Shows
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#229 AI's Impact on MBA Careers: An Insider's PerspectiveDarren 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...2025-04-2940 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#228 3 Exercises to Design Your Life and Find Best Fit MBA ProgramsDarren shares 3 design thinking exercises from Bill Burnett and Dave Evan's Designing Your Life that will help you build a joyful life - and find MBA programs you are excited about. Topics Introduction (0:00) Make Odyssey Plans - Imagining Life 1, 2 and 3 (3:45) Prototype - "Building is Thinking" (8:20) Wayfind - Following Energy and Engagement (13:30) Show Notes Designing Your Life - How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life The Fail-Safe Solopreneur - 6 Essential Practices to Manage Your Well-Being Working for Yourself #46 Steve Dalton’s The 2 Hour Job Search: The 80/20 Formula to Target Employers & Secure First Interviews #188 Steve Dalton’s Th...2025-02-2518 min
ASEThe Bug in Our Thinking with Hugh WillbournDarren returns from a year-long hiatus to interview Dr. Hugh Wilbourn, an author, and expert in psychotherapy, market research and philosophy.
They explore Hugh's new book, 'The Bug in Our Thinking and How to Fix It,' which challenges conventional wisdom and encourages alternative pathways to understanding.
Topics include the constraints of literacy, how storytelling shapes understanding, and other parts of Hugh's book that Darren found fascinating including: head-heart-hips, policies versus principles, and interrogating the 'shoulds' in our lives.
Topics
00:00 Introduction: The Bug in Our Thinking with Hugh Willbourn
03:56 Hugh's Journey and...2024-10-1554 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#224 Important Things to Look for in MBA & EMBA Programs with Prof. Steven DeKrey, HKUST Business School Steven DeKrey, Senior Advisor and Professor Emeritus at HKUST Business School, has over 40 years of experience in building and running top-ranked MBA programs worldwide, including at Northwestern Kellogg, the University of Florida, Asian Institute of Management and HKUST, where he was Founding Director of the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program. Darren asks Professor DeKrey about the value of top MBA programs in Asia, how applicants can stand out in the admissions process, who should apply to Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) programs, and whether leadership can be taught. Listen carefully to materially improve your chances of...2024-08-1250 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#224 Important Things to Look for in MBA & EMBA Programs with Prof. Steven DeKrey, HKUST Business SchoolSteven DeKrey, Senior Advisor and Professor Emeritus at HKUST Business School, has over 40 years of experience in building and running top-ranked MBA programs worldwide, including at Northwestern Kellogg, the University of Florida, and HKUST, where he was Founding Director of the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program. Darren asks Professor DeKrey about the value of top MBA programs in Asia, how applicants can stand out in the admissions process, who should apply to Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) programs, and whether leadership can be taught. Listen carefully to materially improve your chances of finding a great business...2024-08-0926 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#221 Excellent Advice for Living (and MBA Applications!)Inspired by Kevin Kelly's Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I Knew Earlier, Darren shares 10 bits of wisdom that could materially improve your chances of getting into business school and building a successful career. Topics Introduction (0:00) School Selection (3:00) Support Network (8:20) Positioning (10:30) Resumes (15:45) Essays (20:05) Interviews (22:00) Communication (26:10) Show Notes Touch MBA's Admissions Edge Course Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I Knew Earlier by Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly Outsight #93 Which Extracurriculars? #190 3 Timeless Application Strategies from MBA Admissions Strategy (2005) by Avi Gordon #131 The Quick & Easy Way to Effective MBA Interviewing #113 Nobody Wants to Read Your...2024-04-1728 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#218 Lessons from Listeners (Vol. 2): Drawing a Roadmap for Admissions, Prioritizing Conversations, Prematurely Applying, Being Strategic Yet FlexibleDarren shares more hard-earned application lessons from four listeners (now graduated MBAs): drawing a roadmap for the admissions team, prioritizing conversations when picking schools, "prematurely applying" and being strategic yet flexible Want to share your hard-earned application lessons? Contact us at https://touchmba.com/contact Topics Introduction (0:00) Tips for the Untraditional Applicant - Kate, Texas McCombs MBA (2:30) Rankings Don't Matter. Go Where You'll Find the Conversations You Want to Have - Eileen, Oxford Said MBA (10:00) Five Things I Learned When I Applied to Business School - Anonymous, NYU Stern Tech MBA (13:50) Be Strategic, Yet...2024-01-3027 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#217 Lessons from Listeners (Vol. 1): Working for Unknown Companies, Determining Best-Fit Schools, Dealing with DingsTouch MBA's goal has always been to offer you evergreen content that will help you shortlist and get into best-fit MBA programs. We invite listeners to share lessons from their MBA application journeys not just on the podcast, but in written form, too. These short reflections are full of timeless application wisdom! Darren shares three lessons from three listeners that have stood the test of time: how to overcome working for a relatively unknown company, how to research and find best-fit b-schools, and how to deal with dings. Want to share your hard-earned application lessons...2024-01-2024 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#216 The GMAT Focus Episode (GRE, too)How are top business schools using the GMAT Focus exam, which will replace the GMAT in January 2024? What do you need to score and on which sections? Do schools prefer the GMAT, GMAT Focus, or GRE? Darren asks Admissions Directors from two top schools – Toronto Rotman (#1 in Canada by the Financial Times) and IESE (#1 in Spain by the Financial Times) – tough questions about the GMAT Focus test and GRE. Listen on to get your GMAT Focus questions answered and to understand how top b-schools use standardized test scores when making admissions decisions. Topics Introduction (0:00) Toro...2023-12-2142 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#208 Undercover MBA SubrankingsYou’ve heard about US News & World Report and Financial Times Global MBA Rankings, but did you know Financial Times also ranks business schools’ alumni network and career effectiveness? Or that QS ranks business schools worldwide according to specialization? After updating Touch MBA’s school matching algorithm, Darren shares his top 5 “undercover” subrankings that can help you shortlist best-fit MBA programs. Darren also shares 3 ways to shortlist business schools that could lead to a better MBA experience and investment. Topics Understanding Rankings & Subrankings (0:00) Darren’s 5 Favorite Subrankings for MBA Applicants (7:30) A Process to Quickly E...2023-05-3130 