The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast

Darren C. Joe

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 b-school unique. Strategies and tips on how to craft a successful MBA application. Straight talk on how to get accepted to MBA programs like Harvard, Wharton, Insead, LBS and many, many more.

  1. 2 天前

    #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 Unique? (3:30)IESE's Reputation with Employers (11:30)IESE MBA's Two-Year Course Structure (14:27) Living, Studying & Working in Barcelona, Spain (18:37)The Importance of Speaking the Local Language: Spanish (25:10) IESE MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances?  What IESE MBA Looks for When Building a Class (28:00)Patrik's Thoughts on Post-MBA Goals (37:00)GMAT/GRE Scores & GPA (41:45)Resumes (48:00)Written Essays & Video Essays (52:45)Letters of Recommendation (55:35)Interviews & IESE MBA's Assessment Day (57:45)How IESE MBA Admissions Views Scholarships & How Applicants Can Win Funding (1:03:35) Career Opportunities at IESE - What to Know & How to Prepare Has AI Affected Recruiting for Consulting? (1:10:55)IESE MBA's Grading System (1:17:30)What Applicants Need to Know about Landing Jobs in Spain & Europe (1:20:05)Structured Recruiting & Unstructured Recruiting: What Applicants Can Expect from IESE's Career Services (1:27:45) About Our Guest Patrik Wallen is the MBA Admissions Director at IESE Business School. Previously, he was Director of IESE's Career Development Center. Before joining IESE, Patrik worked as a general manager in hospitality, founded a fish importing business and worked as a software consultant. Patrik got his Masters in Science in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and his MBA from IESE in 2007. Show Notes IESE MBAGet feedback on your profile from IESE MBA's Admissions Team before you applyIESE MBA Scholarships and Post-Graduation Payment Aid (PPA) for MBAs MBA Application Resources ⁠⁠Get free school selection help at Touch MBA⁠⁠⁠⁠Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

    1 小時 34 分鐘
  2. 10月17日

    #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's collection of achievements into a cohesive and compelling personal narrative. Topics Introduction (0:00)How Ellin Fell into Admissions Consulting (2:37)The Importance of Narrative: Why Data and CVs Aren't Memorable (3:37)What's Your Career Goal & Career Purpose? (10:20)Finding the Golden Thread of Your Personal Narrative (22:20)Dealing with "My Story Isn't that Interesting" (40:12)How to Differentiate Yourself when You Have a Common Career Goal (39:55)The Power of Vulnerability (45:23)Darren's Hot Dog Story - How Mundane Moments Can Make for a Memorable Story (47:19) How MBA programs are Evolving with AI (50:07) Using AI in Your MBA Applications (52:54) Video Essay Tips (59:28) About Our Guest Ellin Lolis is founder and president of Ellin Lolis Consulting, which has helped 98.9% of their clients get accepted to at least one program of their choice. Ellin and her team have spent over a decade helping MBA applicants craft their story and build their careers. Prior to starting her admissions consulting firm, Ellin worked in marketing and communications. Ellin graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelors in International Cultural Studies, and is a member of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC). Show Notes Ellin Lolis ConsultingMy Admit CoachCo-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan MollickTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A Novel by Gabrielle Zevin More Resources ⁠Get free school selection help at Touch MBA⁠⁠Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs⁠⁠Get the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business Schools⁠⁠Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

    1 小時 1 分鐘
  3. 8月25日

    #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 five key success factors for MBA admissions. Topics Introduction (0:00)Cherif's Background & Pre-MBA Plan & Goals (3:10)How Cherif Found Career Mentors & Built Future Opportunities (10:40)Cherif's 5 Key Success FactorsUnwavering Focus (17:20)Strategic Peer Review (27:15)Work with a Consultant (34:30)Self-awareness (43:15)Narrative Coherence (52:30)How Cherif Assessed his Competitiveness (1:00:00)Cherif's Interview Tips for Insead & London Business School (1:07:10)Cherif's Final Tips (1:24:00) About Our Guest N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif graduated from Cranfield University with a Masters in Management and Concordia University with a Bachelors in Political Science. He will be attending the Insead MBA program in Fontainebleau, France, focused on a post-MBA career in infrastructure-focused private equity. After getting his Masters, Cherif worked as an auditor for PwC, management consultant for Square Management, and then in Financial Advisory and Project Finance for the government of Côte d'Ivoire and then as an investment banker for Obara Capital. He then returned to Paris with his family to do Financial Advisory and Project Finance for Egis. Show Notes Follow N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif on LinkedInHow I Got Into Insead & London Business School: 5 Game-Changing Success Factors by N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif (My Admissions Journey Series)Insead MBAInfravenir: Young Infrastructure Professionals in FranceThe Glocap Guide To Getting A Job In Private Equity: Behind the Scenes Insight Into How PE Funds Hire by Brian KorbLondon L. - MBA Admissions Consultant More Resources Get free school selection help at Touch MBAGet pre-assessed by top international MBA programsGet the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business SchoolsOur favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

