Shows
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#232 IESE MBA Admissions Insights with Patrik WallenWhat 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 Admis...
2025-10-301h 33The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#230 Five Keys to MBA Admissions Success with N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif, Insead MBA '26Darren 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.TopicsIntroduction (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...
2025-08-251h 26
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 min
The 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
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#227 Inside the Frankfurt School Full-Time MBA: Admissions & Recruitment Insights with Ann-Marie Stephenson & Colleen McListerAnn-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...
2025-01-2454 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#226 HEC Paris MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Sara VanosSara Vanos, Executive Director of Marketing & Admissions for MBA Programs at HEC Paris, discusses what makes the HEC Paris MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction to HEC Paris MBA and Sara Vanos (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the HEC Paris MBA Unique? (3:20) HEC Paris MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (29:15) Career Opportunities after HEC Paris - What to Know & How to Prepare (52:50) About Our Guest Sara Vanos is Executive Director of Marketing & Admissions for MBA Programs at HEC Paris, where she has been for o...
2024-11-111h 05
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#225 Is an MBA Worth It for Startup Founders? with Bridget Pujals, Berkeley Haas MBA '24Should 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...
2024-09-0350 min
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#223 How to 3x Your Chances to Top 10 MBA Programs with Melody Jones, Vantage Point MBAMelody Jones, Co-Founder of Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting, has been helping applicants get into top 10 MBA programs for over a decade. How does Vantage Point help applicants triple their chances compared to other applicants? Melody shares key learnings, examples and questions you can use right away to craft a compelling application. Topics Introduction (0:00) Melody's MBA Story, Career & Co-Founding of Vantage Point (2:45) Vantage Point's Philosophy for Serving Applicants (11:00) Vantage Point's 3x Success Factors (13:00) Factor 1: Who Are You? (17:00) Factors 2 & 3: What Do You Want? Why? (23:00) Rejected Application Analyses for Columbia, MIT, Harvard, Stanford (34:00) What if you have the...
2024-06-1946 min
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#220 GLOBIS MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Tomoya Nakamura - "Find Your Kokorozashi"Sometimes, it's hard to differentiate MBA programs. That is not the case with GLOBIS University, Japan's number 1 MBA, which prizes entrepreneurial skills, societal impact, and helping its students find their kokorozashi (personal mission). Professor Tomoya Nakamura, President of GLOBIS USA, discusses what makes the GLOBIS MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Started by Harvard Business School MBA graduate and entrepreneur Yoshito Hori in 1992 as a single marketing course in Tokyo, GLOBIS has grown to become Japan's largest MBA program, consulting with 60-70% of public Japanese companies with learning hubs in 5 countries. L...
2024-03-111h 14
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#219 From Military to MBA, Consultant & More with Beau Gresham, NYU Stern MBA '20 - "Find Your Champions"Beau Gresham, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Mastercard and NYU Stern MBA '20, shares his journey as an applicant, student, and alumni of NYU Stern. How did Beau transition from the military to consulting through the MBA? How was the NYU Stern Full-time MBA experience? How did Beau break into mergers & acquisitions consulting at Deloitte, and then land his current job at Mastercard? And how does Beau view the MBA three years after graduating? Topics Introduction (0:00) Beau's Background (4:00) Beau's MBA Application Journey & Lessons: School Selection, GMAT, Career Goals (6:30) MBA Application Resources for Military Veterans (20:30) Beau's #1 Tip...
2024-02-201h 26
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#215 Frankfurt School of Finance & Management MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Dr. Adrian BussProfessor Adrian Buss, Associate Professor of Finance and Academic Director of MBA Programs at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, discusses what makes the Frankfurt School’s MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights – What Makes the Frankfurt School MBA Unique? (4:20) Frankfurt School MBA Admissions & Scholarships – How to Improve Your Chances? (20:45) Career Opportunities after Frankfurt School – What to Know & How to Prepare (36:15) About Our Guest Dr. Adrian Buss is Associate Professor of Finance and Academic Director of MBA Programs at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management...
2023-10-1746 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#214 Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Prof. Wan WongsunwaiProfessor Wan Wongsunwai, Associate Dean of MBA Programmes and Director of MBA Programmes at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School, discusses what makes the CUHK MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the CUHK MBA Unique? (4:30) CUHK MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (27:30) Career Opportunities after CUHK Business School - What to Know & How to Prepare (47:20) About Our Guest Professor Wan Wongsunwai is Associate Dean of MBA Programmes and Director of MBA Programmes at CUHK Business School, w...