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#200 The 3S’s of Scintillating Storytelling “A well-crafted story helps create a magical sort of clarity. It can illuminate an experience your audience could not have fathomed a few minutes before, or draw them so close that they imagine they can feel your heart beating.” - How to Tell a Story by The Moth Compelling stories make admissions officers feel closer to you - like they know you better. Inspired by How to Tell a Story by The Moth, Darren highlights three tools you can use immediately to improve your stories, so you can show adcoms who you really are...2023-01-2321 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#199 10 Application Lessons from 10 Years of Touch MBAWe're nearing 200 episodes of Touch MBA. Feeling nostalgic, Darren reflects on 10 lessons for applicants from 10 years of Touch MBA! 10 Lessons from 10 Years of Touch MBA Introduction (0:00) Know Your Must Haves (2:00) Work on Your MBA Pitch with Others (5:50) Master the MBA Coffee Chat (9:10) Connect Your MBA Objectives with Those of MBA Admissions (12:45) The GMAT Matters (16:15) Resumes: Show How You've Impacted Organizations (19:12) Essays: Unforgettable > Impressive (21:15) Interviews: Answer the Questions Behind the Questions (30:40) Selecting Business Schools: Who Do You Want to Marry? (33:15) Careers: Be Humble, Hungry, and Do Your Homework (36:15) Episode write-up and show notes: https://touchmba.com...2022-12-1441 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#196 How I Got Into Berkeley Haas MBA (and HBS, Wharton, UCLA too!) & Breaking into Product Management with Bridget PujalsBridget Pujals shares lessons learned from her MBA application journey, culminating in admits to Harvard, Wharton ($70K scholarship), UCLA Anderson ($100K scholarship), and Berkeley Haas ($175K scholarship). She will attend UC Berkeley Haas this Fall. While her results are spectacular, Bridget took the GRE three times, and spent two years researching, preparing, and applying to b-schools. As Bridget makes clear, “It was a two year grind to make this happen. No one sees the tears.” Bridget and Darren discuss the importance of knowing your priorities, starting your essays early, and the benefits of working with an a...2022-07-071h 05The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#193 Hiring Trends & Salaries for Business School Graduates via the Corporate Recruiters SurveyWhat are corporate recruiters looking for from business graduate students? And how do median MBA salaries compare to those of specialized business masters programs? Darren shares 3 interesting findings from GMAC’s Corporate Recruiters Survey. This way, you can think more like an admissions officer, and put forward your strongest application. This episode is about taking advantage of GMAC’s free market intelligence reports to inform your graduate school plans and strategy. Topics Introduction (0:00) Most important skills for business school graduates (6:00) MBA salaries vs. other business masters salaries (11:10) GMAT testing statistics per country (14:45) EP...2022-04-1118 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#192 MBA Coffee Chats: Thoughtful Advice on How to Get the Most out of your MBA with Adam Putterman, Kellogg MMM '19How can you make the most of your MBA experience? After reflecting on their own MBA experiences and those of hundreds of successful grads, Adam Putterman, Northwestern MMM '19, and Bob Manfreda, Stanford GSB '19, wrote MBA Coffee Chats: Thoughtful Advice on How to Get the Most out of your MBA. The book answers frequently asked questions from recent MBA admits, and aims to help this group have more productive coffee chats with MBAs before starting business school. Darren invites Adam, who graduated from Northwestern's Dual Degree MBA & M.S. in Design Innovation...2022-03-2939 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#190 3 Timeless Application Strategies from MBA Admissions Strategy (2005) by Avi GordonDarren shares three foundational application strategies from Avi Gordon's MBA Admissions Strategy: From Profile Building to Essay Writing (2005) that have stood the test of time. It's always advantageous to master the fundamentals of any art form - including constructing a winning MBA application. Listen on to review the basics! Topics Introduction (0:00) Marketing to Adcoms (3:50) Attributes that Count (10:40) Points, Stories, Analysis (19:40) EPISODE SPONSOR: QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY'S SMITH FULL-TIME MBA The path to your next big career move goes through Canada. The 12-month Full-time MBA program at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business features a pr...2022-02-0827 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#189 Breaking into Healthcare (as an MBA) with Veeral Desai, HBS '07What do MBA applicants need to know about breaking into the healthcare industry? Darren invites Veeral Desai, Harvard Business School MBA ’07, to share his experience moving from Bain & Company's Healthcare Practice to senior executive roles at Vantage Oncology and agilon health. Veeral shares his best tips on narrowing your target list of organizations, connecting with alumni, and acing the recruitment process. A big part of Veeral's roles has been recruiting MBAs, so don't miss his advice on how to give yourself the best chance of building a successful career in healthcare. This is Part 12 of ou...2022-01-1052 min
SouthpawsSouthpaws 12-24-21Katy and Jack are off this week, so Darren presents a very special “Best Of Southpaws,” which includes a brand new Hammer Time segment. On this episode:Hammer Time: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) says no to the Build Back Better program. When will an actual progressive primary him?From July 22, 2015: Darren and Joe Elder were in the studio with Nate Kettle. On the phone were Jim Goerner and union official Buck Geno. The group was talking about the efforts in Michigan to have legislative districts redrawn every 10 years by a citizens committee instead of the party in p...2021-12-2458 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#176 Use the 5 Senses to Make Your MBA Application StickAfter helping four MBA applicants with their resume and essays, Darren realized he was repeating similar advice. In this episode, Darren shares how you can use the five senses - sight, sound, smell, taste and touch - to make your application more three dimensional. Topics Introduction (0:00) Sight - paint the scene (2:23) Touch - make the reader feel something (8:00) Sound - have a point of view (12:54) Taste - be focused and break stereotypes (18:10) Smell - make sure your entire application matches (23:54) Episode write-up: https://touchmba.com/five-senses Get free, personalized school selection help at T...2021-02-2628 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#171 3 Positioning Strategies for Job Hoppers Job hoppers, this episode is for you! Darren shares three strategies you can use to mitigate your track record of job hopping. How can you present this as an asset to your target MBA programs? Episode summary, show notes and more at: https://touchmba.com/mba-positioning-strategies-for-job-hoppers 2020-10-1822 min
ASELive for Today or Tomorrow?Is it possible to live for today AND tomorrow? Darren shares one approach to be kind to your past, present and future self.
