The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast show

The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast

Summary: 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. Strategies and tips on how to craft a successful MBA application and best present yourself. Straight talk on how to get accepted to MBA programs like Wharton, MIT Sloan, Insead, London Business School, and many, many more.

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  • Artist: Darren Joe: Former MBA Admissions Director Helping You Get Admitted
  • Copyright: 2012-2024 @Darren C. Joe

Podcasts:

 #115 Charting Your Own Path in China with Jesse Miller, CEIBS MBA '17 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 35:14

Why did an American Ivy League graduate decide to pursue an MBA in China? In 2015 Jesse Miller decided to pursue his MBA at CEIBS, ranked #11 worldwide by the Financial Times in 2017 and China's top-ranked program. Jesse discusses the pros and cons of pursuing a top-ranked MBA in Asia, his experience as a minority American student at CEIBS (Shanghai) and ISB (Hyderabad) where he studied one semester, and how he jumped from working in fashion to the entertainment industry. Jesse also shares his thoughts on the startup and entrepreneurship environment in China. Listen to one applicant's take on using the MBA to chart your own path. Questions Jesse's background  (4:06) Why Jesse chose to study in China after graduating from a top US university (7:14) The case for and against getting an MBA in China (9:06) How Jesse secured his internship and job  (14:50) CEIBS' alumni network and student clubs (17:26) Jesse's thoughts on CEIBS' reputation inside and outside of China (21:00) Exchanging for 3 months at the Indian School of Business (23:00) Jesse's thoughts on the startup and entertainment industry in China (27:20) Jesse's final thoughts on who should pursue MBAs in China (33:16) About Our Guest Jesse Miller graduated from Brown University where he majored in Political Science and Government. He then led the expansion of his family jewelry business into China. At CEIBS, Jesse was President of the CEIBS MBA Energy and Environment Club and played an active role in CEIBS eLab Incubator. Jesse speaks fluent Chinese and recently started working as an International Development Manager at Shanghai Media Group, one of China's largest media conglomerates. Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/charting-your-own-path-in-china-ceibs Episode Sponsor When three MBAs struggled with student loans, they knew there had to be a better way – so they created one. Now, CommonBond is a leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA. CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900.  

 #114 Stephen Huber, USC Marshall MBA ’18 on Getting Off the Waitlist, Preparing Significant Others, and Breaking Into a New Industry | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:06

Stephen Huber discusses his MBA experience at USC Marshall, from what he did to get off the waitlist, to preparing his wife for an intense first year, to leading the High Tech and Interactive Gaming Associations, to landing internships and jobs in tech and the hard-to-break into entertainment industry. After listening to this talk, you'll have a good idea of what it takes to make the most of your MBA experience, especially as a career switcher. Stephen is also open to answering your questions about the the USC Marshall experience on our Ambassadors Forum. Questions What Stephen did to get off the waitlist  (9:31) Preparing significant others for the Full-time MBA experience (14:06) How to prepare for your first semester (21:13) Recruiting and Internships at USC (22:06) How USC Marshall has transformed Stephen (32:35) The importance of professional clubs at USC (38:07) What most applicants don't know about USC (46:10) Stephen's advice on what applicants should look for in an MBA program (49:20) About Our Guest Stephen Huber got his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the UC Berkeley and worked as a Nuclear Engineer for General Dynamics before starting business school. Stephen recently completed his first year at USC Marshall's Full-time MBA program and will graduate in Summer 2018. Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/usc-marshall-mba-insights-real-time/ Episode Sponsor Ever wish there was an easier, more affordable way to get your MBA loans? Well now there is. CommonBond is leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA. CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900.

 #113 Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 28:08

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t It's not that admissions officers (or readers, movie-goers, consumers) are mean or cruel. They are just busy. How can you reward your application readers for their gift of time and attention? By telling an interesting story. How do you do this with your MBA applications? Inspired by Steven Pressfield's book, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, Darren offers 3 pillars to frame your MBA story: concept, theme, and structure (hook, build, payoff). Darren also dissects 3 successful applicants' positioning through the lens of these core story elements. By choosing what to focus on, represent something bigger than yourself, and using a story structure embedded in our collective unconscious, you make your application more memorable, and easier for admissions to process. Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/nobody-wants-to-read-your-shit Episode Sponsor When three MBAs struggled with student loans, they knew there had to be a better way – so they created one. Now, CommonBond is a leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA   CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900

 #112 LinkedIn Tips for MBA Applicants | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:56