2023-10-121h 00
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#213 Duke University Fuqua MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Shari HubertShari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, discusses what makes the Duke Fuqua MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights – What Makes the Duke Fuqua Daytime MBA Unique? (6:55) Duke Fuqua MBA Admissions & Scholarships – How to Improve Your Chances? (29:10) Career Opportunities after Duke Fuqua – What to Know & How to Prepare (59:30) About Our Guest Shari Hubert is Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She has been with Duke for 6 years. Previously, Shari served as Associate Dea...
2023-10-041h 12
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#209 How Wharton Reviews MBA Applicants & More with Thomas Caleel, Former Head of MBA Admissions for WhartonThomas Caleel, former Head of MBA Admissions for Wharton, takes us behind the scenes of how an Admissions Director builds a class and what he or she looks for from applicants. What are the key qualities and characteristics that admissions committees look for? How did Thomas' team review 8,000 applicants per year? And how can you craft a thoughtful, authentic and compelling application that stands out? About Thomas Thomas Caleel is host of the Admittedly Podcast and Chairman and Founder of Global Education Opportunities, LLC, an international education consulting and admissions advisory firm. Thomas served as th...
2023-06-191h 03
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#207 NUS MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Wedad SunnyWedad Sunny, Deputy Director and Head of Marketing and Admissions of MBA Programmes at National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, discusses what makes the NUS MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. NUS is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top universities by QS (#11 in 2023), Times Higher Education (#19) and US News & World Report (#26). Its MBA programme, run by NUS Business School, was ranked #1 in Asia by Poets & Quants and #25 worldwide by the Financial Times in 2023. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights – What Makes the NUS MBA Unique? (3:30) NUS MBA Admiss...
2023-05-2347 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#206 Strategies for Optimal MBA Student Loans with Nikhil Agarwal from JunoNikhil Agarwal, Co-Founder of Juno, shares optimal strategies to minimize your MBA student loans in 2023. Nikhil shares everything you you need to know about the following variables to secure the best financing package for your situation: Loan terms Repayment schedules Variable vs. fixed interest rates Federal vs. private loans Juno has helped thousands of students access over $700M in loans at preferential rates and terms. Take advantage of Nikhil's deep experience in this space to secure the most favorable rates and terms for your MBA student loans. About Nikhil Nikhil Agarwal is Co-Founder o...
2023-04-2447 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#205 ESMT Berlin MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Rebecca Loades Rebecca Loades, Director of MBA Programs at European School of Management and Technology (ESMT Berlin), discusses what makes the ESMT Berlin MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. ESMT was founded in 2002 by 25 leading companies - including Bayer, Daimler, and McKinsey - who wanted to develop management talent in Germany. The school is the fastest in history to be triple accredited by AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA and was ranked the #1 German business school by the Financial Times in 2022. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the ESMT Berlin MBA Unique? (2:30) ESMT...
2023-03-2058 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#204 IESE MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Paula AmorimPaula Amorim, MBA Admissions Director at IESE Business School, discusses what makes the IESE MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics: Introduction (0:00) IESE MBA Program Highlights - What Makes IESE Unique? (5:10) IESE MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances (33:50) Career Opportunities at IESE - What to Know & How to Prepare (59:55) About Our Guest Paula Amorim is the MBA Admissions Director at IESE Business School. Before joining IESE, Paula worked as a Project Manager for Grupo Marista, a non-profit in Brazil. Paula got her Bachelors in Industrial Engineering...
2023-03-131h 16
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#202 Inside the National University of Singapore (NUS) MBA with Tilla Caveng, NUS MBA '24Tilla Caveng, a full-time MBA student at National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, shares her top application tips and lessons learned from her first 6 months at NUS. Questions Introducing Tilla (0:00) Tilla's Pre-MBA Career & MBA Application Journey (2:52) Tilla's Best Application Tips (12:45) Tilla's NUS MBA Experience - What She Has Learned So Far (34:20) Applying for Internships/Jobs & Networking as an International Student in Singapore (54:50) About Tilla Tilla Caveng is currently attending the Full-time NUS MBA program in Singapore, where she was awarded the NUS MBA Dean's Award. Prior to NUS, Tilla worked for Kaiser...
