Shows
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 minThe 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 14The 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 minThe 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 00The 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 12The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#211 Vanderbilt MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Sue OldhamSue Oldham, Associate Dean at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management, discusses what makes the Vanderbilt MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the Vanderbilt MBA Unique? (4:40) Vanderbilt MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (19:30) Career Opportunities at Vanderbilt - What to Know & How to Prepare (39:45) About Sue Sue Oldham is Associate Dean at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management, where she is responsible for recruiting and admissions, enrollment management, academic and student affairs, and the career management center. P...2023-07-1051 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#210 Georgetown MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Shelly Heinrich Shelly Heinrich, Associate Dean, MBA Admissions and Director of Marketing at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, discusses what makes the Georgetown MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the Georgetown MBA Unique? (3:30) Georgetown MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (23:00) Career Opportunities at Georgetown - What to Know & How to Prepare (45:00) About Shelly Shelly Heinrich is Associate Dean of MBA Admissions and Director of Marketing for Georgetown's University McDonough School of Business. Previously, she worked as a Client Services Director...2023-06-2851 minThe 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 minThe 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 minThe 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 minThe 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 16The 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 07The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#201 Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Jochem Kroezen and Maria TsachliJochem Kroezen, Academic Director of Rotterdam School of Management's (RSM) Full-time MBA Program, and Maria Tsachli, Recruitment & Admissions Manager, Americas, discuss what makes the RSM MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Introduction (0:00) | Program Highlights (4:00) | Admissions (25:00) | Careers (50:55) About Our Guests Jochem Kroezen is the Academic Director of RSM's Full-time MBA Program, and Associate Professor of Organization Theory at RSM. Before joining RSM, Jochem worked as an Associate Professor in International Business at Cambridge University's Judge Business School. Jochem got his Masters in Business Research from RSM. Maria Tsachli i...2023-02-051h 01The 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#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 01The 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#195 Business School Selection Simplified - How to Shortlist MBA Programs You're Excited About and Competitive At“The most frustrating part I have found is the vast amount of information about schools, applications, and chances that is out there. It’s been hard to sift through all the noise and really figure out what schools are good for you and what your actual chances are.” – Margaret, USA Feel the same way? Trust me, you’re not alone. We’ve helped over 3,500 MBA applicants from 50 countries shortlist MBA programs, and hear comments like this all the time. What if you could figure out MBA programs you’re excited about AND comp...2022-06-2728 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 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#187 Imperial MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Amy DuckworthAmy Duckworth, Director of Admissions at Imperial College Business School, shares what makes the Imperial MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:00) | Admissions (13:00) | Financing & Scholarships (26:10) | Careers (29:10) What is unique about the Imperial MBA? What are its key advantages? Imperial College is one of the world’s leading STEM institutions, ranked 12th globally by the Times Higher Education 1-year MBA completed at two campuses (South Kensington and White City) in London Imperial is launching a new MBA curriculum for Fall 2022 class, which includes a year-long LEAD (Leadership, Ethics, Awareness, Divers...2021-11-1536 minThe 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 minThe 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 minThe 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 minThe 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 05The 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 minThe 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 minThe 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 16The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#178 The McKinsey & Insead Experience with Milan Mecklenburg, Insead MBA '18DMilan Mecklenberg, Insead MBA '18D, shares his journey from studying