The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#130 Breaking into CPG (Consumer Package Goods) as an MBA Feb 25, 2018

Show notes

What do you need to know about MBA recruiting for top Consumer Package Goods (CPG) companies? Darren invites Ana Archbold, Michigan Ross MBA '07, to share her experience working for companies like Kraft Foods, Unilever, and Johnson & Johnson, where she is currently a Senior Marketing Director for Neutrogena. Darren and Ana pay special attention to the recruiting process and what applicants can do to maximize their chances of landing internships and jobs. Ana also shares her thoughts on working internationally after getting a top US MBA.

This is Part 6 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here.

Questions

Ana's background (2:54 )
The importance of internships (5:48)
Ana's tips to applicants on how they can get a leg up (9:16)
What are top CPG companies looking for in hires? (16:24)
The recruiting process (21:15)
How important is prior industry experience? (25:20)
Interviews (27:08)
How interns are evaluated for full-time offers (30:15)
Ana's advice to international students applying for US jobs & internships (37:09)
How Ana landed a senior marketing role abroad in the UK (43:20)
Ana's final advice to applicants (46:55)

About Our Guest

Ana Archbold got her MBA from Michigan Ross in 2007 and is currently a Senior Global Marketing Manager for Neutrogena, a Johnson & Johnson brand, in New York City. Previously, she worked as a Global Brand Manager, doing Strategy & Innovation for Unilever in London. Ana has over 15 years of experience in the marketing and brand management.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/mba-careers-consumer-package-goods

#129 Breaking into Brand Management (as an MBA) Feb 07, 2018

Show notes

What do MBA applicants need to know about MBA careers in brand management?

Darren invites Michael Schwartz, NYU Stern MBA '16, to share his experience working as a marketing and brand manager at companies like Philips, Unilever and Heineken.

Michael has worked in marketing and brand management for 10 years – don’t miss his hard-earned insights into the industry!

This is Part 5 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here.

Questions

Michael's background (2:30 )
What do brand managers do? (8:54)
Common entry points for MBAs into brand management and industry trends (12:04)
Why Michael pursued an MBA despite wanting to stay in brand management (14:36)
Misconceptions about brand management (24:06)
Traits of successful brand managers (25:16)
Best part of job? Worst part of job? (29:15)
Michael's recommended resources (34:00)
Michael's thoughts on the value of a part-time MBA (38:10)

About Our Guest

After graduating from Baruch College with a degree in Marketing Management, Michael Schwartz has worked in Marketing and Brand Management roles for Philips, Unilever and Heineken. Michael graduated from NYU Stern's Part-time MBA program in 2016. Currently he is a Brand Director for Amstel at Heineken in New York City.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/mba-careers-brand-management

#128 How I Got Into Insead Jan 23, 2018

Show notes

Massine Bouzerar, a 25-year old Canadian, was backpacking through Myanmar in July when he realized he wanted to start his MBA asap. First round deadlines were looming in September. Within 3 months he wrote the GMAT and submitted a successful application to Insead. What should you do when your back is against the wall? Massine shares his experience and what he did to get accepted to one of the world’s top MBA programs: Insead.

About Our Guest

Massine Bouzerar worked as a product manager for two leading Canadian telecommunication companies before starting his current role as a Manager for E-Commerce Strategy at Ecobee. Massine graduated from Brock University where he majored in Finance. He’ll start at Insead in Fall 2018.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/how-i-got-into-insead

#127 HKU MBA Program & Admissions Update with Sachin Tipnis Jan 10, 2018

Show notes

Sachin Tipnis from the University of Hong Kong discusses what makes the HKU MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for HKU MBAs.

Program Highlights (5:15) | Admissions (26:00) | Scholarships (38:36) | Careers (44:27)

HKU MBA Highlights (last updated Jan 2018)

14-months, Fall intake, ~60 students/year
Typical Class: 5 years work exp / 15 nationalities / 660 GMAT
Has 3 tracks: the London track, the New York track, and the Hong Kong/China track. After finishing 9 months of core courses at HKU, students can study at Columbia University in New York, London Business School in London, or Sudan University in Shanghai for one semester
Graduates get a 1-year visa to stay in Hong Kong and find a job post-graduation
Placement, Class of 2015 & 2016: 85% w/job offers w/in 3 months, $77,265 USD avg starting salary
Top Destinations, Class of 2015 & 2016: 48% Hong Kong / 24% Mainland China / 7% India / 7% Europe / 7% other Asia
Top Industries, Class of 2015 & 2016: 32% Banking, Finance, Accounting, Insurance / 29% Consulting, Advisory Services / 19% Consumer Products & Services / 9% IT, Telecoms
Ranked #1 Asian Business School by Economist for 6 straight years

About Our Guest

Sachin Tipnis is the Executive Director of MBA Programmes at the University of Hong Kong. Sachin was part of HKU's first graduating MBA class and has worked for over a decade developing the HKU MBA. Sachin worked in branding and marketing communications for 7 years before working in higher education.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/hku-mba-program-admissions-update

#126 Cornell Johnson MBA Admissions Interview with Eddie Asbie Dec 23, 2017

Show notes

Eddie Asbie from Cornell University's Johnson School of Management discusses what makes the Cornell MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for Cornell MBAs.