2023-02-161h 07
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#198 Inside the London Business School MBA & Honing Your Story with Chris Tran, LBS '22Chris Tran, London Business School (LBS) MBA '22, shares lessons learned from applying to and attending LBS, as well as how he landed his first post-MBA consulting gig in London. Questions Introducing Chris (0:00) Chris' Pre-MBA Career & MBA Application Journey (3:45) Consulting as a Post-MBA Career Goal (9:55) Chris' Top 3 Tips for Applicants (12:30) How Chris Honed his Application Story (16:40) Preparing for the LBS MBA Interview (22:05) Highlights from Chris' LBS MBA Experience (28:45) Making the Most of Your MBA Time (47:45) Structuring Your Network & Getting Help from Alumni (48:15) Consulting Internships & Recruiting at LBS (49:40:) About Chris Chris graduated from London...
2022-11-211h 01
The 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 05
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#194 Building a Professional MBA Network with Nicolle Lee, Wharton MBA '22Nicolle Lee, Wharton MBA '22, shares how building relationships helped her reach her MBA goals - including breaking into the real estate industry. After listening to this episode, you'll have a detailed and instructive case study of what's required to make a career pivot at a world-class business school. Questions Nicolle's Wharton MBA application & interview strategy (4:00) How Nicolle pursued her real estate career goals at Wharton (18:10) Real estate case competitions and student clubs (25:25) How Nicolle secured her real estate internship - and then job - at Morgan Stanley (32:20) Nicolle's second year at Wharton + conducting hundreds of...
2022-04-2259 min
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#191 Inside Harvard Business School - An Introvert's Experience with Graciela Brewer, HBS MBA '22Back by popular demand, Graciela Brewer returns to reflect on her Harvard Business School experience. We discuss what she found easier and more difficult than expected, how she has made the most of her HBS MBA, and her thoughts on how applicants can best prepare for business school. Questions Introducing Graciela Brewer (0:00) Graciela's Harvard Business School experience: expectations vs. reality (4:00) What Graciela found most valuable about her HBS experience (17:30) HBS during the pandemic (23:10) Graciela's involvement in the Latino Student Organization and Socioeconomic Inclusion Task Force (28:00) Graciela's thoughts on prioritizing mental health, well-being and family at HBS (34:00...
2022-03-031h 08
The 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 min
The 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
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#186 WHU MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Sabine NoeSabine Noe, Director of Recruitment & Admissions for WHU's MBA Programs, shares what makes the WHU MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (1:50) | Admissions (14:45) | Financing & Scholarships (27:00) | Careers (32:00) About Our Guest Sabine Noe leads the Recruitment & Admissions Teams for MBA Programs at WHU's Otto Beisheim School of Management, where she has worked for over 5 years. Sabine graduated from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg with a Masters in Political Science & Sociology. What is unique about the WHU MBA? What are its key advantages? Ranked #1 in Germany and #14 in Europe by the...
2021-11-0243 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#185 Cambridge MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Emily BrierleyEmily Brierley, Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment and Admissions at Cambridge Judge Business School, discusses what makes the Cambridge MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:30) | Admissions (17:30) | Financing & Scholarships (28:30) | Careers (36:45) About Our Guest Emily Brierley is Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment and Admissions at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, where she has worked for over 5 years. Emily graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a Bachelors in American Studies. What is unique about the Cambridge MBA? What are its key advantages? The Uni...
2021-10-2047 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#184 Toronto Rotman MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Imran Kanga - "Choose Your Own Adventure"Imran Kanga, Director of Recruitment & Admissions for Rotman School of Management's Full-time MBA at the University of Toronto, discusses what makes the Rotman MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:30) | Admissions (19:00) | Financing & Scholarships (35:30) | Careers (39:50) About Our Guest Imran Kanga is Director of Recruitment & Admissions for the Rotman School of Management's Full-time MBA Program at the University of Toronto. Previously, Imran worked in a similar capacity for the Schulich School of Business, where he got his MBA in 2010. What is unique about the Toronto Rotman MBA? What...