theoretical physics at Cambridge to McKinsey Berlin to Insead and then back to McKinsey, this time in Vietnam. What has he learned from the journey? Questions Milan's background (2:20) Applying to Insead and getting sponsored by McKinsey (4:20) Preparing for the GMAT (8:55) Interviewing with McKinsey as an MBA student (11:20) Milan's McKinsey experience (18:28) Milan's Insead experience (22:42) Making the most of 1-year and building your network at Insead (33:40) Building self-awareness at Insead & McKinsey (39:45) Picking classes & professors at Insead (44:55) About Milan After getting his Masters and Bachelors...2021-06-2651 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#177 How I Got into the Wharton MBA / MA Lauder Joint Degree Program with Hunter DongHunter Dong shares his best application tips for getting into the Wharton MBA / MA Lauder Joint Degree in International Studies program. How did Hunter pull together his diverse work experience working for the Hinrich Foundation in the Philippines, his family business in pharmaceutical packaging and IBM as a Data Scientist to make an ultimately winning case to Wharton and Columbia? Hunter walks us through his entire preparation process, from initial school research to the final team-based discussion interview. Don't miss this episode packed with clear, practical advice from a just admitted applicant. Questions Hunter's work experience...2021-03-2756 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#175 AGSM MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Dr. Michele Roberts Dr. Michele Roberts, MBA Academic Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at University of New South Wales (UNSW), discusses what makes the AGSM MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (3:20) | Admissions (31:00) | Careers (47:30) About Our Guest Dr. Michele Roberts is the MBA Academic Director of AGSM at UNSW, looking after all its MBA Programs. Michele teaches MBA courses in Marketing Management and Foundations of Management. Prior to academic life, Michele worked as a Marketing Manager at a Fortune 500 company in London and Melbourne. She holds a Mas...2020-11-3053 minThe 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 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#172 Melbourne MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Anastasia GeorgiouAnastasia Georgiou, Director of Admissions at Melbourne Business School, discusses what makes the Melbourne MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (4:38) | Admissions (19:00) | Scholarships (31:20) | Careers (34:00) About Our Guest Anastasia Georgiou is Director of Admissions at Melbourne Business School. Anastasia has worked in higher education and admissions for over 20 years. What is unique about the Melbourne MBA? What are its key advantages? Highest ranked Australian MBA by Financial Times, Economist and QS Offered Australia’s first MBA program starting in 1963. Melbourne Business School is 55% owned by Australia...2020-10-2949 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#170 Nanyang MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Gilbert ChuaGilbert Chua, Deputy Director of Marketing, Recruitment & Admissions at Nanyang Business School, discusses what makes the Nanyang MBA unique, the school’s admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (2:30) | Admissions (11:50) | Scholarships (31:45) | Careers (34:20) About Our Guest Gilbert Chua is the Deputy Director of Marketing, Recruitment & Admissions at Nanyang Business School. Gilbert previously served as Head of Recruitment & Admissions for Singapore Management University's Postgraduate Programmes, where he also got his EMBA. What is unique about the Nanyang MBA? What are its key advantages? 1-year program includes 9 core courses + 4 electives + 1 leadership module + 1 busi...2020-10-1246 minThe 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 01The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#167 Breaking into Vietnam, Venture Capital & Professional Sports with Henry Nguyen, Founding Owner, Los Angeles Football Club & Kellogg MBA '00How did Henry Nguyen, who graduated from Kellogg 20 years ago, launch Vietnam’s first technology venture capital fund, Vietnam’s first professional basketball team, and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise? Henry recounts his journey from travel writer to MD to MBA to Wall Street and then back to Vietnam, where he has built a career as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Henry also gives a behind a scenes look into putting together a winning bid for LAFC, building a 22,000 capacity outdoor arena in downtown Los Angeles, and growing a ravi...2020-07-311h 37The 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 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#164 Inside the Virginia Darden MBA with Tawan (Tina) Suvapatrachai '18Tawan (Tina) Suvapatrachai shares her MBA journey from Bangkok to Virginia Darden and then back to Thailand to do strategy for Samsung. Like many international applicants, Tina didn't have the chance to visit her four target US business schools. How did she research schools and find her best fit? Why did she choose Darden and what did she take from her Darden MBA