Ms. Amazon

• 770 (Q50/V46/IR8/AWA9)
• Highest pass, first class with distinction
• Undergraduate degree in accounting from one of the top five Indian universities
• Work experience includes four years with an Indian consumer packaged goods company in their finance cadre, currently in a senior mid-management role with the Indian operations of the largest e-commerce company in the world
• “The company is a feeder: one to two guys go to HBS every year, but they aren’t accountants like me. They’re engineers from IIT”
• Also worked for a year in FP&A at another Indian FMCG; since June in a senior mid-management role with the Indian operations of the largest e-commerce company in the world
• Fluent in five languages
• Extracurricular involvement as a volunteer tutor and pro-bono accounting services for a children’s NGO and editorship of the college magazine
• Goal: To do corporate strategy at a CPG company and eventually lead strategy at a CPG firm
• Essay focussed on creative problem solving at work and in extracurricular endeavors including some anecdotes about working in remote factories as the only female manager.
• Recommendations from former supervisor at company 1 & professional mentor at company 2
• 28-year-old Indian female

Sandy’s Analysis: This kinda says it all: “4 Years with an Indian CPG Giant in their finance cadre. The company is a feeder – 1-2 guys go to HBS every year, but they aren’t accountants like me, they’re engineers from IIT.”

The number of non-IIT Indians at HBS would be an interesting number, and on top of that, accounting is is tough feeder industry.

“1 year in FP&A at another Indian FMCG Co. ” That is more eye-glazing viz. FP&A.

“Currently in a senior mid-management role with the Indian operations of THE largest e-commerce company in the world (US Based e-com giant).”

Sounds like a Prime job and that might have helped save you, but it didn’t. There’s just too much baggage. And how long have you had that job? We are also getting in to too many jobs issue.

“Essay was focussed on creative problem solving at work and in extra curricular endeavors including some anecdotes about working in remote factories as the only female manager.”

Sounds fine but I think you’ve had too many jobs. There is lots to like, but too many jobs were hybrid operations and back office stuff. There is nothing super solid an adcom can sink into.

As you seem to be aware. That could be a big negative since you are emerged from a crowded cohort. Start-up experience is good but same thing about hybrid roles.