What work, activities, and experiences bring you joy AND compound positively?
Are you honoring “past you” by learning, adjusting, and living courageously?
Are you honoring “future you" by giving him/her at least 10% of your time, attention and money?
Topics
Live for Today or Tomorrow? (0:00)
Making Yesterday a Dream of Happiness (5:13)
Making Tomorrow a Vision of Hope (7:20)
Being Kind to Past, Present & Future You (12:00)
'Live for Today or Tomorrow?' Episode Write-Up & Show No...2020-07-2914 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#165 How is Covid-19 Impacting B-Schools? Dirk Hopfl Shares IE Business School's ResponseDarren invites Dirk Hopfl from IE Business School to share how Covid-19 has affected its MBA program and IE's plan moving forward. IE, based in Spain, is one of Europe's leading business schools with one of world's most international MBA programs, regularly admitting 90% of its students from 75 countries outside Spain. Its response offers one possibility for how MBAs will evolve to meet student needs during a pandemic. About Dirk Dirk Hopfl is Regional Director South East Asia for IE Business School. Dirk got his MBA in 1999 from IE and has over 20 years of leadership experience i...2020-07-0324 minThe Touch MBA Admissions PodcastDon't Trust Your Gut for Career Decisions with Dr. Gleb TsipurskyDr. Gleb Tsipursky has dedicated his professional life to helping others overcome cognitive biases and make better decisions. In this episode, Darren and Dr. Gleb discuss ways MBA applicants can make better decisions when it comes to business school and their careers. Questions Why Dr. Gleb has dedicated two decades of his life to overcoming cognitive biases with decision making (3:00) Autopilot vs. Intentional decision making (7:45) When our gut serves us in career decisions (14:30) Best practices for overcoming our cognitive biases (20:48) Common biases when making career decisions (27:17) How important are rankings? (33:33) Five questions to avoid decision disasters (37:07...2020-03-0550 min
Blarney Pilgrims Irish Music PodcastJoe Fitzgerald Interview (Accordion, singing)The great Joe Fitzgerald, of east Clare and Melbourne. On first hearing his mother play the melodeon. On drovers, the bush, and working with his father. On lost players: Mick Minogue, Mrs Brady, Mrs Purcell and Frank MacNamara. Growing old and the curative power of music and song. 'Strange thing I have...I was born in Galway. I was raised in Clare. We lived just inside the parish of Ogonnellow, but I went to school in the parish of Bodyke and played my hurling there...and I have Ireland and Australia. So I have two of everything, and I l...2020-02-261h 19The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#161 The Evolving Professional MBA with Chris HealyDo you have to quit your job to get your MBA? Darren invites Chris Healy from Alliance Manchester Business school to share how the part-time / professional MBA has evolved with new technology and student and employer demands. If you're unsure about getting an online, blended, part-time or Executive MBA, you'll get key insights from this episode. Questions How the part-time / professional MBA has evolved over the past 15 years (2:30) How employers view part-time / professional MBAs (15:50) Networking at b-school as a part-time / professional MBA (21:35) The quality of online courses (27:20) How do business schools with multiple campuses maintain quality...2020-02-1356 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#160 Experience Does Not Equal PerformanceInspired by the Harvard Business Review article Experience Doesn’t Predict a New Hire’s Success, Darren shares how you can demonstrate you're a great fit for your target MBA programs - or your next employer - even if you're short on experience. If you feel like you lack relevant work experience for the MBA, this episode is for you. Show Notes Experience Doesn’t Predict a New Hire’s Success (Harvard Business Review) Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/experience-does-not-equal-performance/2020-01-3113 minThe Touch MBA Admissions PodcastManagement Consulting & Student Life at Insead with Massine Bouzerar '19JAround half of Insead MBA graduates end up working in consulting each year. Darren invites Massine Bouzerar, Insead MBA '19J, to share how he landed a job with Bain & Company AND made the most of his ten months at Insead's Fontainebleau campus. Questions Massine’s overview of management consulting recruiting at Insead (4:35) Differentiating yourself from thousands of other MBA students applying to consulting firms (7:55) How Massine's career plans evolved at Insead (10:30) Work visas in Europe for non-Europeans (12:35) How Massine explored consulting offices worldwide (14:46) What helped Massine prepare for recruiting in management consulting (18:00) The culture of re...2019-10-0253 minThe Touch MBA Admissions PodcastFive Takeaways from MBA Tour Panel in Ho Chi Minh – “Preparing Your Application: Advice from Admissions Directors”Darren recently attended a panel "Preparing Your Application: Advice from MBA Admissions Directors” at the MBA Tour in Ho Chi Minh. In this episode, he unpacks the application advice given by five admissions directors. Why should you get an MBA? (3:16) What type of experience are top business schools looking for? (7:20) How can you assess school fit? (10:12) What are your top essay tips? (13:00) What are your top interview tips? (16:37) Admissions Directors on MBA Tour Panel (August 2019) John-Derek (J.D.) Clarke, Ivey Business School Kylie Stewart, Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business Gulnura Rakhyshova, Asia Schoo...2019-09-0922 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#152 KishōtenketsuDo you feel like your MBA story is a bit bland? Or uninspiring compared to the applicant profiles you see online? What if you haven't overcome insurmountable odds or accomplished something amazing? Darren explores the possibilities of kishōtenketsu - a four act story structure used by Japanese and Chinese writers for centuries. What makes this story structure interesting is that it relies on contrast - not conflict - to generate interest. Kishōtenketsu in 4 acts: Ki (start) Shō (development) Ten (twist) Ketsu (conclusion) Listen on for ways you can use this Eastern story...2019-04-0916 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#150 Behind the Scenes of an MBA Employment ReportDarren invites Susan Bertulli, Director, MBA Career Management at Ivey Business School at Western University to discuss MBA employment reports. First, why and how are MBA employment reports produced? Then, what should you look for? Which employment figures and statistics matter? How can you use them to shortlist b-schools and plan your career? The Ivey MBA has been ranked #1 in Canada for five years running by Bloomberg Businessweek for both student and recruiter satisfaction, so don't miss this inside look into how a top MBA career services team produces their employment report. Questions Susan's b...2019-03-2655 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#146 The Three Ps of PerformanceDarren shares "three P’s" you can use to clarify the value of your accomplishments in your resume and MBA application. Doing so will paint a clear picture of your performance for MBA admissions officers and employers. How did your performance compare