GMAT Club

Emma Bond Reviews

Company: Fortuna Admissions

Emma has a unique breadth of knowledge and insight into London Business School’s programs, recruiters, and selection processes. She joined the London Business School MBA Marketing and Admissions team in 2001 with initial responsibility for recruiting from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East; quickly promoted to management level, she became one of the core senior members of the London Business School Admissions Committee, responsible for full-time MBA selection.

Emma left London Business School in 2008 to become European Recruiting Manager for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Whilst there, she led recruitment of London Business School MBA students into BCG’s global offices, as well as recruiting the company’s associate level consultant intake from Oxford and Cambridge universities. She was also responsible for advising BCG associates applying to the London Business School MBA.

5.0 /5 Average Rating
Based on 45 reviews
April 12, 2023
sbl25

Joined: Dec 09, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified score:
760 Q50 V44 (Online)

Emma Bond - Best for LBS

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I had the pleasure of working with Emma for my LBS MBA application. Her LBS admissions committee experience and personal links to the existing LBS adcom shone through. She was very aware about what LBS was looking for specifically in each of the application questions, and tailored my application to align with LBS' values perfectly. She also pushed me to think out of the box and took my application to a much higher level than what I would have produced on my own. To top it all off, she is an extremely lovely person and was an absolute joy to work with.

I was thrilled to receive an LBS MBA offer and scholarship and highly recommend Emma to anyone on the same journey.

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February 03, 2023
airb1019

Joined: Jul 27, 2020

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

Re-applicant to scholar!

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“These b-schools are hyper competitive and I don’t see components that meet the bar.”

This stupendously demotivating piece of advice is the first piece of feedback that I received from an admissions consultant. Partly, I can’t blame them – I’m a part of the infamous IT Indian male cohort. And I’m a reapplicant.

Emma, on the other hand, went against the grain, took a step further and dove deeper into my profile. What she really excels at is understanding which parts of an applicant’s character, work experience, and extra-curriculars appeal to the folks sitting in the admissions office at the absolute top notch international b-schools.

From our very first meeting, I saw her experience stand out. With the dexterity of a well-seasoned surgeon, she cut into my character to understand which parts of story can be tailored to craft the perfect reapplication and stand out in an over-represented group.

She infused my application with, as a Gen Z faithful would say, “main-character energy” (words from my little cousin, not me.) I was reassured that I was in good hands, especially given the financial burden of such services.

The essays were as smooth as can be – each iterative feedback loop was productive, with clear TODOs and the reasons behind proposed changes.

The video essays were the highlight of the service – Emma, being an interviewer herself, was exceptional at giving me a blunt assessment of my mannerisms, for e.g. telling me when my body-language was off. This piece of advice seeped into my in-person interviews as well.

At the end of this process, I’m proud to say that I got to choose between Oxford, INSEAD, and LBS. And with scholarships from INSEAD and LBS! A privileged position to be in, a position that couldn’t have been reached without Emma.

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January 07, 2023
mgk2022

Joined: Jan 03, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified score:
750 Q50 V42

Thank you Emma!

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I wasn’t planning on working with an admissions consultant, but when I got to the application essays, I hit a roadblock. I struggled with developing a cohesive story and expressing my passion for the programs. I also had difficulty finding a balance between sharing my true self and highlighting the key attributes that I knew the Admissions Committee would be looking for.

Based on my needs, I decided to work with a consultant on an hourly basis. After speaking with a few firms, I chose to work with Emma due to her deep knowledge of European business schools, but also simply because I thought we connected well. Throughout the process, Emma provided prompt and honest feedback. However, what struck me most was how much she cared. Despite having a busy schedule, I never felt that she was rushing through my edits. Emma took the time to truly understand the story I was trying to convey and then helped me refine and package it.

Emma and I primarily worked together on my essays for LBS and Cambridge. However, I was also able to apply her feedback to my other applications. Thanks to her help, I received offers of admission from all four of the schools I applied to and fellowships from three of them.

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January 02, 2023
jroberto

Joined: Jan 02, 2019

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified score:
700 Q45 V40

Emma Bond - Best LBS Consultant in the Business

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Emma was an absolute pleasure to work with! I sought her out specifically for my LBS application process and interview prep because as an American applicant, I felt like I had less insight on the LBS MBA process relative to US schools. I purchased the admissions director evaluation package, and Emma's timely, candid, and invaluable feedback helped refine my essays, CV, and short responses immensely. She has intimate knowledge of what the BS adcom is looking for in applicants, and she went above and beyond at every opportunity to help me put my best foot forward. As a result, I received a partial scholarship based on the merits of my applicant, and I certainly have Emma to thank in-part! She absolutely deserves her reputation as one of the best LBS consultants out there, and I could not recommend her more highly.

