The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast

Many top-ranked MBA programs in Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia actively encourage applicants to connect with admissions teams before submitting an application. But most applicants don't know this - or are too nervous to reach out.Should you contact admissions before you're ready? What if you haven't taken the GMAT yet, or your resume isn't polished? And how do you make sure the conversation is actually useful for both sides?In this episode, Darren invites Admissions Directors from three top-ranked programs - IESE (Spain), CUHK (Hong Kong), and AGSM (Australia) - to guide you on how to approach these early conversations, what to expect, and how to use them to strengthen your application.If you're considering reaching out to an MBA admissions team before applying, listen to this first.TopicsIntroduction (0:00)What is an MBA Pre-Assessment? with Roanne Law, CUHK MBA (3:15)How to Engage Early - Tips & Expectations with Patrik Wallen, IESE MBA (11:15)Addressing Common Concerns About Pre-Assessments with Kenneth Cheung, AGSM MBA (18:30)Show NotesCUHK MBAIESE MBAAGSM MBAGet pre-assessed by top MBA programs#116 Interacting with MBA Admissions Officers at Events#192 MBA Coffee Chats: Thoughtful Advice on How to Get the Most Out of Your MBA with Adam Putterman, Kellogg MMM ’19Resources for MBA ApplicantsGet free school selection help at Touch MBAGet pre-assessed by top international MBA programsOur favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

The HKUST MBA has been one of Asia's top-ranked MBAs for many years - the Financial Times has ranked it top 25 globally 15 times. But, what is it actually like to study there?Stephen Shih, Associate Dean of MBA Programs at HKUST Business School and a former Partner at Bain & Company, shares what makes the HKUST MBA unique. We cover Hong Kong's strategic importance, the benefits of studying at a renowned science and technology university, HKUST's flexible curriculum, and the differences between the 12 and 16-month program options. Stephen also shares his views on AI's impact on MBA careers, what employers are prioritizing, and what the HKUST admissions team actually looks for beyond GMAT scores.Program Highlights - What Makes the HKUST MBA Unique?Introduction (0:00)What Makes the HKUST MBA Unique? (8:25)How HKUST is "Future-Proofing" its MBA as AI Reshapes Business (13:20)Why Hong Kong for Your MBA (20:00)HKUST MBA's 12 and 16-Month Course Structure (22:45)HKUST MBA's Student & Learning Culture (25:00)HKUST MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? What HKUST MBA Looks for from Applicants (27:00)Post-MBA Goals (29:00)Interviews (31:05)GMAT/GRE Scores (32:15)Stephen's Final Application Tips (35:50)How HKUST MBA Admissions Views Scholarships & How Applicants Can Win Funding (37:35)Career Opportunities at HKUST - What to Know & How to PrepareHow to Leverage HKUST's Career Resources to Land Post-MBA Jobs (40:30)HKUST Industry Placements & Resources for Entrepreneurs (45:45)What Applicants Need to Know about Landing Jobs in Hong Kong, China & Asia-Pacific (51:00)Maximizing ROI at the HKUST MBA (52:15)About Our GuestStephen Shih is the Associate Dean of MBA Programs at HKUST Business School. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of Learning & Development at Bain & Company in Shanghai, China. Stephen served as Head of MBA Career Services and Corporate Relations at HKUST from 2010-11 before returning to Bain & Company as a Partner and leading its organization practice in Asia-Pacific. Stephen majored in Economics at Princeton University and got his MBA from UCLA Anderson.Show NotesHKUST MBAHKUST MBA ScholarshipsHKUST Entrepreneurship CenterHKUST MBA SuperConnector PodcastHKUST Full-time MBA Highlights by Touch MBAMBA Application Resources⁠⁠⁠Get free school selection help at Touch MBA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs⁠⁠⁠⁠Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)⁠