to the previous year’s performance? How did your performance compare to the plan? How did your performance compare to that of your peers? If you can match these to the "three P's" of leadership, you can can show even more impact: People responsibility Project responsibility Profit & Loss responsibility Episode summary, show notes and more...2018-11-2919 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#144 The Pros and Cons of Doing an MBA Outside the US + Assessing a B-school’s Entrepreneurship Offering with Eddy Zakes, IESE MBA ’17In 2017, US applicants made up 4% of candidates to European MBA programs and 2% of candidates to Asian MBA programs (versus nearly 70% to US MBA programs). What do you need to know about getting a top-ranked MBA abroad? Eddy Zakes shares why he chose to uproot his young family to pursue his MBA at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, as well as the pros and cons of his experience. Darren also asks Eddy - currently the Director of the Center of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at IESE - about how business schools can help aspiring entrepreneurs and how you can assess your t...2018-10-301h 13The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#139 Breaking into Energy & Sustainability (as an MBA)What do MBA applicants need to know about the recruiting process into the energy industry? Darren invites Vince Faherty, London Business School MBA ’10, to share his experience moving up from a Marketing Manager to Director at EnerNOC and then moving to Nest & Google, where he is currently Head of Northeast & Midwest Energy Partnerships. Vince shares what it's like to attend business school during one of the worst recessions in history and MBA career lessons he's distilled since attending LBS 10 years ago. This is Part 8 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here. Q...2018-08-151h 03The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#133 Breaking into Media & Entertainment (as an MBA)What do you need to know about MBA recruiting for top media and entertainment companies? Darren invites his good friend Mark Zee, UCLA Anderson MBA '14, to share his experience interviewing and working for companies like 20th Century Fox and the Walt Disney Company, where he is currently Director for Pay TV & Digital Sales. Mark also shares his thoughts on building relationships during and after the MBA. This is Part 7 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here. Questions Common entry points for MBA grads in the entertainment industry (5:21) The...2018-04-2656 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#132 How to Show Quant Skills (outside your GPA & GMAT)How can MBA applicants show evidence of quantitative skills outside of their university GPA and GMAT? Do top b-schools accept online courses like Coursera? Darren invites Admissions Directors from 3 top business schools - Cornell Johnson (USA), IMD (Switzerland) and CEIBS (China) - to share their thoughts. Eddie Asbie from Cornell Johnson MBA (4:20) Paola Eicher from IMD MBA (10:18) Christina Mou from CEIBS MBA (15:44) Darren's Thoughts (20:18) About Our Guests Eddie Asbie is Associate Director, Admissions and Financial Aid at Johnson at Cornell University Paola Eicher is the MBA Recruitment Manager at IMD Business Schoo...2018-04-1225 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#131 The Quick & Easy Way to Effective MBA Interviewing Could this be the only book you need to prepare for your MBA interviews? Inspired by Dale Carnegie's classic book, The Quick & Easy Way to Effective Speaking, Darren shares a simple 3-part framework to help you choose your best 'material' for your MBA interviews. Checklist Have you earned the right to talk about topic through experience or study? Are you excited about your subject? Are you eager to share your subject with your interviewer? Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/quick-easy-way-effective-mba-interviewing Episode Sponsor Ran...2018-03-1621 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#130 Breaking into CPG (Consumer Package Goods) as an MBAWhat 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...2018-02-2548 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#129 Breaking into Brand Management (as an MBA)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 indu...2018-02-0747 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#125 Should You Hire an MBA Admissions Consultant?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 s...2017-12-1527 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#122 Breaking into Data and Business Analytics (as an MBA)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...2017-11-2045 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#121 21 MBA Application Questions Answered7 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...2017-11-1435 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#120 Breaking into Venture Capital (as an MBA)What do MBA applicants need to know about MBA careers in venture capital? Darren invites his friend Garrett to share his experience, both as an MBA student looking to break into venture capital and as an interviewer for Hewlett Packard Ventures. Garret has worked in venture capital and related jobs in San Francisco for 7 years – don’t miss his hard-earned insights into the industry! This is Part 3 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here. Questions Garrett’s background (4:50 ) What do venture capitalists do? (9:56) What work backgr...2017-11-0356 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#119 Breaking into Investment Banking (as an MBA)What do MBA applicants need to know about MBA careers in investment banking? Darren invites his friend Scott to share his experience, both as an MBA student looking to break into investment banking and as an MBA recruiter for Wells Fargo Securities. Scott has worked in investment banking for 7 years after his MBA – don’t miss his hard-earned insights into the industry! This is Part 2 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here. Questions Scott's background (3:40) The 2 paths to entering investment banking (6:46) What do investment bankers do...2017-10-211h 11The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#117 Breaking into Management Consulting (as an MBA)What do MBA applicants need to know about MBA careers in management consulting? Darren invites his friend Sandra to share her experience, both as an MBA student looking to break into consulting and as an MBA recruiter for McKinsey & Company. Sandra worked in management consulting for 5 years after her MBA - don't miss her hard-earned insights into the industry! This is Part 1 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here. Questions Sandra’s background (3:42) The role summer internships play in the recruiting process (6:12) Common types of co...2017-10-0555 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#116 Interacting with MBA Admissions Officers at EventsHow can you make a memorable impression on MBA Admissions Officers at MBA recruiting events? Drawing on his experience recruiting at MBA Tours and information sessions, Darren shares 3 tips for how you can stand out. Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/interacting-with-mba-admissions-officers Episode Sponsor Ranked among the top public universities in the US, The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business provides an outstanding MBA experience tailored to your interests and leadership development. Whether switching careers, enhancing a career or starting a business, an MBA from Fisher p...2017-09-1322 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#113 Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*tNobody 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...2017-08-0228 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#112 LinkedIn Tips for MBA ApplicantsYour 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 s...2017-06-2721 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#111 MBA for Entrepreneurs - Worth It?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 o...2017-06-191h 02The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#110 Great MBA Letters of Recommendations with Caroline Diarte-EdwardsCaroline 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...2017-06-0543 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#108 How to Finance Your US MBA with Phil DeGisi, CommonBond“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. Questions2017-05-1638 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#106 The GMAT EpisodeHow 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: h...2017-04-2854 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#105 Life as a Business School Professor with Gregor HalffAmid 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...2017-04-2127 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#101 Are Business School Students Career Ready? with Jeff KavanaughWith 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 brea...2017-02-2144 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#96 Career Tips for Spain MBAs with Amber Wigmore AlvarezAmber Wigmore Alvarez, Executive Director of Career Services for IE, shares her best career tips for international MBA students considering top business schools in Spain. Amber and Darren discuss work conditions for non-EU nationals, Spain's new visa policy, achieving career goals in a 1-year program, and placement trends for IE MBA graduates. About Our Guest Amber Wigmore Alvarez is Executive Director of Career Services at IE Business School, Law School and University, where she manages a team of 30 people in the areas of Career Advising, Career Education and Recruiter Relations. She oversees career services for 5,000 curr...2016-10-3147 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#95 MBA Careers in Social ImpactPin Chin Kwok, UC Berkeley Haas MBA '09, shares her journey pursuing a social impact career as an MBA applicant, student and alumni. Pin majored in Finance & Operations Research at NYU and worked 7 years at Citi in the finance industry before starting her MBA. Pin and Darren discuss what social impact applicants (broadly defined as those who want to work in corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, non-profit, government/public policy, and corporate social responsibility) should look for when shortlisting MBA programs, securing internships/jobs in the sector, and planning their careers. About Our Guest Pin...2016-10-2449 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#94 US Visas: What International MBA Students Need to Know About Working and Staying in the USEmma Fisher, NYU Stern MBA '15, joins the show to discuss what international MBA students must know about working in the US during and after their US MBA. Emma and Darren walk through the common visa path for most international students - from F1 student visa to OPT/CPT to H1B. Emma also shares ways international students can maximize their chances of working in the US post-MBA. About Our Guest Emma Fisher is a Canadian who graduated from NYU Stern MBA in 2015. Emma pursued a US MBA to switch careers from private equity to luxur...2016-10-1954 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#93 Which Extracurriculars?Darren offers 3 questions to consider when presenting your extracurricular activities and shares examples from successful applicants. The volunteering / activities / interests / achievements / additional part of your resume is anything but "additional." Make it count! Episode summary, links and more at: http://touchmba.com/extracurriculars2016-09-2323 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#92 MBA Careers Uncovered with Ivan KerbelDarren speaks with Ivan Kerbel of Practice MBA about what applicants need to know about MBA career strategy. A Wharton MBA himself, Ivan headed Yale SOM’s Career Development Office and was also a Associate Director at Wharton’s MBA Career Office. There are few people worldwide who have Ivan’s know-how about MBA career strategy – listen on for the inside scoop! Questions, links and more at: http://www.touchmba.com/mba-careers-uncovered-ivan-kerbel/2016-08-061h 06The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#91 Overlooked Aspects of the MBA ExperienceDarren shares 3 overlooked aspects of the MBA experience after going through CEIBS Pre-MBA Bootcamp, an intense 5-day MBA immersion in Shanghai, China. They are: Classroom. You'll be spending at least 700 hours in class - who do you want to learn from? Careers. Opportunities are often different for local & international students - do you know what's more possible for you? Community. You're investing in a family for life - what types of people would you be excited to know now and in the future? 2016-07-2622 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#86 Financing your MBA Abroad & International MBA Loans with Ricardo Fernandez, Insead MBA '06How do you plan to finance your MBA? This can be a very challenging process, especially for students from developing countries who have less access to competitive MBA loans. Ricardo Fernandez, Head of Business Development for Prodigy Finance and Insead MBA '06, discusses financing options for students pursuing their MBA outside their home country, as well as how Prodigy is trying to innovate in this underserved marketplace. Prodigy has processed more than $140m USD of loans for over 4,000 MBA students in 112 countries since it launched 9 years ago. Darren and Ricardo also talk about the value of the MBA 10...2016-05-0900 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#83 MBA Essays that Work - Candid Thoughts on Essays, Authenticity and Being YourselfWith MBA programs shortening their applications and asking for less essays, how can applicants still tell their story? How should applicants approach these MBA essays and what should they write? Darren speaks with Yale SOM MBA Admissions Director Bruce DelMonico and MBA Admissions Consultant Paul Bodine to get two different perspectives on this common applicant challenge. At the end of the episode, Darren shares his reflections after helping an Admissions Edge member with his 1 Harvard essay. Show Notes #75 Yale SOM MBA Admissions Interview with Bruce DelMonico – “Educating Leaders for Business & Society” #47 Great Applications for...2016-04-0832 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#81 How to Make Better Choices When Selecting MBA ProgramsAt Touch MBA we believe that school selection is half the battle to having a great (and worthwhile!) MBA experience. In this episode, Darren covers an MBA decision-making process to help you avoid common decision-making biases and choose the right MBA programs.