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December 28, 2022
mission22

Joined: May 29, 2022

Posts: 1

Kudos: 1

Verified score:
690 Q48 V36

LBS Admit: Review for Emma Bond

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I worked with Emma on a 2-school package offered by Fortuna Admissions. First, I had a fit call with her wherein we discussed my past experiences (both personal and professional), goals, MBA programmes I am interested in, and preferences. She came across as an empathetic, honest, friendly, and highly knowledgeable professional; working with her through the admission process I can guarantee you she is all this and much more!

1. After the fit call, Emma and I had a comprehensive discussion to shortlist the programmes I am interested in. She not only discussed the timelines for each application, but also made me aware of her working style and was interested to learn about my style as well to make sure we were on the same page. I also filled an exhaustive questionnaire to help Emma understand my experiences and achievements.

2. I was in parallel preparing for my GMAT when we started work on my first application. Emma was highly thoughtful in deciding the to-do tasks as I balanced my job, GMAT prep, and application work.

Coming to the essays, Emma really understood my story and knew exactly the things we need to highlight (this varies from school to school as we had a brainstorming session for each school before starting work on its application). I always had an issue with going over the word limit, but with Emma’s magic each essay of mine was concise, conveyed the story, and made an impact. When you work with Emma, each word in the essay is there for a reason and she always pushes you in the right direction to extract the so-what aspect of the story and keeps a check on how it aligns with your overall application. She doesn’t shy away from multiple reads and edits of the same essay (resume and LoRs as well) until it is in the best shape. You will never waste time in the process since Emma is super responsive and her turnaround time is commendable.

3. Emma made sure to leverage multiple avenues to portray the various positives in my story. With 16+ years of experience and front-end knowledge, she has unique insights into the admission process and is aware of what the schools are seeking. She judiciously placed content in my essays, resume and LoRs – each of these reflected different attributes of mine but provided a holistic picture of me and my story. Special shoutout to Jody Keating from the Fortuna Admissions team for all the resume help!

4. Once I received an interview invite, Emma prepped me for both the video and main interview. For both the interviews, she first conducted a mock with me to assess my responses and then provided actionable constructive feedback to refine my responses. Leveraging her experience, she also helped me with smart tricks to enhance the answers and make them relevant to the school. Her guidance isn’t limited to just the content of the answers, but also includes tips on body language, camera setting, pace of speaking, etc. Needless to say, many of the questions which Emma discussed with me were part of the interviews.

5. I applied to LBS along with one of the top 3 European schools and a T15 US school (I took an hourly support from Emma for the 3rd school). I received an admit with scholarship from both LBS and the European school but have been waitlisted at the US school. I worked with Emma to appeal for scholarships as well and she totally understood my financial situation and did her best here too. In my opinion, there is no one better than Emma to help you for LBS and the European schools; but the main advantage of working with Fortuna Admissions is the wealth of the knowledge they have of every top B-school. When I was applying to the US school as well, Emma reached out to her colleagues who are well-aware of the school and got my application reviewed so that we are not missing out on anything.

I consider myself luckiest to have worked with Emma for my MBA admissions. She is much more than a professional consultant and the best thing about her is how real and humane she is. I have been extremely comfortable discussing sensitive personal experiences with her and love the fact that she understands the place I am coming from and doesn’t judge. Through this journey there have been multiple phases of anxiety (be it work travel or hardware issues during my interview), but Emma has ALWAYS been a message away and never made me feel guilty of my mistakes – rather she comes with a practical solution to counter the challenge. She is a thorough professional and makes sure your applications are top priority even when she is taking a well-deserved break to meet her family after 3 years. She has done much more than just applications for me, including checking the emails I write to the schools, giving me contacts to connect with, or clearing my countless silly doubts. Don’t think twice and just go ahead with Emma – you’ll gain a coach, a mentor, and a friend!

I couldn’t have achieved this with you, so THANK YOU Emma. Forever grateful to you and the Fortuna Admissions team!

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December 19, 2022
rhunzeker

Joined: Dec 19, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified score:
740 Q44 V47

Thank you Emma Bond!