Program Highlights (7:14) | Admissions (29:50) | Scholarships (52:07) | Careers (58:38)

Cornell MBA Highlights (last updated Dec 2017)

1-Year Cornell Tech MBA (New York City), May intake, ~50 students/year
1-Year MBA (Ithaca, New York), May intake, ~75 students/year
2-Year MBA (Ithaca, New York), September intake, ~275 students/year
Typical 2-Year Class: 5 years work exp / 35% international / 700 GMAT
Offers 7 immersions in corporate finance, investment research and asset management, strategic marketing, strategic operations, digital technology, sustainable global enterprise, and investment banking
Placement for 2-Year, Class of 2016: 94% w/job offers w/in 3 months, $121,000 USD avg starting salary, $31,000 USD avg signing bonus
Top Destinations for 2-Year, Class of 2016: 53% NorthEast US / 18% West US / 8% Midwest US / 5% Southwest US / 4% Asia
Top Functions for 2-Year, Class of 2016: 33% Finance / 29% Consulting / 22% Management / 11% Marketing
ROI: one-third of class win merit-based scholarships, up to 25 students/year can win Roy H. Park 2-Year Full Tuition Fellowship
Ranked #16 by US News and World Report in 2018

About Our Guest

Eddie Asbie is the Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management. Eddie has worked over 5 years for the Cornell MBA and specializes in helping military, underrepresented and dual degree program candidates. Previously Eddie served as an Admissions Advisor for University at Buffalo.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/cornell-johnson-mba-admissions-interview

Episode Sponsor

The IESE MBA in Barcelona is consistently ranked Top 15 worldwide by the Financial Times. Do you want to challenge yourself and take your career to the next level? IESE’s full time MBA program will transform your capacity to think strategically, explore new perspectives and be a leader in today’s global world. The IESE MBA: Give us 19 months and we give you a lifetime of impact.

Get informal feedback on your profile at mba.iese.edu or visit us on campus at our Open Days.

#125 Should You Hire an MBA Admissions Consultant? Dec 15, 2017

Show notes

When should you use an MBA admissions consultant? How can you get the most value? What should you look for when hiring one?

As a former MBA Admissions Director and Admissions Consultant, Darren shares his thoughts.

Questions

Why are MBA Admissions Consultants so expensive? Are they worth the fees? (6:25)
Should you hire an MBA Admissions Consultant? Which service should you get? How can you get the most value? (13:10)
What you should look for from an Admissions Consultant? (19:43)
Questions to ask an MBA admissions consultant (21:12)
A framework to help you make the decision (22:15)

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/should-you-hire-an-mba-admissions-consultant

Episode Sponsor

Get informal feedback on your profile at mba.iese.edu or visit us on campus at our Open Days.

#124 Georgia Tech Scheller MBA Admissions Interview with Katie Lloyd - "At the Intersection of Business and Technology" Dec 08, 2017

Show notes

Katie Lloyd from Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business joins the show to discuss what makes the Georgia Tech MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for Georgia Tech MBA students.

Program Highlights (4:19) | Admissions (21:03) | Scholarships (37:00) | Careers (41:18)

Georgia Tech Scheller MBA Highlights

Fall intake, 22 months, 80 students/year
Class: 80 students / 4.5 years work exp / 25% international / 680 GMAT
Students can explore 8 immersive tracks at the intersection of business and technology: technology commercialization, leading new ventures, innovating for sustainability, business analytics, computational finance, leading digital transformation, managing technology products, supply chain innovation
ROI: two-thirds of class win funding through graduate assistantships and fellowships
Placement for Class of 2016: 95% w/jobs w/in 3 months, $108,000 USD avg starting salary, $16,000 USD avg signing bonus
Top Industries for Class of 2016: 40% Consulting / 19% Technology / 14% Financial Services / 6% Transportation & Logistics / 6% Consumer Products / 4% Health Care
Ranked #29 by US News & World Report in 2018 MBA Rankings

About Our Guest

Katie Lloyd is Executive Director of MBA Admissions at Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business. Previously, Katie served in senior admissions roles for Emory's Goizueta Business School, including Director of Admissions for its 1-year MBA. She has over 20 years over experience in MBA admissions. Katie attended Vanderbilt for her Bachelors, Indiana University Bloomington for her Masters and University of Georgia for her Doctor of Education.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/georgia-tech-scheller-mba-admissions-interview

Episode Sponsor

Get informal feedback on your profile at mba.iese.edu or visit us on campus at our Open Days.

#123 Essec MBA Admissions Interview with Vivien Koh Dec 04, 2017

Show notes

Vivien Koh from Essec Business School joins the show to discuss what makes the Essec Global MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for Essec Global MBA students.