Your LinkedIn profile could be the first thing business schools see. Darren draws on his admissions experience and shares 7 tips to make a good first impression, reinforce your MBA story, and highlight additional qualities not in your application. MBA programs are looking at your social media, especially your LinkedIn profile. Take 15 minutes to follow these guidelines, optimize your LinkedIn presence, and represent yourself well to b-schools, MBA students & alumni, and future employers. Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/linkedin-tips-mba-applicants Episode Sponsor When three MBAs struggled with student loans, they knew there had to be a better way – so they created one. Now, CommonBond is a leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900

 #111 MBA for Entrepreneurs - Worth It? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:02:37

Many MBA applicants are interested in entrepreneurship, but have trouble reconciling the cost of an MBA with their goal of starting a business. Darren invites 2 recent Wharton MBA graduates, Alex Kubo and Renata Arauz De Stefano, to discuss if an MBA helps you become a better entrepreneur. Alex currently works at Burrow.com, a Y Combinator backed startup in New York City, and Renata started Mwayi, a fashion social enterprise that brings customized, African-print apparel to US consumers. How helpful is an MBA for starting your own business? For joining startups? How can you make the most of your MBA experience if you have entrepreneurship goals? Is it tough to go this route when your peers are getting high paying jobs? Can entrepreneurship be taught? Listen on to get the perspective of 2 students who started organizations during their MBA. About Our Guests Alex Kubo graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then worked as a Project Manager and Project Engineer for ExxonMobil before attending Wharton, where he majored in Entrepreneurial Management and Marketing. After a summer internship and consulting role at Andela, Alex joined 2 of his Wharton classmates in the Fall of 2016 to help lead Burrow. Renata Aráuz-DeStefano majored in International Relations and French at Tufts University and worked for 4 years at FINCA International in microfinance before heading to Wharton. In her second year, she started Mwayi, a fashion social enterprise. This summer, she will be investment banking for Bank of America - Merrill Lynch. Alex Kubo, Burrow (4:50) Renata Arauz DeStefano, Mwayi (39:15) Episode summary, links and more at http://touchmba.com/mba-for-entrepreneurs-worth-it/ Episode Sponsor Ever wish there was an easier, more affordable way to get your MBA loans? Well now there is. CommonBond is leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA. CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900.    

 #110 Great MBA Letters of Recommendations with Caroline Diarte-Edwards | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 43:01

Caroline Diarte Edwards and Darren cover best practices for securing great MBA letters of recommendation. Don’t miss this detailed and open-ended discussion between 2 former Admissions Directors so you can sidestep common mistakes and understand what top b-schools consider an excellent letter of recommendation. Questions Why recommendations are important (3:16) Who to select as your recommender (6:06) How to prepare and what to give your recommenders (19:06) Last tips on to get great MBA recommendations (37:00) About Our Guest Caroline Diarte Edwards is Co-Founder and Director of Fortuna Admissions. Caroline was Director of Admissions for the Insead MBA from 2005 to 2012. Caroline got her MBA from Insead in 2003 and is a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/great-mba-letters-of-recommendations Episode Sponsor Ever wish there was an easier, more affordable way to get your MBA loans? Well now there is. CommonBond is leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA. CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900.

 #109 Crafting Your Best Story & Applying Through the Consortium with Sabaina Kamara, Michigan Ross '19 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 37:46

Sabaina Kamara, a Touch MBA listener and Admissions Edge Member, details what she did each step of the way to craft her best story - one that got her admitted to 4 top 20 US b-schools, including Michigan Ross, where she will head to this Fall. Sabaina also shares the benefits of applying through the Consortium, and her best application tips on career goals, school selection, GMAT, resumes, essays and MBA interviews. Also Sabaina has generously shared her Michigan Ross MBA essays below - check them out. Questions How Sabaina decided on her MBA career goals and researched b-schools (4:08) Applying through the Consortium (11:56) Sabaina's best tips on the GMAT, and MBA resumes, essays and interviews (22:30) About Our Guest Sabaina Kamara got her B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland and worked as a Human Resources Analyst for a top management and employment law firm in Washington, DC, where she advised federal contractors on diversity related issues such as affirmative action and equal employment opportunity compliance. Sabaina will be starting the Michigan Ross MBA in Fall 2017. Episode summary, links and Sabaina's Ross essays at: http://touchmba.com/sabaina Episode Sponsor Ever wish there was an easier, more affordable way to get your MBA loans? Well now there is. CommonBond is leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA. CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900.    