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Emma helped me with my R1 LBS and HEC applications. I reached out to her after realizing I was somewhat out of depth with the process and had a million questions on how to begin. She immediately broke everything down for me and laid out the process in clear and concise steps. She helped with everything from reaching out to recommenders, school outreach, application questions, and interview prep. Emma answered all of my questions and concerns with patience and really made me feel supported and secure throughout the process. Her edits and advise were invaluable in helping me receive offers and scholarships at both schools. I highly recommend Emma to anyone applying for MBA programs, particularly if you are interested in LBS or other European schools.

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December 09, 2022
ss34

Joined: Aug 30, 2020

Posts: 2

Kudos: 0

Verified score:
750 Q49 V44 (Online)

Emma is amazing!

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I worked with Emma on a 3-school package. Going into the MBA applications process, I was extremely stressed, and sceptical about engaging a consultant. I spoke with 15+ consultants/firms, and made a comprehensive excel of my conversations with them. After my first call with Emma, I knew that she cared! LBS was my top school, and having conversations with Emma during the course helped me narrow down a list of schools I’d apply to. I ended up with an admit offer from LBS and a US Ivy league school! And on the waitlist for two others – but I got into my dream school, and it wouldn’t have been possible without her help and guidance.

She wasn’t just a consultant – she was a coach and a mentor to me, and at many points, helped me think through some important career opportunities that came my way. She didn’t hold back on feedback – even when I thought I had written my best draft, she would encourage me to go deeper and think through the prompt to bring out my best story. Belonging to an over-represented category, I knew it was important to showcase all aspects of my profile in a balanced way, and Emma helped me through all that. She was extremely responsive, super-organized and I ended up taking an hourly pack to get my other applications reviewed too. She was more than happy to get on calls, exchange emails promptly and reach out to her colleagues for insights on schools she knew they were experts on. Her knowledge of LBS is unparalleled, and she was great at the other schools I worked on with her too, from knowing what the question is aimed at, to school-specific insights.

During my interview prep, I knew I wasn’t great, but she encouraged me to be better. A great mix of honest feedback and positive reinforcement, and after a few mocks, I could see the change in the way I approached questions – in a more structured and natural manner.

At the end of the day, I needed someone to coach me through the process and be there as a guide, nudging me in the right direction, and Emma did exactly that. I had a wonderful experience working with her, and believe I gained a mentor for life!

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July 17, 2022
jjchar

Joined: Jul 11, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Emma is your biggest supporter

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Emma has been extremely helpful throughout the MBA admissions process and EXTREMELY responsive. I cannot stress how important this is, especially on application deadline dates.

Emma's insights into UK schools are second-to-none. She will breathe life into your story and is not afraid to challenge your ideas. When I was finding consultants in the beginning, too often did I find ones that would stick with the status quo and suggest only minor changes.

Being in professional services, I also understand the temptation for admissions consultants to steer clients towards more costly packages. Emma does none of this. In fact, she was extremely generous with her time and did not charge for bits and pieces.

Emma treats your application like her own. I really felt as if I had (an extremely MBA-knowledgable) family member guiding me along and giving me honest feedback.

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June 30, 2022
rarnillasb

Joined: Feb 20, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Best of the Best - Emma Bond is my Hero

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Emma made my dream come true. Thanks to her I managed to get accepted to LBS. She walked me through a long and difficult process. She reviewed every detail of the application until it was perfect, even giving me extra hours for some issues where I needed to improve (like the video assessment and interview). She taught me to trust myself and to believe until the end. This gave me the strength to continue improving and trusting myself in the final stages of the application. She also gave me very specific advice that was key to my final admission. Without her I would not have made it in any way. Thanks Emma!

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June 06, 2022
steve8070

Joined: Apr 02, 2019

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Emma is the guide you need to get into the MBA

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Emma was a valued expert and guide for everything in the admissions process. She provided support in many areas, including understanding what a school values and how to frame essays, ideating content for responses, line-by-line editing, interview prep, and more. She clearly possessed a deep knowledge (including personal relationships) with the target schools. I was accepted to both MBAs that Emma helped with, in no small part thanks to her critical eye and guidance. Emma is able to help on a range of topics, whether it’s cutting down on word count for a near-finished essay or helping to brainstorm from square 1. Above this all, she is kind and empathetic, providing a great presence in an otherwise stressful process.

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