Program Highlights (3:28) | Admissions (21:28) | Scholarships (28:22) | Careers (31:02)

Essec MBA Highlights

September intake, 12 months, 100 students/year
Students can study on French and/or Singapore campuses, depending on major
Offers 6 majors in Luxury Brand Management, Hospitality Management, Finance, Strategy & Management, Enterprise Innovation, and Digital Business
Top Destinations for Class of 2016: 50% France / 25% Asia / 10% Middle East & North America / 10% Europe (excluding France) / 5% North America
Top Industries for Class of 2016: 30% Services / 25% Consulting / 20% Industry / 15% Startups / 5% Public Sector & NGOs / 5% Finance & Banking
Ranked #27 by QS Global MBA Rankings 2018 (#13 in Europe)

About Our Guest

Vivien Koh is Executive Director, Business Development and Marketing for ESSEC Business School, Asia-Pacific. Previously, Vivien was Head of New Business Sales, Asia Pacific-Japan for Google and ASEAN Regional Sales Director for Oracle. Her sales and marketing career in technology sector spans over 20 years. Vivien received her MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/essec-global-mba-admissions-interview/

Episode Sponsor

Get informal feedback on your profile at mba.iese.edu or visit us on campus at our Open Days.

#122 Breaking into Data and Business Analytics (as an MBA) Nov 20, 2017

Show notes

Roughly one third of the top 100 business schools have started Masters in Business or Data Analytics programs, in response to the growing need for workers who can leverage data assets for competitive advantage.

What do MBA applicants need to know about MBA careers in the growing industry of data and business analytics?

Darren invites Shane Rai, Co-Founder of TenPoint7, a machine learning-as-a-service company, to share his experience as a technology consultant turned entrepreneur in the data analytics and service industry.

This is Part 4 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here.

Questions

Shane's background (3:39)
The difference between data science, data analytics and business analytics (7:00)
How to break into the industry (11:00)
What background & experience are data-centric companies looking for? (15:13)
Is AI going to take over the world? (20:30)
Selling data intelligence services (24:30)
Interviewing for a data analytics role - what you need to know (26:41)
Real world examples of data analytics in action (33:24)
Worst parts of the job (37:50)
Shane's recommended resources (39:46)
Shane's final thoughts on the data analytics industry (41:20)

About Our Guest

After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in Computing and Software Systems, Shane Rai worked 7 years for Deloitte Consulting in the technology service area, and then 2 years as Product Manager for SDL Social, which provides social media analytics and intelligence tools. Shane currently leads product development for TenPoint7, a machine-learning-as-a-service and data consulting provider based in Seattle.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/mba-careers-data-and-business-analytics

Episode Sponsor

Get informal feedback on your profile at mba.iese.edu or visit us on campus at our Open Days.

#121 21 MBA Application Questions Answered Nov 14, 2017

Show notes

7 senior MBA Admissions Directors from Berkeley Haas, Cornell Johnson, Virginia Darden, Duke Fuqua, NYU Stern, Michigan Ross, and Yale School of Management came to Vietnam this Fall for an MBA admissions panel.

Darren shares the questions asked and lessons learned from the event.

Questions

GMAT or GRE - does it matter? (5:08)
How do schools evaluate undergrad transcripts? (5:39)
Should only business students apply for MBAs? (6:32)
What does the ideal resume look like? (7:33)
What do adcoms want to see in essays? (9:19)
Optional essay - should it be used? (11:13)
Letter of recommendations - what are b-schools looking for? (13:24)
Tips for interviews? (15:25)
How can applicants show interest in programs? (17:32)
What if your recommender is not a native English speaker? (18:06)
Common myths in the MBA application process? (18:25)
Does visiting a school campus increase chances? (21:03)
How do schools view multiple GMAT scores? (22:08)
How are IR and AWA evaluated and used? (23:27)
What if adcoms see conflicting evidence/data points for quant scores? (23:57)
Is international experience important? (26:07)
Interviews - is there any difference between adcom and student interviews? (27:47)
Do adcoms consider how long you’ve worked for your recommender? (29:05)
What is most stressful part of getting an MBA? (29:20)
Rewarding part? (30:00)
Bonus - Darren’s key takeaways from the event (31:42)

Admissions Directors at Multi-School Admissions Event in Ho Chi Minh (Sep 2017)

Eddie Asby (Cornell Johnson, Associate Director of Admissions & Financial Aid)
Candace Gonzales (Berkeley Haas, Associate Director of Admissions)
Rita Morrow (Virginia Darden, Associate Director of Admissions)
Jessica Brown (Duke Fuqua, Assistant Director of Admissions)
Taya Sapp (Michigan Ross, Associate Director of Admissions)
Maria Derlipanska (Yale Som, Associate Director of Admissions)
Fatema Dalal (NYU Stern, Director of MBA Admissions)

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/21-mba-application-questions-answered

Episode Sponsor

Get informal feedback on your profile at mba.iese.edu or visit us on campus at our Open Days.

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