss ways MBA applicants can make better decisions when it comes to business school and their careers. Questions Why Dr. Gleb has dedicated two decades of his life to overcoming cognitive biases with decision making (3:00) Autopilot
#161 The Evolving Professional MBA with Chris Healy
Do you have to quit your job to get your MBA? Darren invites Chris Healy from Alliance Manchester Business school to share how the part-time / professional MBA has evolved with new technology and student and employer demands. If you're unsure about getting an online, blended, part-time or Executive MBA, you'll get key insights from this episode. Questions How the part-time / professional MBA has
#160 Experience Does Not Equal Performance
Inspired by the Harvard Business Review article Experience Doesn’t Predict a New Hire’s Success, Darren shares how you can demonstrate you're a great fit for your target MBA programs - or your next employer - even if you're short on experience. If you feel like you lack relevant work experience for the MBA, this episode is for you. Show Notes Experience Doesn’t Predict a New Hire’s Success (
#159 What's Up with the HKU MBA?
Sachin Tipnis, Senior Executive Director of HKU's MBA, EMBA & 6 specialized Masters programs discusses the Hong Kong protests, curriculum changes, admissions, and picking the right Masters program for your career goals. The Hong Kong Protests - How Has this Affected Students? (2:45) Curriculum, Admissions and Career Services Updates with the HKU MBA (17:30) Full-time MBA vs. Specialized Masters v
#158 Quantless in Cornell with Gregory Wool, Cornell Johnson MBA '21
Gregory Wool, Cornell Johnson MBA '21, scored below average on the quantitative section of the GMAT. How did he overcome this score to not only get into Cornell Johnson, but win a prestigious tuition free scholarship? Gregory also shares his experience surviving a packed first semester, leading the student consulting club, and recruiting into strategy consulting. Questions Gregory's application a
#157 Management Consulting & Student Life at Insead with Massine Bouzerar '19J
Around half of Insead MBA graduates end up working in consulting each year. Darren invites Massine Bouzerar, Insead MBA '19J, to share how he landed a job with Bain & Company AND made the most of his ten months at Insead's Fontainebleau campus. Questions Massine’s overview of management consulting recruiting at Insead (4:35) Differentiating yourself from thousands of other MBA students applying t
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