 #108 How to Finance Your US MBA with Phil DeGisi, CommonBond | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 38:30

“I’m In – Now How Do I Pay For B-School?”  Most applicants are 100% focused on getting IN a top MBA. Then after the euphoria of getting in, the hard reality of financing the MBA hits them in the face. Darren talks to Phil DeGisi, Chief Marketing Officer of CommonBond, about what US applicants can do to get the best MBA loans for US MBA programs. Darren and Phil also talk about the Dartmouth Tuck MBA, the MBA's usefulness in the marketing industry, and what US applicants should look for in an MBA network. Questions What should applicants think about (strategically) to secure the best MBA loan (6:16) What is the common financing path for most US MBAs? What federal and private loan options are available? (8:40) Federal loans vs. private loans (12:28) Estimating your MBA costs and last financing tips (19:40) What applicants can do now (tactically) to secure a great loan (21:30) How Phil has benefited from the Dartmouth Tuck MBA (30:08) How to gauge the strength of MBA alumni networks (32:36) Phil's thoughts on the MBA's value in the marketing industry (34:50) About Our Guest As Chief Marketing Officer at CommonBond, Phil DeGisi oversees the marketing, business development, and creative teams. Prior to joining the CommonBond team, Phil held ecommerce and digital marketing roles spanning startups and large organizations, including Quidsi (a subsidiary of Amazon), littleBits electronics, and Walmart.com. Across these roles, he led direct response marketing, customer retention, and site merchandising/optimization efforts. Phil received his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and his BA from Vassar College with a degree in economics. Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/us-mba-loans Episode Sponsor Ever wish there was an easier, more affordable way to get your MBA loans? Well now there is. CommonBond is leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA. CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900.

 #107 Queen's MBA Admissions Interview with Matt Reesor - "Team-based" | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:09:21

Matt Reesor from Queen's University Smith School of Business joins the show to discuss what makes the Queen's MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for Queen's MBA students. Program Highlights (3:00) | Admissions (25:10) | Scholarships (51:40) | Careers (56:30) About Our Guest Matthew Reesor is the Director of the Queen’s MBA at Smith School of Business. He has held administrative leadership and faculty positions at Nagoya University of Commerce and Business (NUCB) and Queen’s University. His research, focusing primarily on communications and language policy, has been published and widely referenced in academic journals. Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/queens-mba-admissions-interview Episode Sponsor When three MBAs struggled with student loans, they knew there had to be a better way – so they created one. Now, CommonBond is a leading student lender, saving members up to thirteen thousand dollars on MBA loans.   Learn more at http://CommonBond.co/TouchMBA   CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900

 #106 The GMAT Episode | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 54:57

How do top business schools use the GMAT to evaluate you? What exactly are they looking for? What do you need to score and on which sections? When should you retake the GMAT? Do schools prefer the GMAT or GRE? Darren asks Admissions Directors from 3 top schools - Michigan Ross (USA), IESE (Spain) and HKUST (Hong Kong) - tough questions about the GMAT. Listen on to get your GMAT questions answered! Son Nguyen from Michigan Ross MBA (4:46) Anjaney Borwankar from IESE MBA (20:30) Gary Lo from HKUST MBA (33:55) GMAT Lessons Learned (50:44) Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/gmat Episode Sponsor Save up to thirteen thousand dollars with a low-interest MBA loan from CommonBond. CommonBond has funded over a billion dollars in student loans, and their easy online application only takes minutes.   To learn more, visit http://commonbond.co/TouchMBA CommonBond Lending LLC, NMLS number 1175900.

 #105 Life as a Business School Professor with Gregor Halff | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 27:51

Amid all the attention paid to rankings, average salaries, and ROI, one crucial part of the MBA experience often gets overlooked - faculty. After all, you are spending more than 700 hours in class at most top MBA programs. In this episode, Darren invites Professor Gregor Halff to give you a behind the scenes look at the life of a business school professor. What does their typical day look like? What are their responsibilities? What are they looking for from MBA students? And what should MBA applicants look for and expect from MBA faculty? Listen on to better understand what b-school professors do and how this could influence your experience. About Our Guest Gregor Halff is Professor of Corporate Communication (Practice) & Deputy Dean, Singapore Management University (SMU). He is also Chair of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management. Gregor got his PhD in Communication from Westfõlische Wilhelms-Universitõt and was previously Managing Director for Publicis Group, one of the largest communications company in the world. Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/life-as-a-business-school-professor

 #104 CUHK MBA Admissions Interview with Lawrence Chan & David Ahlstrom | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 47:16