2021-10-0949 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#183 SDA Bocconi MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Francesca RovedaFrancesca Roveda, a member of the recruiting and admissions team for SDA Bocconi’s MBA program, discusses what makes the SDA Bocconi MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (5:30) | Admissions (28:26) | Financing & Scholarships (48:00) | Careers (55:30) About Our Guest Francesca Roveda recruits candidates for the MBA, Executive MBA and Specialized Masters program for Bocconi University’s School of Management. Francesca has been with Bocconi for nearly 30 years, starting in the marketing office and then moving over to recruiting and admissions in 2008. What is unique about the SDA Bocconi MBA? Wha...
2021-09-301h 05
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#182 Inside the NUS MBA with Student Council President Safira Djati, NUS MBA '22Safira Djati shares her journey from private equity analyst in Indonesia to the NUS MBA, where she is President of the NUS MBA Student Council. How has Covid affected the program and what has most surprised her about the NUS MBA so far? Safira shares the importance of student clubs and her takeaways from leading the 38th NUS MBA Student Council as its first female and Indonesian president. Finally, Safira touches on being a mother and making the most of her MBA. Questions Safira's background, pre-MBA goals, and reasons for applying to NUS (3:20) Safira's NUS MBA...
2021-09-2157 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#181 Taking the Road Less Traveled with Tony DeGennaro, CUHK MBA '17Most applicants get an MBA to step out of their comfort zones. But, what about pursuing your MBA and subsequent five-year marketing career in Hong Kong as an American? Tony DeGennaro, who majored in Political Science and Philosophy at Rutgers, shares his winding journey to the CUHK MBA, one of the top-ranked business schools in Asia, to running a boutique marketing agency targeting Chinese consumers, to now working as a Digital Strategist for First Page Digital, an online marketing agency with offices in 9 countries. What has Tony learned from studying and working in Hong Kong? ...
2021-08-1853 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#180 The Fully Funded MBA with Samuel Adeoye, UBC Sauder MBA '22Samuel Adeoye, UBC Sauder MBA '22, has an amazing story to tell about applying to 18 business schools over two years, and getting full-scholarship awards at 8 of them. How was he able to do this? And what has he learned from his application journey from Abuja, Nigeria to Vancouver, Canada? Questions Samuel's background (4:18) Samuel's 2-year journey applying to over 15 business schools (8:00) Samuel's advice to low income applicants on applying to business schools and winning scholarships (20:52) Why Samuel started City of Lane and LanePod (30:40) Samuel's Sauder MBA experience so far and landing an internship at Microsoft (41:54) About...
2021-08-0250 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#179 From Artist to MBA with Justin Taines, RSM MBA ’21Justin Taines, RSM MBA ’21, shares his journey from developing kids and family entertainment shows in Los Angeles to the RSM MBA, based in the Netherlands. Why did Justin pursue an MBA (instead of an EMBA) despite having over 10 years of work experience? What was his experience at the RSM MBA as an older student and during Covid? Questions Justin's background (2:15) Justin's shortlist of schools (4:30) Why Justin took the GRE instead of the GMAT (12:36) Justin's positioning and application tips (16:40) Justin's RSM MBA experience (27:10) Justin's thoughts on his (forced) hybrid MBA experience (35:33) Justin's recruiting experience and lessons (45:45) What Ju...
2021-07-231h 16
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#173 Bayes Business School MBA (formerly Cass), City, University of London Program & Admissions Interview with Alex JonesMBA Recruitment Manager Alex Jones discusses what makes the Bayes Business School MBA (formerly Cass), City, University of London unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (4:10) | Admissions (19:30) | Financing & Scholarships (33:40) | Careers (37:30) About Our Guest Alex Jones is the MBA Recruitment Manager for Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), City, University of London, where he has worked for over 8 years. Alex got his Bachelors in Communication from the University of Leicester and his Masters in Media Production from Birmingham City University. What is unique about the Bayes Business School MBA...
2020-11-0951 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#169 CEIBS MBA Program & Admissions Interview with James KentJames Kent, Marketing Manager for the MBA Admissions & Marketing Team at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), discusses what makes the CEIBS MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (3:00) | Admissions (23:40) | Scholarships & Covid-19 (39:40) | Careers (49:30) About Our Guest James Kent is the Marketing Manager for the MBA Admissions & Marketing Team at CEIBS. James got his Bachelors in Chinese and Management from Sheffield University and has worked in recruitment and marketing for 10 years. What is unique about the CEIBS MBA? What are its key advantages? China's top-ranked MBA la...
