Ask Vikram Shah Consulting : Ask Admissions Consultants - Page 6

Faith09 wrote: thanks! Could you also suggest other bschools with one year program that I could look at?

USA: Kellogg, Cornell, USC Marshall, Emory. UK: Oxford, Cambridge, Cranfield, Warwick.

ConsultVikramShah wrote: I think you will have to apply to a couple of safe schools because undergrad academics hold a lot of weightage and a good undergrad record is a given at some schools. Consider this when you are drawing up your list of schools. A strong GMAT score cannot always compensate but it will indicate your academic potential.

May I ask you to name a few safe schools? I am looking for opportunities in the US and the UK

abhi0888 wrote:Following up on my earlier question - Are there any programs in Europe that would be attractive?

Honestly, I work backwards. I ask people to tell me their goals first. Based on their goals I recommend schools and not merely based on where they could get in. What’s the point of going to a particular school if you won’t get access to your target recruiters or if that school can’t push you forward in your career?

Jaredkansa wrote:Hi vikram, Indian male, with an exp of almost 3 years now in consulting (half in a boutique firm and now in M&A with PWC US), I just wanted to ask will the split in experience with different organizations I have worked in prove a hindrance? And Also that when I apply I would not be holding any managerial roles as such, how important is it to have managerial experience with even less than 4 years of work ex, cause that’s when I would be applying, thanks in advance!

Split in experience - no, not a hinderance. In fact, you can sell it. You don’t need to have official "managerial experience" but you should/could have displayed leadership irrespective, which is important for the more competitive schools. And that’s what you have to sell - more than the length of your experience, sell the quality of your experience and the impact you’ve created. You could also wait another year before you apply.

kron0s wrote:
May I ask you to name a few safe schools? I am looking for opportunities in the US and the UK

Schools on the west coast - USC Marshall, Foster.

kron0s wrote:
May I ask you to name a few safe schools? I am looking for opportunities in the US and the UK

- UK: Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester - however, if I were you, and if I were purely focused on working in PM roles, then I would prioritize the US over the UK - assuming budget etc is not that big a factor.

Hi Vikram ..Indian male here with 6.5 yrs exp. Want to get into product management. Yet to attempt GMAT. Could you pls recommend some schools? Also are US schools worth it over the ones in Europe/Asia when looked from an ROI perspective?

Thanks a ton Vikram for sharing your knowledge. I appreciate your advice and I will work on my applications with your advice in mind

NEO1902 wrote:Hi Vikram ..Indian male here with 6.5 yrs exp. Want to get into product management. Yet to attempt GMAT. Could you pls recommend some schools? Also are US schools worth it over the ones in Europe/Asia when looked from an ROI perspective?

Cannot recommend without a GMAT score or without knowing your profile. Else I might as well say Stanford, MIT, Haas, Wharton. US vs Europe/Asia - difficult question to ask because there are so many other factors which come into play - 2 year vs 1 year etc.

kron0s wrote:Thanks a ton Vikram for sharing your knowledge. I appreciate your advice and I will work on my applications with your advice in mind

Not at all. All the best!

ConsultVikramShah wrote: Not at all. All the best!

Also, if I were to pump my score from 710 to, say, a 740/750, would my list of safe schools change? Or is it all the same? I plan on applying for R1

kron0s wrote:
Also, if I were to pump my score from 710 to, say, a 740/750, would my list of safe schools change? Or is it all the same? I plan on applying for R1

First get the score! And yes, your safe schools could change.

Thank you guys! I wish you all the very best for your applications. Reach out to me if you need any help.

Hi Vikram,

I came across your profile and wanted to get your views on my candidature to European business schools for an MBA.