What 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 Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? What IESE MBA Looks for When Building a Class (28:00)Patrik's Thoughts on Post-MBA Goals (37:00)GMAT/GRE Scores & GPA (41:45)Resumes (48:00)Written Essays & Video Essays (52:45)Letters of Recommendation (55:35)Interviews & IESE MBA's Assessment Day (57:45)How IESE MBA Admissions Views Scholarships & How Applicants Can Win Funding (1:03:35)Career Opportunities at IESE - What to Know & How to PrepareHas AI Affected Recruiting for Consulting? (1:10:55)IESE MBA's Grading System (1:17:30)What Applicants Need to Know about Landing Jobs in Spain & Europe (1:20:05)Structured Recruiting & Unstructured Recruiting: What Applicants Can Expect from IESE's Career Services (1:27:45)About Our GuestPatrik Wallen is the MBA Admissions Director at IESE Business School. Previously, he was Director of IESE's Career Development Center. Before joining IESE, Patrik worked as a general manager in hospitality, founded a fish importing business and worked as a software consultant. Patrik got his Masters in Science in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and his MBA from IESE in 2007.Show NotesIESE MBAGet feedback on your profile from IESE MBA's Admissions Team before you applyIESE MBA Scholarships and Post-Graduation Payment Aid (PPA) for MBAsIESE Full-time MBA Highlights by Touch MBAMBA Application Resources⁠⁠Get free school selection help at Touch MBA⁠⁠⁠⁠Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs⁠⁠Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

Darren 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 Competitiveness (1:00:00)Cherif's Interview Tips for Insead & London Business School (1:07:10)Cherif's Final Tips (1:24:00)About Our GuestN'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif graduated from Cranfield University with a Masters in Management and Concordia University with a Bachelors in Political Science. He will be attending the Insead MBA program in Fontainebleau, France, focused on a post-MBA career in infrastructure-focused private equity.After getting his Masters, Cherif worked as an auditor for PwC, management consultant for Square Management, and then in Financial Advisory and Project Finance for the government of Côte d'Ivoire and then as an investment banker for Obara Capital. He then returned to Paris with his family to do Financial Advisory and Project Finance for Egis.Show NotesFollow N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif on LinkedInHow I Got Into Insead & London Business School: 5 Game-Changing Success Factors by N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif (My Admissions Journey Series)Insead MBAInfravenir: Young Infrastructure Professionals in FranceThe Glocap Guide To Getting A Job In Private Equity: Behind the Scenes Insight Into How PE Funds Hire by Brian KorbLondon L. - MBA Admissions ConsultantMore ResourcesGet free school selection help at Touch MBAGet pre-assessed by top international MBA programsGet the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business SchoolsOur favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

Darren 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 The Job Closer – Giving Job Seekers Straightforward Frameworks that Work Fast and Work Well #192 MBA Coffee Chats: Thoughtful Advice on How to Get the Most Out of Your MBA with Adam Putterman, Kellogg MMM ’19 #194 Building a Professional MBA Network with Nicolle Lee, Wharton MBA ’22 #156 Three Questions to Ask Before You Make a Career Move with Gary Lo MBA Application Resources Get free school selection help at Touch MBA Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs Get the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business Schools Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

Sara 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 over 10 years. Previously, Sara worked in the careers office for the University of Toronto Rotman. Sara got her EMBA from HEC Paris and her undergraduate degree from Ryerson University. Show Notes HEC Paris Full-time MBA HEC Paris MBA GMAT/GRE Requirements Touch MBA's Writeup & Highlights of HEC Paris MBA MBA Application Resources Get free school selection help at Touch MBA Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs Get the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business Schools Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

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 finding a great business school and getting in! Topics Introduction (0:00) What makes top MBA programs in Asia and Hong Kong different? (4:06) The quality of top Asian MBA programs vs. top US programs (10:30) How important are local language skills for MBA graduates outside the US? (14:10) What questions applicants should ask when researching MBA programs? (18:35) MBA rankings and other signals of quality (24:30) Who should apply to Full-time MBAs, Part-time MBAs and Executive MBAs (EMBA) (28:30) Understanding EMBA Admissions (34:50) Can leadership be taught? The importance of learning agility (38:45) How can MBAs demonstrate leadership skills to employers? (46:40) About Our Guest Steven DeKrey is Senior Advisor and Professor Emeritus at HKUST Business School. He 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. He served on the EQUIS accreditation board and AACSB's Asia-Pacific board, and today, teaches graduate students and executive training programs in leadership, corporate governance and board member development. Steven has written over 15 cases for the Thompson Case Center, 9 of which have been published by Harvard Business School Publishing. Before starting his career in business education, Steven worked as a School & Sports Psychologist in Iowa. He got his PhD in School & Sports Psychology from the University of Iowa and his MBA from Northwestern Kellogg. Show Notes Follow Professor Steven DeKrey on LinkedIn HKUST MBA Kellogg-HKUST EMBA Tiger, Peacock, Owl, Koala - Which Kind of Leader Are You? MBA Application Resources Get free school selection help at Touch MBA Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs Get the Admissions Edge Course: Proven Techniques for Admission to Top Business Schools Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