2020-09-211h 01
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#166 Inside the Sofaer Global MBA with Manuel Fajardo '20Why did a Colombian civil engineer choose to do his MBA in Israel? Manuel Fajardo shares his journey to the Tel Aviv University’s Sofaer Global MBA, and how the program’s focus on new venture creation has helped him pursue his business idea. About Manuel Manuel Fajardo will graduate from the Sofaer Global MBA this Fall. Before getting his MBA, Manuel worked as General Manager of EDS LA PAZ, and as COO and Chief Engineer at Agregados el Rodeo in Colombia. Manuel got his degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad de Los Ande...
2020-07-1637 min
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#159 What's Up with the HKU MBA?Sachin Tipnis, Senior Executive Director of HKU's MBA, EMBA & 6 specialized Masters programs discusses the Hong Kong protests, curriculum changes, admissions, and picking the right Masters program for your career goals. The Hong Kong Protests - How Has this Affected Students? (2:45) Curriculum, Admissions and Career Services Updates with the HKU MBA (17:30) Full-time MBA vs. Specialized Masters vs. EMBA - Which Should You Choose (45:15) HKU MBA Highlights (last updated Jan 2020) 12-months, Fall intake, 55-60 students/year Typical Class: 5-6 years work exp / ~15 nationalities / 640 GMAT Has 3 tracks: the London track, the New York track, and the Hong Kong/China...
2020-01-161h 03
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#155 Five 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#153 The US MBA Experience as an International Student with Ikechukwu Edeagu, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA '19Hailing from Nigeria and having never visited the US, how did Ikechukwu Edeagu shortlist and apply to MBA programs? And what was his process for navigating internships and the job search as an international student? Listen to get a real-time, inside look into one international student's MBA experience at UNC Kenan Flagler. Questions Ike's background (3:53) How Ike shortlisted business schools (8:02) Ike's application tips for international students (14:20) Ike's thoughts on financing your MBA (22:20) How Ike secured his internship and job with Microsoft (25:08) Ike's recommended resources and research process for your MBA job search (44:30) The importance of soft s...
2019-08-201h 14
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#148 Starting a Business during your MBA with Sheela Lal, Michigan Ross MBA '19Guest Host Sabaina Kamara, Michigan Ross MBA '19, invites her section-mate Sheela Lal to share her experience applying for internships, founding DrunkShrub and securing a full-time job post-graduation. Listen to get a real-time, inside look into the MBA experience at a top b-school like Ross. Questions Sheela's background and reasons for getting an MBA (0:47) Sheela's approach to landing an internship (7:20) Sheela founds DrunkShrub (10:33) How Sheela took advantage of Ross' resources to further her business (14:43) How Sheela navigated running DrunkShrub and looking for full-time employment in consulting and government affairs (19:30) Sheela's advice to applicants about applying to bu...
2019-02-0429 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#147 ASB MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Sean Ferguson - "An Action-Learning Based Curriculum"Sean Ferguson, Associate Dean and Director of MBA Program for the Asia School of Business (ASB), discusses what makes the ASB MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:28) | Admissions (24:47) | Scholarships (40:20) | Careers (47:15) About Our Guest Sean Ferguson is the Associate Dean and Director of MBA Program for the Asia School of Business. Prior to joining ASB, Sean was Associate Dean of Masters Programmes at HKUST Business School and Assistant Dean of Degree Programmes at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. He worked at PROS, Cap Gemini, Ernst & Youn...
2019-01-271h 02
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#145 IMD MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Dean Seán Meehan - Be on Companies' Leadership Radars Mixdown 1Seán Meehan, Dean of the MBA Program at IMD, discusses what makes the IMD MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (5:33) | Admissions (22:41) | Scholarships (41:30) | Careers (45:10) About Our Guest Dr. Seán Meehan is the Martin Hilti Professor of Marketing & Change Management and the Dean of the MBA program. He joined IMD in 1997 after working for Arthur Anderson and Deloitte, where he was Director of Marketing. Seán got his PhD in Marketing from London Business School. What is relatively unique about the IMD MBA? What are its ke...