Background
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Location: India
Nationality: Indian
Languages: English, Hindi
GMAT Score: Took the GMAT 2 years ago and scored a 640. Preparing to retake it next month and currently scoring 690/ 700 in mocks.
Schools: INSEAD, LBS, HEC, IESE, IE, Oxford said, Cambridge Judge

Work Experience:
1. 5 years of work experience at KPMG India in the Technology Center of Excellence of Risk Advisory. Currently working as an Assistant Manager and have received out of turn promotions back to back along with 1 rating consistently. Currently working in the product management space with a global 10 member team on a global KPMG project with funding for our SaaS product being deployed and adopted globally across KPMG member firms.
2. Experience involves data and analytics support to clients in the form of Process Mining and Data Visualisation projects that allows clients to map their current processes with best practices, identify gaps, perform continuous monitoring and business performance assessment as well as 3 level CXO Reporting.
3. Strategy projects such as technology transformation for large orgnaisations looking to revamp their processes and adopt technology for better oversight and automation/ digitisation of their organisations.
4. Leads a team of 7 people. In the top 1% employees to win a jury based award (ACE Award) across the entire Advisory practice along with other awards.


Academic:
1. Graduated with a degree in Bachelors in Commerce from Delhi University. Received first division i.e. 73%.
2. GMAT - Preparing
3. School - 93%

International Experience:
1. Global support to clients based in Europe (Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia), United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia.
2. Been staffed at KPMG Australia for 1 year working on a global KPMG project with KPMG International funding. However, not onsite due to COVID protocols with possibility to travel this year.
3. Part of a 2 member team that provided consultancy services and program assistance for a clients Blockchain based technology Solution launch at Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain


Extra-Curricular Activities:
1. Led PMO Support for KPMG to Organize India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2018 and India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2019 in association with DoT and COAI which involved interactions with industry veterans to seek perspective around the challenges faced by the telecom industry while implementing new technologies keeping in mind the country’s vision of Digital India and smart cities. This was inaugurated by the PM of India, Shri. Narendara Modi. I have received a special mention from the CEO of KPMG for my contribution towards the event.
1. Speaker at 3 panels for college students to speak about Consulting opportunities they can pursue as well as my personal experience of working in a tech space despite being from a non tech background. Each session has seen participation of about 100 participants.
2. Identified and registered Mentor at a global community called Women in Consulting Community.
3. Selected basis my exemplary performance at KPMG as a Gen Y mentor for an upward mentoring programme that involves mentoring a partner (mentee) and helping them navigate working with millennial's in their team.
4. Personal coaching and mentoring to 2 lower income level girls pursuing careers post college which involves Resume prep, Interview coaching, Finance planning and tax planning. This is not restricted to career oriented mentoring but also covers the intricacies of navigating having a career in line with the social stigmas in their families.

Post MBA Goals:
Short Term: Work as a strategy consultant for startups and help them roll out products globally, helping in assessing the product viability in a specific terrain as well as product positioning and management. Looking to apply for Product Marketing Manager roles.
Long Term: Work in leadership roles at Product companies in the corporate space and breaking down barriers by setting an example of a Woman in Tech and a Non Techie in a Tech background. Be able to help and create a platform for working women to prosper in senior corporate roles especially product strategy.

Hello @ConsultVikramShahI came across your profile and wanted to get your views on my candidature to European business schools for an MBA. Can you suggest some colleges that will help me better w.r.t post-MBA field?

Background
Age: 28 & work exp 5 yrs
Gender: Male
Location: India
Nationality: Indian

GMAT Score: 690 (Might get 700/710 in re-attempt , please suggest if it makes a considerable difference in my application)
Schools: Open to suggestion for European colleges with focus on green energy/sustainability or the colleges which has strong alum network in these sectors is preferred

Work Experience:
1. 5 years of work experience in Wind Turbine industry. 3.5 yrs with Vestas (danish company, among top 3 players in the industry). Worked at system level to calculate aeroelastic loads. Handled sales team (technical bid manager’s) requests for product customization & wind farm optimization strategies (But no direct interaction with client). After 2 yrs promoted as Technical lead (unofficial designation) for repowering business in US, handled a team for 3 for this.
In last 2 years switched to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy worked on product development of Offshore wind turbines. This role was more focused on New product development unlike customization focused role in last company.
2. Experience involves load calculation and analytics support to sales team in the form of maturing bids for specific sites. Also worked on developing best practices, identify gaps, perform continuous improvement. As a tech lead for repowering directly worked with Sr. Director (Technical bid management head) to propose various feasible solutions.
3. Strategy projects such as technology implementation into values chain to match needs of post product development activities. Achieved a milestone: to reduce around 2% steel weight for towers.