What should you do if you have 10+ years of working experience but are looking for an MBA-type experience to build your skills and network? Richard Campbell, Founder and CEO of 10Adventures, joins the show to discuss his experience with three mid-career MBA alternatives: Harvard Business School's Program for Leadership Development (HBS PLD), London Business School's Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy (LBS Sloan Masters), and 500 Global's Accelerator program. Listen on to learn more about the learning experience, alumni networks and benefits of attending each of these programs! Topics Introduction (0:00) Richard's career arc before business school (4:40) Harvard Business School Program for Leadership Development (8:40) The London Business School Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy (22:45) 10 Adventures and the 500 Global Accelerator Program (48:00) Richard' advice for entrepreneurs considering mid-career MBA alternatives (59:00) About Our Guest Richard Campbell is Founder and CEO of 10Adventures, which helps people book personalized, active vacations worldwide. Before 10Adventures, Richard worked as COO of Vista Projects, an industrial engineering firm that helps clients navigate the digital transformation of their operations. Richard got his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary; after ten years growing Vista Projects, he took Harvard Business School's Program for Leadership Development and then completed London Business School's Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy. In 2023, he joined 500 Global's Accelerator program in Calgary, where he currently resides. Richard also hosts the 10Adventures Podcast and serves on the Board of Directors for The Alpine Club of Canada. Show Notes Richard Campbell on LinkedIn 10Adventures Harvard Business School Program for Leadership Development The LBS Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy 500 Global Richard's Review of HBS LDP program Richard's Review of the LBS Sloan Masters program Richard's Review of 500 Global's Alberta Accelerator John Kotter's 8-Step Change Model from Leading Change Verne Harnish's Scaling Up Platform How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christenson Dan Cable Obviously Awesome: How to Nail Product Positioning so Customers Get It, Buy It, Love It by April Dunford Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com Learn proven strategies to get into top-ranked MBA programs and optimize every part of your application through Touch MBA's Admissions Edge Course. See resumes, essays and case-studies of admitted MBAs. Save thousands of dollars on consulting fees: https://go.touchmba.com/edge 

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. Listen on to learn what makes getting an MBA at GLOBIS - and in Tokyo - unique. Topics Introduction to GLOBIS and Tomoya Nakamura (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the GLOBIS MBA Unique? (6:30) GLOBIS MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (33:30) Career Opportunities after GLOBIS - What to Know & How to Prepare (55:00) About Our Guest Tomoya Nakamura is President of GLOBIS USA. Tomoya started his professional career at Marubeni Corporation, reorganized an investment company at Advantage Partners (a buyout VC firm), and was the Senior Managing Director of Sun-Life Corporation. He served as Dean of the English MBA Programs at GLOBIS University while also starting the GLOBIS global training business and continues to serve as the main facilitator for various corporate clients. He primarily lectures on leadership, kokorozashi, and globalization. Tomoya graduated from the Hitotsubashi University with a Bachelors in Social Studies before getting his MBA from Harvard Business School. Show Notes GLOBIS Full-time MBA Free Online President's Seminar: Leveraging Japan’s No.1 MBA to the World’s No.1 MBA with AI & Technovate, Mr. Yoshito Hori, March 12, 2024 (6:30pm-7:30pm PST) Schedule a personal consultation with GLOBIS MBA admissions advisors Touch MBA's Summary of the GLOBIS Full-time MBA:  https://touchmba.com/globis-mba-program-admissions-interview-tomoya-nakamura/ Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com