2018-11-1953 min
The 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 13
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#143 Alliance Manchester MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Chris HealyChris Healy, Head of MBA Marketing & Recruitment of Alliance Manchester Business School discusses what makes the Manchester MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (3:40) | Admissions (29:48) | Scholarships (41:40) | Careers (45:45) Manchester MBA Highlights (last updated Sep 2018) Manchester has a Full-time MBA, Global Part-time MBA, and Kelley-Manchester Global MBA The Full-time MBA lasts 12, 15 or 18 months and has 1 intake/year in the Fall Typical Class: 100-120 students / 6 years work exp/ 80% international with 30 nationalities / 630 GMAT First 10 months dedicated to 5 core courses, 2 live consultancy projects and M&A project. The rest is dedicated to electives, exchanges an...
2018-10-0355 min
The 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 03
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#126 Cornell Johnson MBA Admissions Interview with Eddie AsbieEddie 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 inv...
2017-12-231h 08
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#124 Georgia Tech Scheller MBA Admissions Interview with Katie Lloyd - "At the Intersection of Business and Technology"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 thr...
2017-12-0855 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#123 Essec MBA Admissions Interview with Vivien KohVivien 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% Indust...
2017-12-0438 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 11
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#118 Full-time vs. Part-time vs. Online vs. Executive MBA - Which is the Right MBA for You?What is the difference between Full-time, Part-time, Online and EMBA degrees? Which one makes most sense for you? A number of you coming to Touch MBA for school selection help are considering multiple MBA program formats so I thought it would be good to dedicate one short episode to covering key differences from an admissions, curriculum, career and reputation perspective. Dirk is involved in all 4 MBA programs for IE Business School so I played the role of “applicant” and asked him common questions I get. About Our Guest Dirk Hopfl is Direct...
2017-10-1028 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#114 Stephen Huber, USC Marshall MBA ’18 on Getting Off the Waitlist, Preparing Significant Others, and Breaking Into a New IndustryStephen Huber discusses his MBA experience at USC Marshall, from what he did to get off the waitlist, to preparing his wife for an intense first year, to leading the High Tech and Interactive Gaming Associations, to landing internships and jobs in tech and the hard-to-break into entertainment industry. After listening to this talk, you'll have a good idea of what it takes to make the most of your MBA experience, especially as a career switcher. Stephen is also open to answering your questions about the the USC Marshall experience on our Ambassadors Forum.
2017-08-1153 min
The 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 min
The 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 02
The 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 min
The 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. Questions
2017-05-1638 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#104 CUHK MBA Admissions Interview with Lawrence Chan & David AhlstromLawrence Chan and Professor David Ahlstrom of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) MBA program join the show to discuss what makes the CUHK MBA unique, the school's admissions process and the career opportunities in the region. Program Highlights (2:48) Admissions (19:30) Careers (32:40) CUHK MBA Highlights A pioneer in business education, CUHK offered Asia's first MBA in 1966 Students can complete the course in 12 or 16 months CUHK offers 4 specializations in Finance, Marketing, China Business, and Entrepreneurship Financial Times ranked CUHK MBA 36th worldwide in 2017 70-80 students/year Top Industries for Class of 2016: 22% Banking & Finance / 22% Investment and Asset Management / 15% Busi...
2017-04-0747 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 06
The 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 min
The 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...
2016-05-0940 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#85 Why I Got My MBA in Asia with Yuan Lee Chung, HKUST MBA '15Yuan Lee Chung, HKUST MBA '15, discusses why she got her MBA in
Asia and the benefits and challenges of attending a top Asian
business school. Yuan Lee also studied at Columbia for one-term and
shares her thoughts on how Asian and US programs compare.
About Our Guest
Yuan Lee Chung is from Malaysia and got her Bachelors in
Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore
(NUS) before working in finance for Capital Group and UBS Wealth
Management in Singapore. After graduating from the HKUST MBA, where
she was Vice President of the MBA A...
2016-04-3040 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#56 The Value of an MBA with Prof. Franz Heukamp of IESEHere at Touch MBA we help you find your best-fit business schools. But what about getting an MBA in the first place? How can it help you? Do you need an MBA to become an entrepreneur? What should you consider when choosing between 1 and 2 year programs? And will the MBA be as valuable in the future?
I sat down with Prof. Franz Heukamp, Associate Dean of MBA Programs at IESE, to get his thoughts on these very important questions. Getting an MBA is a massive investment. As Prof. Franz points out, applicants should think about the long-term...
2014-09-0427 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min
The 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#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 min
The 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 min
The 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 min