experience? Questions Tina's background (3:40) Tina's school research and application tips (5:00) How the MBA did not give Tina more career clarity, but rather a powerful career platform (11:30) Common problems Tina sees from international MBA...2020-05-1651 minThe 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 03The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#158 Quantless in Cornell with Gregory Wool, Cornell Johnson MBA ‘'21Gregory Wool, Cornell Johnson MBA '21, scored below average on the quantitative section of the GMAT. How did he overcome this score to not only get into Cornell Johnson, but win a prestigious tuition free scholarship? Gregory also shares his experience surviving a packed first semester, leading the student consulting club, and recruiting into strategy consulting. Questions Gregory's application and GMAT journey (4:40) What Gregory did to overcome his low quant score (8:50) Gregory's experience with Cornell's L.E.A.D. admissions event (12:45) Gregory's career goals and how they affected his MBA search (18:50) Winning a Roy H. Park...2019-12-301h 02The 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 PodcastManagement Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) & The Consortium What You Need to Know with Cristian Molina Cornejo, Tuck MBA '21Cristian Molina Cornejo, Tuck MBA '21, shares how MBA applicants can take advantage of two programs that champion diversity and inclusion: Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) and the Consortium. Cristian also gives his best application tips after getting into four out of five top 20 US MBA programs. Questions Cristian's background (3:20) What you need to know about MLT (14:25) What you need to know about Consortium (26:00) MLT's Professional Development program and its network (30:55) How to make the most out of MLT and Consortium (40:50) Cristian's best application tips after getting into four top schools (45:10) Cristian's thoughts on Tuck (52:50) ...2019-08-261h 06The 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 14The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#151 City University Hong Kong MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Christoph SchneiderDr. Christoph Schneider, Associate Director of MBA Programme and Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Systems, City University Hong Kong, discusses what makes the City U Hong Kong MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (4:06) | Admissions (18:30) | Scholarships (33:58) | Careers (36:38) About Our Guest Christoph Schneider is the Associate Director of the MBA Programme at City University Hong Kong, where he has also been Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Systems for over a decade. Christoph has published in premier business journals as well as best-selling textbooks on management inf...2019-04-0845 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#149 Wisconsin MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Betsy Kacizak and Brad Chandler - “"Focus Creates Advantage"Betsy Kacizak, Director of MBA Admissions and Recruitment, and Brad Chandler, Director, Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking at the Wisconsin School of Business of University Wisconsin-Madison, discuss what makes the Wisconsin MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (10:45) | Admissions (29:56) | Scholarships (45:32) | Careers (49:08 About Our Guests Betsy Kacizakis the Director of MBA Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Betsy excels at walking you through the admissions process, including helping guide you toward the specialization that best fits your passions and career aspirations. She has expertise as...2019-02-2559 minThe 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 minThe 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 02The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#145 IMD MBA Program and Admissions Interview with Dean Sean 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 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#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 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#142 York Schulich MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Imran Kanga - "One of the most customizable programs in the world"Imran Kanga, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions, Schulich School of Business, discusses what makes the Schulich MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (5:13) | Admissions (22:00) | Scholarships (34:30) | Careers (37:25) About Our Guest Imran Kanga is the Assistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions, Schulich School of Business at York University, where he manages global recruitment for Schulich's Full-time MBA and International MBA. Imran joined Schulich's admissions team after getting his International MBA from Schulich in 2010. Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/york-schulich-mba-program-admissions-interview-imran-kanga 2018-09-2443 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#141 The Mindset to Make a "3D" Career Change - From Wastewater Engineer to Luxury Brand Manager with Laura Pan, SDA Bocconi MBA '18Are you pursuing an MBA to make a "3 dimensional" (3D) jump into a new geography, function and industry? Laura Pan, currently a full-time MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan, Italy, shares how she went from wastewater treatment engineer to luxury brand manager, her dream job. Laura shares what it's like to study in Italy, as well as the mindset necessary to capitalize on opportunities as an MBA student. Laura also opines on the myth and reality of attending a business school outside the top 10. Questions Laura's background (4:34) Career goals and shortlisting schools (6:32) Studying luxury business management at...2018-09-131h 05The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#140 RSM MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Brandon KirbyBrandon Kirby, Director of MBA Marketing and Admissions at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University, discusses what makes the RSM MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Program Highlights (8:07) | Admissions (28:32) | Scholarships (57:48) | Careers (1:04:40) About Our Guest Brandon Kirby is the Director of Marketing & Admissions of the Rotterdam School of Management's MBA Program at Erasmus University. Brandon got his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler through the OneMBA. He ran a restaurant for 10 years, then worked in branding and marketing before joining the RSM MBA program. Episode summary, show notes an...2018-08-271h 19The 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#138 MBA Resume Do's and Don'ts (Plus Templates!)Your resume is often what MBA admissions officers first see, and frames how they view the rest of your profile. Follow this checklist of CV 'do's and don'ts' to make make a strong first impression and set the stage for a successful application. This is a re-run of Episode #6 Seven Deadly Sins of MBA Resumesand Rotman MBA's Leigh Gauthier's answer to the question we asked in Episode #100 What 1 Action Can Candidates Take to Dramatically Improve Their MBA Application? The "7 deadly sins" 1. Too long 2. Hard on the eyes 3. Emphasizes the wrong thing(s...2018-08-0622 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#136 Military to MBA to Management Consulting with Alex Tuininga, Harvard MBA ’'18Alex Tuininga, HBS MBA '18, discusses his transition from a navy intelligence officer to Harvard MBA to BCG management consultant. Alex also shares his thoughts on MBA recruiting and social life as a married, older student. Questions Alex's background (3:48) Alex's advice to military applicants (12:40) Where Alex applied and why he chose HBS (21:00) The HBS experience (24:28) Social life as an older, married student (35:02) The recruiting process (42:20) Summer internships and full-time offers at BCG (48:20) Alex's business lessons from business school (1:04:20) About Our Guest Alex Tuininga worked as an Intelligence Officer in the US Navy for 10...2018-07-171h 07The 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#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#126 HKU MBA Program & Admissions Update with Sachin TipnisSachin Tipnis from the University of Hong Kong discusses what makes the HKU MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for HKU MBAs. Program Highlights (5:15) | Admissions (26:00) | Scholarships (38:36) | Careers (44:27) HKU MBA Highlights (last updated Jan 2018) 14-months, Fall intake, ~60 students/year Typical Class: 5 years work exp / 15 nationalities / 660 GMAT Has 3 tracks: the London track, the New York track, and the Hong Kong/China track. After finishing 9 months of core courses at HKU, students can study at Columbia University in New York, London Business School in London, or Sudan University in Shanghai for one semester Graduates g...2018-01-1057 minThe 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 08The 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#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 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#115 Charting Your Own Path in China with Jesse Miller, CEIBS MBA '17Why did an American Ivy League graduate decide to pursue an MBA in China? In 2015 Jesse Miller decided to pursue his MBA at CEIBS, ranked #11 worldwide by the Financial Times in 2017 and China's top-ranked program. Jesse discusses the pros and cons of pursuing a top-ranked MBA in Asia, his experience as a minority American student at CEIBS (Shanghai) and ISB (Hyderabad) where he studied one semester, and how he jumped from working in fashion to the entertainment industry. Jesse also shares his thoughts on the startup and entrepreneurship environment in China. Listen to...2017-09-0135 minThe 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 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#107 Queen's MBA Admissions Interview with Matt Reesor - "Team-based"Matt Reesor from Queen's University Smith School of Business joins the show to discuss what makes the Queen's MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for Queen's MBA students. Program Highlights (3:00) | Admissions (25:10) | Scholarships (51:40) | Careers (56:30) About Our Guest Matthew Reesor is the Director of the Queen’s MBA at Smith School of Business. He has held administrative leadership and faculty positions at Nagoya