Academic:
1. Graduated with a degree in bachelor’s in mechanical Engg from Shivaji University. Held first position in class of 2015 (67% Absolute grading)
2. M.E in Design Engineering from BITS Pilani (8.67 CGPA Relative grading)
3. Xth : 86.36% XII th:70%

International Experience:
1. Closely worked with technical bid managers across the world mostly from US, Europe & APAC,where I tried to analyze requirements & proposed optimized solutions.
2. As a loads engg closely worked with teams in Denmark on various projects related to New product development. Worked with Noise experts from Denmark to help sound reduction at sensitive sites.

Extra-Curricular Activities:
1. Founder of Vestas Chess Club , Led Vestas Chess team to 1st FIDE international Corporate Chess Tournament in 2021 . Also member of Vestas Sports club, co-organized various sporting events for a group size of 100+ players.
2. Speaker at 2 international conferences in 2017,2018
3. Published 2 research papers during my Master’s degree
4. Volunteered as M.E Students representative in BITS
5. Cofounded Chess Club during in my bachelor’s college 2011. Also won zonal chess championship in 2012.
6.Member of Indian Climate Youth Netwok

Post MBA Goals:
Short Term: Work as a strategy consultant in a big consulting firm in field of Energy. I am passionate about energy transition & climate change mitigation. So using my past exp in wind industry I would like to consult projects in renewable field.

Long Term: Work in leadership roles at Product companies focusing on UN sustainable goals.

Hello,
It'll be really helpful if you could review my profile.
Indian Male Engineer (not from IITs or NITs but a decent university)
CGPA 7.16/ 10 (~64%)
GMAT score- 690 (Q47, V38)
Work ex- 5 yrs in education sector (2 year teaching fellowship and 3+ years in CSR of a big firm in India)
Post MBA short term goal- Working for a consulting firm in social impact space (social impact consulting in BCG, KPMG, Dalberg, etc)
Post MBA long term goal- Start my own consulting firm
Given my nontraditional background, it is difficult to gauge which schools I have a shot at and which schools shall help me get scholarships. So, could you please suggest some schools outside India in 3 buckets (dream, moderate and safe schools) and chances of scholarship in them?

Hi Vikram,

I am 30 with 10 YoE as a Engineering Manager in Plant Engineering in Companies like Unilever, Coca-Cola. I am also a PMP and Certified Energy Auditor.
GMAT First Attempt Score 620, Reappearing in January. Target Score 740.

Tier 2 Engineering College, Electrical Engineer with GPA 7.3/10.

Post MBA, Want to pursue consulting/operation roles in Manufacturing, Energy, CPG.

May you please suggest suitable

Dear all,
Please help me gauge my chances of selection at ISB 2023 round of admissions.

Personal profile: Dr. Nishant Joshi, 22 years, male, Indian

Academic background:

10th from CBSE, India: 10 CGPA
12th from Rajasthan State board in PCB: 94.6%Selected through National Level entrance test NEET-UG SCORE- 595/720
MBBS from RNT Medical college, Udaipur: from 2017 to 2022
MBBS average Percentage 65%
GMAT: scheduled in August 2023

Professional background:
Internship : 12 months Mar. 2022 to Mar. 2023 in MB Government hospital ,Udaipur
Total Work experience: 0 months (Planning to join it post GMAT exam, currently looking for early entry options)

Extra- Curricular
*Participated in intercollege debate competition twice and won certificate of appreciation.
*Won medals at college level essay writing, debate competition.
*Participated at college level sports event with 4 gold and 3 silver and 3 bronze medals.
*Founding members of the college literary club, leading a team of junior doctors every year since 2017 to participate in reading and writing activities in the club.
*Founding member and organizer of the annual doctor’s meet of our district.
*Volunteer for annual blood donation event at college since 2018
*Helped manage funds for the student welfare committee.

MBA Plan - MBA in general management with add on concentration in healthcare management

Future plan post MBA: Want to work in healthcare firm at consulting/strategy role to utilize my already available experience in the field and gain valuable insights to build a start-up to provide easy access to healthcare services for patients who belong to poor backgrounds.

TARGET SCHOOL – ISB also open to suggestions about other schools that might fit my profile.

What should be my target score?
What further can be done to be a better fit to the school?