Widen your options - to combat narrow framing
Reality test your assumptions - to combat confirmation-bias
Attain distance - to combat short term emotions
Prepare for the worst - to combat overconfidence
Need help picking the right schools? Go to http://touchmba.com/free-school-selection-guidance/ to get your MBA program match scores and expert advice.2016-01-2221 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#78 Ivey MBA Admissions Q&A with J.D. Clarke - "Hit the Ground Running"Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the Ivey MBA the #1 international MBA program in 2014, largely due to employer and student satisfaction. Darren interviews J.D. Clarke, MBA Executive Director of Masters Programs Recruitment and Admissions, about the school's unique offering and admissions process.
About Our Guest
John-Derek (J.D.) Clarke is the MBA Executive Director of Masters Programs Recruitment and Admissions, Ivey Business School at Western University. J.D. got his MBA from Ivey in 2010. He has worked for over 20 years in higher education, including for Queens School of Business and Ivey Business School.
Program Highlights (4:54), A...2015-09-0443 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#77 Internships, Jobs & Social Life at MIT SloanDarren talks to Andrew, a recent MIT Sloan MBA graduate, about his internship and job search experience at Sloan. Andrew worked for Target as a Senior Analyst doing business intelligence and analytics before business school. He landed an internship with Uniqlo (one of the world's top 5 retailers) in New York City and will be heading to Cupertino to work for Apple this month. This episode will give you a great feel for how recruiting works at top US business schools and what to look out for as you shortlist programs based on your career goals. The two also talk a...2015-08-1633 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#76 Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA Admissions Interview with Kelly Wilson - "Leadership & Analytics"Do you know how to solve a problem that has no precedent?
Kelly Wilson, Executive Director of Masters Admissions at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, shares with Darren how Tepper equips its students to do this through a mastery of analytics, year-round leadership development program, and one-on-one attention with professors. Kelly and Darren also talk in depth about Tepper's admissions process, how to prepare for Tepper's behavioral interviews, and the school's extensive career services.
About Our Guest
Kelly Wilson is Executive Director of Masters Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of...2015-06-1443 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#75 Yale SOM MBA Admissions Interview with Bruce DelMonico - "Educating Leaders for Business & Society"This week Darren sat down with Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions at Yale School of Management, to discuss Yale’s mission of “educating leaders for business and society.” How does this translate into the curriculum? How does the school plan to evolve? And what does this mean from an admissions and career perspective? Don’t miss this very informative chat about what makes Yale unique and how you can give yourself the best shot of getting in.
About Our Guest
Bruce DelMonico is the Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions at Yale School of...2015-06-0750 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#73 Which schools in which rounds? A Kellogg Admit Shares His ProcessAt Touch MBA we help point applicants in the right direction when it comes to best-fit schools. But which schools should you target in the first, second or third rounds? Should you apply to all your top choices in round 1?
In this episode, Darren talks to Dean Nordheilm, who came to Touch MBA last Fall and just got into Kellogg. Dean applied to 4 top schools - Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan and Northwestern Kellogg - and learned many lessons along the way. We discuss his "round strategy" as well as how he positioned himself and r...2015-05-1629 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#70 Ohio State Fisher MBA Admissions Interview with Julee Conrad - "Collaboratively Competitive"Darren speaks with Julee Conrad, Assistant Director of MBA Admissions and Recruiting at Fisher College of Business, Ohio State University, about Fisher's unique advantages and how to best position yourself in the admissions process.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/ohio-state-fisher-mba-admissions-interview/ for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business MBA program.2015-02-2846 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#69 How One Listener Got Into Kellogg, Insead, Ross, Fuqua, Johnson and CEIBSMany of our podcast listeners come to Touch MBA to get free school selection help. One of them, Li Daming, recently got into Northwestern Kellogg, Insead, Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua and Cornell Johnson with scholarship funding. How did he do it?
Daming has literally invested hundreds of hours (and plane miles!) in the application process – be sure to benefit from his experience as he shares his best tips. There’s lots of gold nuggets in this one. Enjoy…
I’m always excited to hear listeners succeed in their MBA journeys. If you would like to share yo...2015-02-2143 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#68 4 Tips to Show School FitThere’s no perfect school for everyone, so the saying goes. Education, like love, is all about fit.
Top business schools are looking for candidates that would fit with their program, culture, and values. And you should be looking for programs that match your goals too. How can you demonstrate fit in your application without sounding disingenuous or even worse, like everyone else?