University of Commerce and Business (NUCB) and Queen’s University. His research, focusing primarily on communications and language policy, has been published and widely referenced in academic journals. Episod...2017-05-091h 09The 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 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#103 Advice for MBA Reapplicants with Neethling McGrath, Columbia MBA '19Neethling McGrath, an Admissions Edge Member, shares the ups and downs of applying, reapplying and getting into his first choice: Columbia GSB. Neethling shares what he did differently the second time around and what he believes were the factors for his application success To those of you who got dinged and are re-applying to top programs, this episode is for you. Neethling applies the first time (5:15) Gets dinged form his 2 schools, now what? (9:50) How Neethling focused his career goals and improved resume (14:20) How to reach out to current students, faculty and admissions (19:11) Dealing with spa...2017-03-1738 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#100 Our Most Popular Guests Answer: “What 1 Action Can Candidates Take to Dramatically Improve Their MBA Application?”To celebrate the 100th episode of the Touch MBA Podcast, I’m trying something a little different. Instead of hearing from just 1 guest today, you’ll hear from 9. I asked guests from our most downloaded episodes: “What 1 Action Can Candidates Take to Dramatically Improve Their Application?” Today, you’ll hear answers from some incredibly knowledgeable folks, a group with over 75 years of MBA admissions experience. You'll get 9 powerful, bite-sized tips (each less than 5 minutes) on mindset, positioning, school selection, resumes, essays and interviews. I encourage you to listen EVERY minute so you can...2016-12-2538 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#99 Preparing for MBA Interviews with Vince RicciVince Ricci from VincePrep shares his best MBA interview preparation tips, from mindset to strategy to tactics. Vince has some of the most downloaded Youtube videos on MBA interviews and has helped hundreds of applicants get past this final hurdle so don't miss this one! About Our Guest Vince Ricci is Director of Admissions Counseling for Agos Japan and Owner of VincePrep.com, where he has produced over 120 videos on how applicants can ace their MBA essays and interviews. Vince has been a Graduate Admissions Consultant for over 15 years and currently serves as President of Th...2016-12-151h 00The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#97 Michigan Ross MBA Program & Admissions Q&A with Son NguyenSon Nguyen is Associate Director of Admissions at Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, where he has been since 2014. Previously he was a Corporate Recruiter for Target and Assistant Director of Admissions for the University of Notre Dame. Son got his Bachelors from Notre Dame and his Masters of Science in Strategic Communications from Columbia. University of Michigan Ross MBA Program Highlights 4:18 Admissions 21:56 Financing 38:58 Careers 42:11 Go to http://www.touchmba.com/michigan-ross-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at the Michigan R...2016-11-2558 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#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#89 Washington University St. Louis Olin MBA Admissions Interview with Ashley LautzenheiserAshley Lautzenheiser is Associate Director of Graduate Admissions at Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, where she has been since 2010. Ashley got her bachelor's degree in marketing from Olin in 2009. Her main role is admissions for Wash U's full-time MBA program. Washington University St. Louis Olin MBA Program Highlights 3:12 Admissions 20:04 Financing 32:00 Careers 35:22 Go to http://www.touchmba.com/washington-olin-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at the Olin MBA program.2016-06-1500 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#88 ESMT MBA Admissions Interview with Nick BarnivilleNick Barniville is Associate Dean for Degree Programs, ESMT (European School of Management and Technology), where he has been since 2010. Nick is responsible for the management and development of full-time MBA, Executive MBA and Masters Programmes at ESMT. Before joining ESMT, Nick was the Director of MBA Programmes at the Smurfit School at University College Dublin for 4 years and at Insead as Director of Communications for 5 years. ESMT MBA Program Highlights 3:38 Admissions 24:35 Financing 36:28 Careers 42:35 Go to http://www.touchmba.com/esmt-berlin-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, fi...2016-05-2758 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#84 IMD MBA Admissions Interview with Ralf BoscheckDr. Ralf Boscheck is the MBA Program Director and The Lundin Family Professor of Economics and Business Policy at IMD, where he teaches courses in economics and industry analysis. Dr. Boscheck has been a faculty member at IMD for over 25 years.
IMD MBA Program Highlights 2:55 Admissions 25:32 Financing 41:06 Careers 45:25
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/imd-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at the IMD MBA program.
