The mbaMission Podcast

mbaMission
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Every Tuesday, The mbaMission Podcast delivers expert, unfiltered insights into the world of elite business school admissions. Hosted by Senior Admissions Consultant Harold Simansky alongside mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald, the show strips away the guesswork of applying to top-tier MBA programs. Through candid conversations, timely market updates, and exclusive interviews with top admissions directors and industry insiders, Harold and the team break down every piece of the application mosaic—from essay drafting and resume optimization to interview preparation and post-MBA career mapping. Whether you are a traditional candidate aiming to differentiate yourself or a unique applicant navigating the process for the first time, The mbaMission Podcast is your definitive, go-to resource for actionable strategies, data-backed advice, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to get accepted to your dream school. 

  1. 6d ago ·  Video

    Is AI the Future of MBA Careers? | Ep 126

    Send us your admissions questions! In Episode 126 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Founder Jeremy Shinewald welcome back Jim Caruso, chief innovation officer at Elevate and a graduate of the Michigan Ross Online MBA program, for a conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of MBA careers. Jim teaches AI at Montclair State University and builds AI products every day at Elevate, so he has insight into the technology from both the classroom and the C-suite. He shares that many of his students begin his course fearful of the technology, and explains the shift from a knowledge economy to a relevance economy, why AI applications differ so sharply by task and industry, and the data analytics case he calls one of the most successful applications of large language models. He closes with what an MBA program still teaches that no technology can replace: how to collaborate with people, work for people, and mentor people. 00:00 Is AI the Future of MBA Careers? 03:56 Has the AI Job Apocalypse Been Overblown? 05:52 Why Are Students Not Using AI in the Classroom? 08:35 What Is the Relevance Economy? 09:46 How Should Schools Adapt to AI? 11:50 What Turns a Great Idea into a Business? 16:33 How Can Large Language Models Convert Data into Insight? 19:50 What Does an MBA Teach That Technology Cannot Replace? Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com Follow Us: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    Is AI the Future of MBA Careers? | Ep 126

  2. Oct 20 ·  Video

    How to Get Off the MBA Waitlist | Ep 125

    Send us your admissions questions! In Episode 125 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Founder Jeremy Shinewald discuss a uniquely frustrating stage of the admissions process that some MBA hopefuls must navigate: being placed on the waitlist. Harold and Jeremy explain why business schools use waitlists, what your odds of being accepted are, and the helpful steps you can take in the meantime, such as retaking the GMAT, completing quant coursework, writing thoughtful monthly updates for the admissions committee, and building a relationship with the waitlist manager. They also address additional recommendations, yield management, international applicant timelines, and how to leave the door open to reapply later if you decide you cannot wait any longer. 00:00 Why Is the MBA Waitlist So Frustrating? 01:22 How Many Applicants End Up on the Waitlist? 04:34 How Can You Fill in the Holes in Your Application? 07:40 How Often Should You Contact the Admissions Committee? 12:48 How Long Can You Afford to Remain on the Waitlist? 14:57 Why Do Schools Refuse to Rank Their Waitlists? 17:53 Should You Submit Additional Letters of Recommendation? 22:21 How Can You Stay Optimistic While You Wait? Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com Follow Us: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    How to Get Off the MBA Waitlist | Ep 125

  3. Oct 13 ·  Video

    How to Connect with MBA Students and Alumni to Strengthen Your Application | Ep 124

    Send us your admissions questions! How do you extend your research on a business school beyond its website? By having authentic conversations with the people who know it best. In Episode 124 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Founder Jeremy Shinewald break down how applicants should connect with their target schools and with those schools’ students and alumni. They discuss whom to contact, how to reach out, what questions to ask, and how to integrate what you learn from those conversations into your essays and interviews. In their discussion, Harold and Jeremy cover how applicants can learn about upcoming school events, how to approach student ambassadors, how to cold email a club officer without being awkward, and how to benefit from one’s professional network—from LinkedIn connections to former colleagues. They also explain what “demonstrated interest” means, why you should not expect any single person to become an advocate for your candidacy, and when visiting campus is worth the effort and cost. The central takeaway of the episode is that a few thoughtful 15-minute conversations can bring out the kinds of specific, insightful details that can set your application apart—and that no amount of online research could replicate. 00:00 Why Should You Go Beyond a School’s Website? 03:04 What Is the Point of Demonstrated Interest? 09:46 How Can You Find In-Person and Online School Events? 12:45 What Questions Reveal More Than the Obvious? 16:50 Is Finding a Primary Advocate Possible? 18:45 How Can Contacting a Student or Graduate Strengthen Your Candidacy? 22:08 How Do You Cold Email a Club Leader? 25:14 How Do You Integrate What You Learn into Essays and Interviews? Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com Follow Us: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    How to Connect with MBA Students and Alumni to Strengthen Your Application | Ep 124