Darren shares 4 common mistakes applicants make when trying to prove fit. This comes from reading thousands of applications. Listen on to learn 4 simple strategies you can use to convincingly demonstrate you belong at...2015-02-1417 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#66 Arizona State WP Carey MBA Admissions Q&A with Ruthie Pyles - "Business is Personal"Want to attend a top 30 program in the US that lives and breathes "business is personal?" Darren talks to Ruthie Pyles, Director of Graduate Programs Admissions and Recruiting, W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, about how Carey works intimately with its students to achieve their educational and career goals.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/wp-carey-mba-admissions-interview/ for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at Arizona State W.P. Carey's MBA program.2014-12-2352 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#65 HKU MBA Admissions Interview with Sachin TipinsHow about getting your MBA from one of Hong Kong's most prestigious universities AND also having the option to study one semester at either Columbia Business School, London Business School or Fudan University School of Management? Sachin Tipnis, Executive Director of MBA Programmes at HKU, joins the show to discuss the HKU MBA's unique format and career benefits. Darren and Sachin also talk about HKU's admissions process in-depth so you know exactly how to best prepare your application.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/hku-mba-admissions-interview/ for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts...2014-12-0753 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#64 Rotman MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Leigh GauthierIf you're thinking about getting an elite and rigorous MBA in Canada, you have to to consider the Rotman MBA (University of Toronto) based in Toronto. Get the inside scoop as Darren chats with Leigh Gauthier, Acting Director of Recruitment & Admissions & Director of Careers for the Full-time MBA. Rotman is a pioneer in the business education space and it's great to hear how they are challenging the traditional MBA curriculum to produce sought after graduates.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/rotman-mba-admissions-interview/ for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing...2014-11-2153 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#59 St. Gallen MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Zwanet Van LubekWant to study business in idyllic St. Gallen, Switzerland, with an experienced cohort of 40-50 classmates from around 30 countries? The school prides itself in its individual support and strong relationships with corporates in finance, pharmaceuticals, FMCG and luxury good industries. Nearly 50% of graduates made a "triple transformation" and switched geography, industry and function. Listen on for the inside scoop as Darren interviews Zwanet Van Lubek, Head of Marketing and Recruiting, Careers and Corporates, about the St Gallen MBA.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/st-gallen-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts ab...2014-10-1038 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#58 Illinois MBA Program & Admissions Chat with Mark Lockwood - "Take Charge"Are you looking for a hands-on, customizable and intimate MBA in the heart of one of the world's great research universities? Darren sits down with Mark Lockwood, MBA Director of Recruiting, Admissions, and Alumni Affairs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to discuss the program's key advantages and admissions process. At only $66,000 USD for a 2-year program, the Illinois MBA offers sneaky good value for a top-ranked MBA.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/illinois-mba-admissions-tips for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at the Illinois MBA program.2014-09-2649 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#53 A Quick Guide to Researching School StrengthsWhat's the best MBA program for supply chain management? Or entrepreneurship? Or marketing?
Many applicants who come to Touch MBA for help picking schools have this exact question. One of the biggest frustrations candidates have is figuring out the key advantages of schools. As one listener wrote, "It's difficult to know which one is the best in a certain area."
In this episode, Darren gives a 3-step framework for quickly and effectively researching a school's academic strengths - "The MBA Physical."
Heart - the people
Skeleton - the course structure
Muscle - the jobs
2014-08-0315 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#51 Stalking the Story for Your MBA EssaysWho better to learn storytelling from than a two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner for dramatic nonfiction?
This week Darren uses Jon Franklin’s Writing for Story as guidance for “stalking the story” and writing MBA essays that grip and reveal. Franklin pioneered the narrative nonfiction genre, and his book is full of gems for applicants struggling with their essays.
After listening to this episode, you’ll know whether you are a) telling your best stories and b) writing your essays in the most compelling way possible.
According to Franklin, great stories share 4 core elements:
Compl...2014-06-2022 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#45 IE-SMU MBA Admissions Chat with Gregor Halff and Lieven DemeesterMost of the top-ranked business schools in Asia are in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. But what if you can't afford to leave your job or city to pursue your MBA? IE Business School and Singapore Management University (SMU) have teamed up to help such professionals in South East Asia and launched a 10-month blended MBA, which combines residential segments in Singapore and Madrid with weekly online classes and forum discussions.
Most people (including myself) consider "online MBAs" a way for business schools to scale and make more money. But after speaking to Dr. Gregor Halff, Associate...2014-03-0723 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#43 IMD MBA Admissions Q&A with Lisa PiguetMs. Lisa Piguet, Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at IMD, joins the show this week and generously shares her advice on IMD's accelerated 11-month program, the admissions process and more...
Interesting things I learned about IMD:
IMD is focused on leadership and general management; over 80% of graduates go into industry
Only 90 students are admitted each year from ~40 countries, and the average work experience is 7 years
There's a 2:1 student to faculty ratio
To help develop self-awareness, each student gets 20 sessions with a licensed psychologist
New MBA program...2014-02-0638 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#42 York University Schulich MBA Admissions Q&A with Praveen MuruganandanMr. Praveen Muruganandan, Director of Admissions and Recruitment at Schulich School of Business, joined the show to share more about the Schulich MBA, located in Toronto, Canada. We had a revealing chat about Schulich's unique points and what the school is looking for during the admissions process.
Interesting things I learned about the Schulich MBA:
The Schulich MBA is flexible and customizable. Students can start in January or September, and finish in 16 or 20 months. Students can choose from over 150 electives and 19 specializations. Most grads end up working in Finance, Marketing and Strategy.