This episode of Touch MBA is brought to you be Prodigy Finance – the leader in education loa...2016-04-161h 02The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#82 What to Ask MBA Students, Alumni & Admissions Officers to Research Schools, Sharpen your Story & Improve Your ChancesBen Parker came to Touch MBA nine months ago for free school selection help. As an Australian government policy maker with little business experience, Ben struggled to understand the MBA world and find the right business schools.
In this episode, Ben shares his journey from researching MBA programs to getting accepted to London Business School and HKUST - all this despite having a less than stellar GMAT and GPA and a non-business background.
You’ll learn what to ask MBA students, alumni, and admissions to shortlist schools, make your story “glow” and improve your essays and inte...2016-02-0544 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#80 University of Texas at Austin McCombs MBA Admissions Interview with Stephen SweeneyStephen Sweeney is Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions at McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin. Stephen got his MBA from McCombs in 2011. Go to http://www.touchmba.com/texas-mccombs-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business MBA program.2015-10-0951 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#79 University of Washington Foster MBA Admissions Interview with Erin Town - "Take the Reins"Erin Town is Director of MBA Admissions, Foster School of Business, University of Washington. Erin has been doing MBA admissions for Foster for over 11 years. Go to http://www.touchmba.com/foster-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at Washington University's Foster School of Business MBA program.2015-10-0247 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#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#72 UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions Interview with Jessica Chung - "Shared Success"This week I sat down with Jessica Chung, Associate Director of Full-time MBA Admissions at UCLA's Anderson School of Management.
We had an in-depth and open discussion about UCLA's MBA offering and culture, what admissions is looking for, and how the program supports students in their career searches. After listening to our conversation, you'll get an insider's feel for the qualities Anderson is looking for and how the school is evolving. Jessica is very transparent about the admissions process so don't miss this one!
About Our Guest
Jessica Chung is the Associate Director of...2015-04-0958 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#71 How to Apply for Top MBAs with Tyler Cormney of MBA Prep SchoolOver the past decade, Tyler Cormney and MBA Prep School have achieved a 90% success rate with clients at the world's top schools. What are the key steps to preparing an application that puts you in the top 10%? Hint: it's not your essay(s).
Don't miss this value-packed episode and feel free to ask Tyler your questions in the comments!
You can find a list of questions asked at http://touchmba.com/how-to-apply-for-a-top-mba-tyler-cormney-mba-prep-school
About Our Guest
Tyler Cormney is the CEO and Co-Founder of MBA Prep School. Tyler graduated from Harvard Business S...2015-04-0342 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#62 Penn State Smeal MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Stacey Peeler - "Best of Both Worlds"Looking for an intimate MBA experience but want the benefits of a large alumni network at a good cost? Get the inside scoop on what makes the Smeal MBA unique and its admissions process – straight from MBA Admissions Director Stacey Peeler.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/smeal-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at Penn State University's Smeal College of Business MBA program.2014-10-3135 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#61 UCD Smurfit MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Orla Nugent – “IQ, EQ & RQ”Interested in tech, entrepreneurship and strategy and looking for strong ROI from a European MBA? The UCD Smurfit MBA in Ireland boasts 90% + employment rates after their 11 month program to go along with a relatively affordable tuition (29,500 EUR) and generous scholarships. Get the inside scoop on what makes the Smurfit MBA unique and its admissions process – straight from MBA Program Director Orla Nugent.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/ucd-smurfit-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School MBA program.2014-10-2442 minThe Touch MBA Admissions Podcast#60 Rochester Simon MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Rebekah LewinWant to get a rigorous business education grounded in economics and analytics from a renown US business school? Simon awards 75% of its students scholarships and prides itself on its 90%+ job placement rate within 3 months of graduation. Rebekah Lewin, Assistant Dean of Admissions & Student Engagement at Simon Business School, University of Rochester, joined the show to discuss what makes Simon unique, career prospects for Simon grads, and what fit qualities she's looking for from applicants.
Go to http://www.touchmba.com/rochester-simon-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and...2014-10-1656 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 min