MBA/MS Admissions Experts

INSEAD alumnus and MBA admissions coach with firsthand experience navigating the application process independently, including admission to INSEAD. I support candidates across profiles: from early-career to experienced professionals, with a focus on positioning, storytelling, and school selection (US vs. Europe vs. Asia), including a clear ROI perspective on different programs. I also work with applicants managing lower GMAT scores, helping them strengthen overall profiles and application strategy.

When I was applying to MBAs, I had four things keeping me up at night. Which schools actually fit. Whether Lauder or the MBA/MPP path made more sense. How to not read like every other consultant in the pile. And whether a below-median GMAT score was going to sink me before anyone read a word I wrote. It didn't. I got in — Wharton MBA, Lauder MA — and I was sponsored by my employer to do it. I'm Vivek. I work with people who are somewhere in that same mess: consultants trying to stand out, international applicants figuring out how to come across, anyone staring down the MBA vs. dual-degree question, and candidates who don't have a perfect score and are wondering if it matters. It's a solvable problem. Reach out.

I believe my success in MBA admissions came down to one strength: I was able to clearly articulate how my professional and personal experiences had shaped me, how I planned to make the most of an MBA, and where I wanted to go after that. When it comes to admissions, articulating your story is everything. I knew what made me passionate, built a plan for my MBA, and executed on it. If you're applying with a specific path in mind and need help putting that into words, I'm your coach. I recently graduated with an MBA from Wharton and a Master of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design, and I specialize in dual degree and nontraditional paths. If you're not yet sure what you want out of the MBA experience, I'm here to help you introspect and sharpen your pitch. I can also offer specialized guidance if you're pursuing a real estate focus at any school or specifically targeting Wharton. It would be my pleasure to help you navigate a process that meant so much to me.

I took a very entrepreneurial and startup-focused route to business school. For those are interested in startups, venture capital, and investing, I'm excited for the opportunity to work with you!

About me I've sat on the other side of the table: as an admissions interviewer for Kellogg School of Management, I've evaluated real candidates and know firsthand what separates an admit from a ding. I've coached 18+ clients through the MBA admissions process and into top-tier programs. Priority to LGBTQ+ and First Generation, and I'm open to working with clients inside and outside the U.S. Before coaching, I built a career that MBA programs love to see — Sales Strategy & Ops Associate at LinkedIn and Product Lead at GrubHub — so I can help you position your own story the way adcoms read it. I completed the "MMM" program at Kellogg, so I also hold an MS in Design Innovation from Northwestern and separately a BS from Tufts in Quantitative Economics and International Relations. What we can work on Strategy — school selection, application positioning, and how to frame your career narrative. The application — essay development and editing, resume translation (business resumes ≠ admissions resumes), and coaching your recommenders on what actually moves the needle. Interviews — prep grounded in how interviewers are actually trained to evaluate you, not generic question lists. How I work Direct and honest. I'll tell you if a school is a reach, if an essay draft isn't working, and where your profile is genuinely strong — because that's what gets you in.

I'm a Wharton MBA graduate with an international background across the US, Europe, and MENA region - and a non-linear career path that took me from investment management into tech startups before business school. That journey wasn't tidy. But it taught me exactly how to turn a complex, unconventional story into one that resonates with top admissions committees, and it's the foundation of everything I bring to my clients. My unique qualifications include: ✔ Wharton MBA graduate with leadership roles in selective student organizations and fellowships, giving me a current, first-hand understanding of what thriving (not just getting in) at an M7 program actually looks like ✔ Spent time on the interview-evaluation side of Wharton admissions, giving me a nuanced lens into how candidates can stand out in the interview ✔ Helped students get into top M7 schools and LBS & INSEAD in Europe ✔ Specialized experience with non-linear profiles, career pivots, international applicants, and candidates who feel their story doesn't fit the traditional MBA mold ✔ End-to-end support across school selection, narrative development, essays, recommendations, interview prep, and timeline management - with a structured, personalized calendar so nothing falls through the cracks ✔ I work with a deliberately small number of clients per cycle. That's not a sales line, it's how I do my best work. Every person I take on gets my full attention, honest feedback, and genuine investment in their outcome. I'm especially helpful to: ✔ Candidates with non-linear or complex career paths who need help making sense of their story ✔ Career-pivot applicants struggling to frame their "why MBA, why now" ✔ Candidates with good experience and scores that don't jump off the page, helping them turn "good" into stellar ✔ International applicants navigating the cultural translation of their experience for U.S. and European programs ✔ Early-career applicants (2–5 years out) who need help conveying maturity and potential alongside ambition

As former Student Body President of Stanford GSB, I bring firsthand experience and insights into the MBA admissions process. Whether you are looking for assistance with application strategy, essays, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you create an individualized plan to achieve your goals. I have always been passionate about mentorship and helping students succeed. During my time at Stanford, I served as a Peer Mentor guiding first-year MBA students as they crafted their individual MBA experiences, an MBA Admissions Ambassador representing the program to prospective applicants, and a Section Representative serving as a liaison and advocate for my section. These experiences gave me unique look into the MBA experience from many angles.

I know what it takes to win a seat at a top MBA program as a non-traditional applicant — because I did it. I earned my MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth after a career as a physician, with a Yale MPH along the way. I understand exactly how admissions committees read an application: how to turn an unconventional background into a standout story, how to make essays authentic and differentiated instead of generic, how to choose schools strategically, and how to prep your recommenders and nail the interview. I later became a Vice President in Healthcare Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs and served on recruiting teams that evaluated scores of candidates; so, I know what excellence looks like on paper and in the room, and I bring that same discerning eye to your candidacy. I work especially well with healthcare and non-traditional applicants (including MD/MBA and other dual-degree paths), though I coach applicants from every background. Expect direct, structured, high-signal feedback and a clear plan: candidacy assessment, school strategy, résumé, essays through multiple rounds, recommender strategy, and interview prep. My goal is simple: to help you present the most compelling, authentic version of your story, and get in.

Welcome to my profile! With dual master's degrees from The Wharton School and Harvard University, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to MBA admissions coaching. My professional journey includes significant roles in alternative investments at Goldman Sachs and the University of California, as well as trading and portfolio management at BlackRock and PIMCO. This diverse background equips me with a unique perspective on the skills and qualities top business schools seek in candidates. I have successfully coached numerous clients through the MBA application process, helping them craft compelling narratives and strategic applications. Let's work together to make your MBA aspirations a reality—reach out to start your journey today!

With years of experience as the Assistant Director of the PhD Program at Harvard Business School, I advised and supported more than 130 students annually while also leading admissions committees for doctoral programs in addition to MBA programs. This work gave me direct, insider perspective on how the world’s most competitive business schools evaluate candidates and make decisions. Drawing on this expertise, I now coach prospective MBA students through every stage of the application journey — from crafting compelling personal narratives and refining essays, to interview preparation and strategic school selection. My approach emphasizes authenticity, clarity, and proven admissions insight, helping every client present their strongest and most competitive application.