  4. Oct 6 ·  Video

    Why an Entrepreneur Chose an Online MBA Program | Ep 123

    Send us your admissions questions! Why would an experienced entrepreneur and product leader decide to attend business school—and choose an online MBA program? In Episode 123 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Founder Jeremy Shinewald speak with Jim Caruso, chief innovation officer at Elevate and a graduate of the Michigan Ross Online MBA program. Jim explains how the program fit into his career, which already involved product leadership, company building, and the sale of a software business. Their conversation examines the Ross program’s blend of live classes, asynchronous coursework, collaborative learning, and in-person residencies. Jim describes how his finance and statistics studies broadened his technical foundation, while some of his most enduring lessons came in the areas of leadership, change management, and organizational design. He also discusses the reality of entrepreneurship, the importance of learning from one’s classmates, and the reach of the University of Michigan alumni community. The practical takeaway of the episode is that applicants should evaluate an online MBA program by assessing whether its structure, curriculum, and community address their professional and personal needs. 00:00 Why Would a CEO Choose an Online MBA Program? 04:27 Why Pursue an MBA After Studying Business as an Undergrad? 06:36 What Does Entrepreneurship Really Demand? 12:04 Why Attend Business School Mid-career? 16:35 Why Choose the Michigan Ross Online MBA Option? 19:26 How Does the Ross Online MBA Program Work? 20:32 Which MBA Courses Surprised Jim Most? 25:14 What Value Has Lasted Beyond the Degree? Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com Follow Us: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    Why an Entrepreneur Chose an Online MBA Program | Ep 123

  5. Sep 29 ·  Video

    MIT Sloan Fellows MBA: A One-Year Career Accelerator | Ep 122

    Send us your admissions questions! Which MBA candidates should choose the MIT Sloan Fellows MBA over a traditional two-year MBA or executive MBA program? In Episode 122 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky speaks with Ricardo Heredia, a biotech scientist, life sciences investor, and recent MIT Sloan Fellows MBA graduate. Ricardo explains how the immersive, 12-month program helped him connect his scientific and pharmaceutical experience with finance, entrepreneurship, and life sciences investing. The discussion delves into the program’s customizable curriculum, experienced global cohort, accessible faculty, and opportunities to study throughout MIT and even beyond the school. Ricardo also highlights an important trade-off that applicants should not ignore: Although the accelerated structure offers extraordinary access, it allows less time to explore one’s career options. As a result, candidates should enter the program with a strong sense of what they want to learn, which communities they want to join, and how the degree will support their next decade or more of work. 00:00 How Can MIT Sloan Fellows Support a Biotech Career? 05:07 Why Is Business Education Important for Scientists? 08:02 Who Should Consider the MIT Sloan Fellows MBA? 10:31 How Is the 12-Month Program Structured? 13:24 What Can Fellows Study Across MIT? 19:26 What Surprised Ricardo About MIT Sloan? 22:03 Who Benefits Most from the Program? 25:07 How Should Applicants Prepare for the Experience? Related Resources MIT Sloan Fellows MBA Program MIT Sloan Fellows MBA Curriculum MIT Sloan Fellows MBA Admissions Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com Follow Us: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    MIT Sloan Fellows MBA: A One-Year Career Accelerator | Ep 122

  6. Sep 22 ·  Video

    Inside Cornell Tech’s One-Year MBA: Innovation, Careers, and Impact | Ep 121

    Send us your admissions questions! The Johnson Cornell Tech MBA offers an accelerated path for professionals who know they want to work where business and technology intersect. In Episode 121 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Managing Director Gavriella Semaya welcome Corey Laffel Solon, Gavi’s classmate in the inaugural Johnson Cornell Tech MBA cohort and currently the associate director of growth for Grubhub. Corey and Gavi explain how the program’s Studio curriculum, multidisciplinary teams, practitioner access, and New York City setting prepared them to work across business and technology. Their experiences also reveal the trade-offs of the one-year format. Cornell Tech can suit professionals who already know they want to pursue technology or technology-adjacent work and who learn best through rapid, hands-on experimentation. Candidates seeking more time to explore industries or build a broader business foundation might prefer a traditional two-year MBA or Cornell’s 1+1 option.  00:00 What Makes Cornell Tech Feel Future Focused? 00:40 How Does Cornell Tech Compare to a Traditional MBA? 01:09 Why Did Corey and Gavi Choose a New One-Year Program? 03:09 What Are the Trade-Offs of a One-Year MBA? 05:32 How Does Cornell Tech Combine Business and Technology? 09:34 Which Skills Continue to Matter After Graduation? 10:25 Who Is the Cornell Tech MBA Right For? 13:35 How Has Cornell Tech Shaped Alumni Careers? 16:08 Should Applicants Choose Cornell Tech or a Two-Year MBA? 21:50 How Strong Is Cornell Tech’s Alumni Network? Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com Follow Us: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    Inside Cornell Tech’s One-Year MBA: Innovation, Careers, and Impact | Ep 121