    1 小時 26 分鐘
  4. #229 AI's Impact on MBA Careers: An Insider's Perspective

    4月29日

    #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 thrive in an AI-world. Topics Introduction (0:00) AI's impact on demand for MBAs (5:50) How AGSM embeds AI into its curriculum & career services (8:30) AI tools for resume optimization (11:30) The importance of authenticity & one's mindset in using AI (13:30) What AI skills do employers expect from MBAs? (17:00) Using AI for psychometric testing, initial assessments & interview preparation (26:00) Using AI for career exploration (30:00) AGSM's AI courses & resources (36:00) Ethical use of AI (38:40) About Our Guest Sabine King is the Director of the Career Accelerator at 
Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. Previously, she worked for Education First as a Program Manager and Cox Purtell as a Recruiting Specialist. She graduated with a degree in Business Management from the International School of Management in Germany. Show Notes AGSM MBA UNSW AI Institute ChatGPT Microsoft CoPilot Crystal - The Personality Data Platform VMoc - Career Acceleration Platform Case Coach - Case Interview Prep Platform Graduate First - Job Assessments Expert Still need help? Get a free profile review, including best-fit MBA programs & ways to strengthen your profile MBA Application Resources Get free school selection help at Touch MBA Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs Get the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business Schools Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants) The Best MBA Programs in Australia

    41 分鐘
  5. #227 Inside the Frankfurt School Full-Time MBA: Admissions & Recruitment Insights with Ann-Marie Stephenson & Colleen McLister

    1月24日

    #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 Frankfurt School. Topics Introducing Ann-Marie Stephenson & Colleen McLister (0:00) What about the Frankfurt School MBA Surprises International Students? (4:00) How much German do Frankfurt MBA students need to thrive? (8:45) Frankfurt School MBA's Admissions Criteria & Process (11:30) Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (24:30) Advice on Recommendations, Case-Study Essays, Career Goals (35:00) Final Tips for Applicants (46:15) Show Notes Frankfurt School of Finance & Management Full-time MBA Programme Contact the MBA Team at the Frankfurt School #227 Inside the Frankfurt School Full-Time MBA: Admissions & Recruitment Insights with Ann-Marie Stephenson & Colleen McLister #215 Frankfurt School of Finance & Management MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Prof. Adrian Buss MBA Application Resources Get free school selection help at Touch MBA Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs Get the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business Schools Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

    55 分鐘
  6. #225 Is an MBA Worth It for Startup Founders? with Bridget Pujals, Berkeley Haas MBA '24

    2024/09/03

    #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? Bridget shares specific steps she (and other entrepreneurs at Berkeley) took to de-risk their startups and increase their odds of success. After listening to this conversation, you'll get a much clearer picture of whether an MBA makes sense for your entrepreneurial goals. Topics Introduction (0:00) How Bridget's entrepreneurial plans evolved during her MBA (4:00) Lean launchpad at Berkeley Haas (7:50) Co-founder dating (9:45) What entrepreneurial resources Bridget found most useful at Haas (14:30) Professors as an influential resource for MBA founders (18:40) How other active & aspiring entrepreneurs approached the MBA (25:00) Tips for active & aspiring founders to make the most of their MBA investment (30:15) Importance of student culture for MBA entrepreneurs (33:30) Should aspiring entrepreneurs get an MBA? (39:00) About Our Guest Bridget Pujals graduated from University of California's Berkeley’s Haas School of Business Full-time MBA program in 2024, where she focused on building her startup. She is Co-Founder and CEO of Saelo in San Francisco, which offers high-tech, clinical skin treatments. Before getting her MBA, Bridget worked for Meta as a Senior Product Manager (Messenger) and Product Lead (Privacy for Instagram Direct), and before that, Postmates in business development and product management roles. Bridget graduated from University of California Irvine with a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry. Show Notes Follow Bridget Pujals on LinkedIn #196 How I Got Into UC Berkeley Haas MBA (and HBS, Wharton, UCLA too!) & Breaking into Product Management with Bridget Pujals Saelo University of California Berkeley Haas MBA Berkeley MBA Resources for Entrepreneurs Berkeley's Lean Launchpad Accelerator Y Combinator's Co-Founder Matching Platform Search Funds & Entrepreneurial Acquisitions by Jan Simon Growth Marketing with Bill Pierce MBA Application Resources Get free school selection help at Touch MBA Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs Get the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business Schools Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

    50 分鐘

簡介

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 b-school unique. Strategies and tips on how to craft a successful MBA application. Straight talk on how to get accepted to MBA programs like Harvard, Wharton, Insead, LBS and many, many more.

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