Darren shares more hard-earned application lessons from four listeners (now graduated MBAs): drawing a roadmap for the admissions team, prioritizing conversations when picking schools, "prematurely applying" and being strategic yet flexible Want to share your hard-earned application lessons? Contact us at https://touchmba.com/contact Topics Introduction (0:00) Tips for the Untraditional Applicant - Kate, Texas McCombs MBA (2:30) Rankings Don't Matter. Go Where You'll Find the Conversations You Want to Have - Eileen, Oxford Said MBA (10:00) Five Things I Learned When I Applied to Business School - Anonymous, NYU Stern Tech MBA (13:50) Be Strategic, Yet Adaptable - Jasper, McMaster DeGroote MBA (20:15) Show Notes My Application Journey - Touch MBA Listeners Share Hard-Earned Lessons Share Your Journey and Lessons Learned Surprise, I’m Going to Business School! (tips for the untraditional applicant) by Kate Galloway, Texas McCombs MBA '20 Rankings Don’t Matter. Go Where You’ll Find the Conversations You Want to Have by Eileen Chen, Oxford Said MBA '19 Five Things I Learned When I Applied to Business School by Anonymous NYU Stern Tech MBA ’22 The Key to MBA Success? Be Strategic, Yet Adaptable by Jasper Isip, McMaster DeGroote MBA Jasper Isip '23 PESTLE Analysis Touch MBA's Admissions Edge Online Course Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com

How are top business schools using the GMAT Focus exam, which will replace the GMAT in January 2024? What do you need to score and on which sections? Do schools prefer the GMAT, GMAT Focus, or GRE? Darren asks Admissions Directors from two top schools – Toronto Rotman (#1 in Canada by the Financial Times) and IESE (#1 in Spain by the Financial Times) – tough questions about the GMAT Focus test and GRE. Listen on to get your GMAT Focus questions answered and to understand how top b-schools use standardized test scores when making admissions decisions. Topics Introduction (0:00) Toronto Rotman MBA - Agnes Mak (4:20) IESE MBA - Tomofumi Nishida (30:20) About Our Guests Agnes Mak is the Assistant Director, Recruitment & Admissions managing the East Asia region for the Full-Time MBA program at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. She has over 20 years of professional experience in higher education and business advisory. Prior to joining the University of Toronto, she was a Partner at KPMG Canada and held numerous leadership roles to attract and promote international talent. Tomofumi Nishida is Deputy Director (Asia, MBA Admissions) for IESE Business School, where he has been since 2016. Prior to IESE, Tomo worked for NTT DOCOMO as a strategic investment analyst and account manager in corporate sales. Tomo got his B.A. in Occidental History from the University of Tokyo and MBA from IESE. Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com

Professor 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, where he has worked for over 7 years. His research interests include financial reporting quality, corporate governance, entrepreneurship and private equity. Before coming to CUHK, he taught and researched at Insead and Northwestern Kellogg Professor Wan earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Imperial College and later received his Doctor of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. Prior to obtaining his doctoral degree, he worked at KPMG in London, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Hong Kong and then as an equity analyst with ABN AMRO Bank in Hong Kong, covering software and information technology. Show Notes CUHK Full-time MBA Touch MBA Episode write-up and overview of the CUHK Full-time MBA:  https://touchmba.com/chinese-university-of-hong-kong-cuhk-mba-program-admissions-interview-wan-wongsunwai Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com

"We pride ourselves in being at the center of business and technology... We've asked employers, 'How would you describe our students?' and most often the words we get back are 'humble, hardworking and good problem solvers.' I think that's fantastic and that's how I would describe our students as well." Dr. Jonathan Clarke, Interim Dean at Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business, discusses what makes the Scheller MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more. Topics Introduction (0:00) Program Highlights - What Makes the Georgia Tech Scheller MBA Unique? (4:00) Scheller MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (17:20) Career Opportunities after Georgia Tech Scheller - What to Know & How to Prepare (32:20) About Jonathan Jonathan Clarke is Interim Dean and Associate Professor of Finance at Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business. From 2012-2018, Dr. Clarke served as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs, where he helped raise the school's profile. Dr. Clarke was named to the Poets and Quants 2018 list of Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors, and also voted the 2009 and 2013 MBA Core Professor of the Year. He has taught custom programs for NCR, Clorox, Georgia Pacific, Lockheed Martin, and the National Football League. Dr. Clarke is on the board of the Eastern Finance Association, on the editorial board of The Financial Review, and edits the Handbook of Modern Finance. Dr. Clarke received his PhD from the Katz Graduate School of Business and the University of Pittsburgh and his undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Economics from Indiana University in Bloomington. Show Notes Georgia Tech Scheller Full-time MBA Program Tech Square Atlanta Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) - Georgia's technology business incubator Episode write-up and snapshot/stats of the Georgia Tech Scheller MBA: https://touchmba.com/georgia-tech-scheller-mba-program-admissions-interview-jonathan-clarke/ Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com