The...2014-01-3044 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#41 Manchester MBA Admissions Q&A with Elaine FerneleyProfessor Elaine Ferneley, MBA Director at Manchester Business School, joined the show to share more about the Manchester MBA, located in Manchester, UK, and give us an inside look into the admissions process.
Interesting things I learned about the Manchester MBA:
- They don't call it "practice based" learning for nothing. Manchester MBAs are required to do 3 live consultancy projects - requiring over 600 client facing hours - over the 18 month program. The first consulting project starts on Day 2! Students are often working for companies 3.5 days during the week. This way all students get substantial experience wo...2014-01-2134 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#40 Application Tips for Younger CandidatesHow can younger candidates compensate for their lack of experience? What are admissions committees looking for in younger candidates? Darren covers 5 tips to show you belong and will be a valued member of your MBA class.
Season your application with these 5 ingredients and you'll improve your chances:
Strong academic track record
Contribution inside class and in student life
Atypical, exceptional impact
Professionalism
Maturity
2014-01-1014 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#38 MBA Arbitrage and Negotiating UpIs it worth it to get an MBA if it's not Harvard, Stanford or Wharton? Many candidates don't think so. In this episode Darren talks about the top 5 arbitrages that exist in the MBA world. If you know what's important to you, you can still "negotiate up" and get a great educational and life experience at many top MBA programs outside the top 3 (or top 7).2013-12-1213 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#24 (Part 2) Hitotsubashi ICS MBA Admissions Q&A with Dr. Yoshinori Fujikawa
Darren continues his conversation with Prof. Yoshi about how candidates can stand out in the admissions process and what scholarship, career, and international opportunities there are at the Hitotsubashi ICS MBA.2013-08-0849 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#24 (Part 1) Hitotsubashi ICS MBA Admissions Q&A with Dr. Yoshinori FujikawaThe Hitotsubashi ICS MBA is one of the top English language MBA programs in Japan. What makes this program unique? And what is the value of a MBA degree in Japan? Darren interviews Prof. Yoshi Fujikawa, faculty director of the Hitotsubashi ICS MBA program, to learn more.
2013-08-0831 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#23 ISB MBA Admissions Q&A with Mr. AM KannanDarren talks with Mr. Kannan, Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, about what makes the Indian School of Business unique - get the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in India and Asia.2013-08-0156 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#22 London Business School (LBS) MBA Admissions Q&A with Ms. Nadia AhrazemDarren speaks to Nadia about what makes the London Business School's MBA unique and gets the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in the UK, Europe and the world.2013-07-2642 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#21 Georgetown McDonough MBA Admissions Q&A with Ms. Shari HubertShari and Darren discuss the Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business MBA focus on global management, integrative learning, and mission to make a meaningful impact in business and society. Get the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in the US.2013-07-1944 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#20 University of Virginia Darden MBA Admissions Q&A with Ms. Katherine AlfordKatherine opens up to Darren about the Darden MBA's focus on general management and the case-study method - get the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in the US.2013-07-1236 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#19 ESADE MBA Admissions Q&A with Mr. Keegan PierceKeegan Pierce, Associate Director of Int'l Admissions, talks to Darren about the flexible ESADE MBA program and shares some insider tips on on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in Spain / Europe.2013-06-2800 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#18 Duke Fuqua MBA Admissions Q&A with Ms. Megan OverbayDarren has a lively discussion with Megan about what makes Fuqua unique, and what Fuqua's adcom looks for in applicants. Listen on to get the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in the USA.2013-06-1951 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#16 How to Show Leadership Potential in Your ApplicationDarren discusses 3 ways to show "leadership potential" even if you are short on work and management experience. They are demonstrating that you have had vision and made it real, attracted and influenced people, and gotten results. Just about all top MBA programs have "habit of leadership" as an admissions criteria so listen on for specific ways you can show this in your application.2013-05-2315 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#15 HEC MBA Admissions Q&A with Mr. Phillipe OsterPhillipe and Darren discuss what makes the HEC MBA unique and get the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in France / Europe.2013-05-1749 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#14 IE MBA Admissions Q&A with Mr. Dirk HopflDarren and Dirk talk what makes the IE MBA unique - get the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in Spain / Europe.2013-05-1033 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#12 CEIBS MBA Admissions Q&A with Mr. Roy ChasonDarren speaks to Roy about what makes the CEIBS MBA unique - get the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in China / Asia.2013-04-0547 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#11 Cambridge University Judge MBA Admissions Q&A with Mr. James BarkerDarren interviews James on what Cambridge MBA unique - get the insider word on admissions, financing and career placements at one of the top MBA programs in UK / Europe.2013-03-2828 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#5 Ace Your Interview by Answering the "Questions Behind the Questions"Darren discusses the 4 “questions behind the questions” that admissions officers really want to know. If you can prepare compelling responses to these key questions, you stand a good shot of making the final cut.2013-01-2512 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#4 4 Ways to Get & Keep the Adcom's AttentionDarren discusses 4 ways you can get and keep attention in your application. The primal “croc brain” that receives a pitch is intrigued by pleasant novelty, intrigue, movement, and suspense. Listen on for some very specific ways you can incorporate these elements into your MBA essays and resume.2013-01-1814 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#2 National University of Singapore (NUS) MBA Admissions Q&A with Ms. Chua Nan SzeMs. Chua Nan Sze, Director of Graduate Studies, NUS Business School, talks to Darren about the latest curriculum changes to the NUS MBA, NUS' focus on international exposure, career placements and what NUS is looking for during the admissions process.2012-12-1442 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#1 Singapore Management University (SMU) MBA Admissions Q&A with Dr. Philip ZerrilloDarren talks to Dr. Zerrillo, Dean of Postgraduate Programs at SMU, about the SMU MBA program, its unique pedagogy, career placements and admissions tips.2012-11-3041 min