Lawrence Chan and Professor David Ahlstrom of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) MBA program join the show to discuss what makes the CUHK MBA unique, the school's admissions process and the career opportunities in the region. Program Highlights (2:48) Admissions (19:30) Careers (32:40) CUHK MBA Highlights  A pioneer in business education, CUHK offered Asia's first MBA in 1966 Students can complete the course in 12 or 16 months CUHK offers 4 specializations in Finance, Marketing, China Business, and Entrepreneurship Financial Times ranked CUHK MBA 36th worldwide in 2017 70-80 students/year Top Industries for Class of 2016: 22% Banking & Finance / 22% Investment and Asset Management / 15% Business and Management Consulting / 9% Private Equity & Venture Capital About Our Guests Lawrence Chan is Administrative Director (Marketing and Student Recruiting), MBA Programs at CUHK. Lawrence went to CUHK for his bachelor and MBA degrees and has over 2 decades of experience in sales, promotion and recruiting in Hong Kong and China David Ahlstrom is a Professor in the Department of Management at CUHK, where he has taught for over 20 years. He obtained his PhD in Management and International Business from New York University after working several years in government and industry. His research interests include managing in Asia, innovation and entrepreneurship, decision-making, and management and organizational history. Go to http://www.touchmba.com/cuhk-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions and careers at the CUHK MBA program.

 #103 Advice for MBA Reapplicants with Neethling McGrath, Columbia MBA '19 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 38:51

Neethling McGrath, an Admissions Edge Member, shares the ups and downs of applying, reapplying and getting into his first choice: Columbia GSB. Neethling shares what he did differently the second time around and what he believes were the factors for his application success To those of you who got dinged and are re-applying to top programs, this episode is for you. Neethling applies the first time (5:15) Gets dinged form his 2 schools, now what? (9:50) How Neethling focused his career goals and improved resume (14:20) How to reach out to current students, faculty and admissions (19:11) Dealing with space constraints in reapplicant essay (25:40) Neethling's reflections and lessons learned (29:34) About Our Guest Neethling McGrath got his Bachelors in Electronic Engineering and Masters Degree in Music Technology from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Before pursuing his MBA, he worked as a consultant for KPMG Management Consulting focusing on telecommunications, technology and media. A recording engineer, Neethling has also recorded live concerts, bands and solo performers. Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/advice-for-mba-reapplicants-neethling-mcgrath-columbia

 #102 Last Minute Application Tips with Clare Simonis, HBS MBA ’19 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 37:43

  You decide you need an MBA. You check your schools' application deadlines - only 1 month left before Round 1 apps are due!  What to do? Clare Simonis found her herself in this situation last Fall. With deadlines 1 month away, she applied to HBS, Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan and Berkeley Haas. She got into HBS and Haas and will be starting at HBS this Fall. In this episode, Clare shares her journey and tips for those of you scrambling to apply last minute. Not the ideal situation - but certainly a common one. Enjoy the episode! Clare's application strategy with only 1 month left before the deadline (6:25) Prepping for interviews at HBS, MIT Sloan, Stanford, Berkeley Haas and deciding on HBS (22:02) Miscellaneous application tips and thoughts on MBAs vs. starting a business (28:30) About Our Guest Clare Simonis graduated from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, majoring in Supply Chain and Operations Management and minoring in Asian Languages and Literature. She worked for Deloitte Consulting as a Management and Strategy Consultant for 3 years and current serves as Chief of Staff to the Integrated Care Group President at Fresenius Medical Care North America. Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/last-minute-application-tips-clare-simonis-hbs

 #101 Are Business School Students Career Ready? with Jeff Kavanaugh | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 44:00

With 200,000 MBAs graduating each year, are business schools preparing "career ready" employees? In a sweeping survey of 10,000 recruiters, 3,000 business school students (both MBAs and undergraduates), and 500 business school career center leaders, Jeff Kavanaugh found that all three constituencies had different perceptions of what’s important and where they stand. Darren and Jeff discuss the 4 main skills recruiters are looking for, where business school graduates are perceived as falling short, and what you can do to boost your employability. Jeff also shares what competencies consulting firms are looking for from MBAs, and what non-consultants can do to break into the industry. About Our Guest Jeff Kavanaugh is a Senior Partner at Infosys Consulting, where he heads North American recruiting at the undergraduate and graduate level. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas Dallas, where he teaches Developing Customer Insights, a course focused on critical and creative thinking. Jeff got his Bachelors from from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and MBA from the University of North Texas. Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/business-school-students-career-ready-jeff-kavanaugh/

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