  7. Sep 15 ·  Video

    What Strengthens an MBA Application? (Your Questions Answered) | Ep 120

    Send us your admissions questions! Which admissions test should you take? Can you overcome a lower GPA? How should reapplicants choose their recommenders, and how much clarity do business schools expect applicants to have about their career goals? In Episode 120 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Managing Director Gavriella Semaya explain how candidates from varied backgrounds can make strategic choices, address weaknesses, and present a stronger, more focused MBA profile. The episode offers a practical framework for evaluating what every part of an MBA application communicates—and for crafting a submission supported by clear reasoning, concrete evidence, and an authentic story. 00:00 What MBA Admissions Questions Do Applicants Ask Most? 00:56 Should Applicants Take the GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment? 02:50 Do Reapplicants Have Options for Strengthening Their Candidacy? 05:55 What Do Business Schools Look for When Evaluating Military Veterans? 08:04 How Can Professionals in Specialized Industries Frame Their Experience for an MBA? 09:52 Can Applicants Mitigate a Lower GPA and Limited Leadership Experience? 13:21 What Might Applicants with Common Professional Profiles Do to Stand Out? 16:30 How Should Applicants Explain Candidacy Issues in the Optional Essay? 17:55 Why Do Focused Career Goals Strengthen an MBA Application? 19:25 How Should Applicants Approach Timing, Personal Branding, and Credentials? Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com Follow Us: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    What Strengthens an MBA Application? (Your Questions Answered) | Ep 120

  8. Sep 8 ·  Video

    How Duke Fuqua Helps MBAs Build Lasting Careers | Ep 119

    Send us your admissions questions! In this episode, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Founder Jeremy Shinewald speak with Shari Hubert, associate dean of admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, about MBA career outcomes and the school’s approach to long-term professional development. Shari explains that Fuqua’s Career Management Center assists students with increasing their self-awareness, building relationships, and developing adaptability, then supports their job searches through sector directors, career fellows, employer partnerships, and alumni connections. The conversation also explores Fuqua’s breadth across industries, longstanding strength in healthcare and life sciences, social impact resources, entrepreneurship growth, and alumni reach across the United States and beyond. If you are wondering whether Fuqua can support your post-MBA career goals, this episode offers insight into how the school helps students pursue professional paths that match their ambitions. 00:00 What Fuqua Career Outcomes Reveal About MBA Fit 00:50 How Fuqua Supports MBA Career Transitions 03:03 Professional Outcomes Show Breadth Across Industries 05:56 Why Relationships Matter Beyond On-Campus Recruiting 08:30 Sector Directors Coach Students for Long-Term Success 11:21 Duke Fuqua’s Deep Strength in Healthcare 14:01 How Social Impact Shapes the Fuqua MBA Experience 16:52 Fuqua’s Alumni Network Reaches Far Beyond Durham 19:58 How Entrepreneurship is Growing at Fuqua Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form. Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.   ‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️ Contact Us: info@mbamission.com Follow Us: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    How Duke Fuqua Helps MBAs Build Lasting Careers | Ep 119
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Every Tuesday, The mbaMission Podcast delivers expert, unfiltered insights into the world of elite business school admissions. Hosted by Senior Admissions Consultant Harold Simansky alongside mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald, the show strips away the guesswork of applying to top-tier MBA programs. Through candid conversations, timely market updates, and exclusive interviews with top admissions directors and industry insiders, Harold and the team break down every piece of the application mosaic—from essay drafting and resume optimization to interview preparation and post-MBA career mapping. Whether you are a traditional candidate aiming to differentiate yourself or a unique applicant navigating the process for the first time, The mbaMission Podcast is your definitive, go-to resource for actionable strategies, data-backed advice, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to get accepted to your dream school. 

Information

  • Creator
    mbaMission
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The mbaMission Podcast
  • Show Website
    The mbaMission Podcast

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