Karen Hamou

When I began my search for an MBA consultant, I met with three different consultants. However, the moment my conversation with Karen ended, I knew she was the right choice for me. She immediately made it clear that this process was not just about gaining admission to an MBA program, but also about personal growth. She asked challenging questions to bring out the best in me throughout the process.

Applying for an MBA is an emotional roller-coaster, and Karen was there for me every step of the way, dedicating countless hours to guide and support me. Her deep knowledge of various MBA programs and her expertise in tailoring my applications and interview strategies helped me receive offers from multiple top-tier programs and ultimately choose the best fit for me.

Even after I accepted an offer, Karen continued to support me with decisions regarding my MBA studies.

Choosing to work with Karen was the best decision I made in this journey. She is an expert in her field, 100% dedicated, and she makes you feel like you are her only client. I have no doubt that we will stay in touch and that I will continue to seek her advice throughout my MBA experience.

I worked with Karen on my MBA applications and by the end she felt more like a mentor and life coach, rather than just an MBA consultant. Her ability to listen to my entire life story & experiences and help me craft a narrative that felt authentic and compelling was the highlight. From there we were able to have a clear vision going into my essays that made the writing process much easier. Her edits helped my writing come to life and ensure that I didn’t lose any meaning while trying to stay within the character limits.

There was no limit to how many times I could call/email Karen and she is incredibly responsive and patient, ensuring that you feel confident in everything you’re submitting to business schools. Her knowledge about the different schools and application process also felt relevant and up-to-date.

If you’re unsure about the price tag of hiring a consultant, I would encourage you to think about the merit based scholarship packages available to the strongest applicants. For me, the money I invested in working with Karen completely paid off in the funding I received from business schools. Highly recommend working with Karen!

My journey to securing an MBA spot at Cornell wouldn’t have been possible without Karen’s exceptional guidance. I initially felt overwhelmed by the application process, but Karen’s expertise was a game-changer.
She possessed a remarkable ability to grasp the intricacies of crafting compelling essays. Her keen eye for detail ensured every sentence resonated with my unique experience and future aspirations. Beyond the essays, Karen built my entire application and highlighted my strengths in the most impactful way.
However, her influence extended far beyond the application itself. Karen served as a true mentor throughout the process. Her insightful discussions helped me refine my long-term goals and gain a clear vision for my future career path.
If you’re seeking an advisor who not only masters the application nuances but also invests in your personal and professional development, Karen is your answer. Her exceptional talent and dedication are truly unmatched.

From the moment I had the initial consultation with Karen, I felt confident that with her, I would achieve my goals. Karen’s guidance extended far beyond my MBA application. She understood my thoughts even before I voiced them and encompassed a holistic view of my career and life goals. Karen masterfully shaped my MBA application, transforming the journey into an extraordinary experience from day one. She devoted countless hours to helping me clarify my goals and motivations for pursuing an MBA, even before we tackled the application itself. Karen’s deep understanding of the intricacies of MBA admissions significantly strengthened my application. She mentored me on how to reflect on my experiences and helped me connect the dots, planning my journey ahead. After receiving admission from three top schools, she was instrumental in helping me make my final decision. Even now, almost a year later, she continues to support me as I prepare for school.

I wholeheartedly recommend Karen to anyone navigating the MBA admissions process. Her dedication, expertise, and commitment to bringing out the best in me deepened my understanding of my journey and aspirations. Karen is truly amazing, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with her, and I am confident she will continue to be a vital part of my journey ahead.

She has been a great help during the whole application process, from constantly reviewing my essays and CV with amazing feedback to guiding me in story building and interview prep, you name it. She believed in me more than I did, strengthening my resolve. My experience has been nothing short of fantastic, and her constant support led me to get admitted from GSB(both MBA and MSx) HBS; and I am very grateful to her for all her help in making this possible.

Karen was amazing throughout the application process. I knew she was the right fit for me from our first conversation together. She was always quick to answer questions and was available whenever I felt the need for a video call. I don’t think there are many consultants out there that give their clients the same level of attention that Karen does. She constantly provided me with extremely detailed feedback. Karen helped me highlight important parts of my story that strengthened my overall application. She was great at improving my confidence throughout the application process; particularly, during the interview phase. Our mock interviews and her feedback helped me navigate the real interviews with confidence. I was also impressed by her detailed knowledge of all aspects of the application process. There wasn’t a single question about the overall process that she couldn’t answer. Her feedback was always extremely detailed. She was also great at keeping me on track whenever I fell behind our timeline, and provided honest feedback. I think Karen is the best choice for whoever is considering hiring a consultant and I am extremely happy that I was able to work with her.

Karen has been an invaluable partner throughout my MBA application journey. I began working with her a year before submitting my Round 2 applications, and from the start, her approach stood out. She has a unique ability to elevate the creative quality of your written materials while also providing steadfast accountability throughout the process. Working with Karen, I consistently felt supported by the best in the field.

Karen’s guidance was comprehensive and strategic. She expertly outlined the process, milestones, and key factors to manage at each stage, ensuring I stayed on track and focused on the right priorities. Her hands-on approach instilled confidence in me, knowing that I was making informed decisions at every step.

Where Karen truly excels is in helping you uncover and articulate your unique value proposition. Together, we crafted application materials, particularly the essays, that effectively communicated my story to admissions committees. Thanks to her insights, I entered every interaction, whether networking or interviews, armed with a clear understanding of my strengths and a heightened sense of confidence.

By the end of the process, I had secured offers from multiple M7 programs and received a full-tuition fellowship from a T10 school, which I ultimately accepted. I am incredibly grateful to Karen for her unwavering support and expertise throughout this journey.

Thank you for everything, Karen!

I started working with Karen about 5 months before applying. I was very nervous about the entire process since I had a sub-3.0 GPA and below average GMAT scores to all the schools I was applying to. Karen was quick to boost my confidence and tell me that I would get into a top program even when other consultants told me I would not get into a top program. She then helped me come up with a very compelling story, wrapping my family background, work experience, and goals in a way that showed a logical progression towards my MBA journey. I don’t think I could have come up with the same story if it wasn’t for Karen. After the story was in place, Karen helped me craft my essays for R1 decision. Even with a significant time zone difference, she always made time to meet, including during the weekend, to accommodate me. I decided to apply to the most selective schools on R1 but was not able to get any admissions. After R1 results, Karen kept reaching out to help me change my strategy for R2 even though the school package I bought was only for R1 applications. She shared my story with her colleagues and had a Fortuna Director help me with my essays and interview prep. I was ultimately admitted to Tuck in R2 and even got invited to interviewed at other M7 schools. I really enjoyed my time working with Karen and I would 100% recommend her. Try out a consultation with her, in my case after the initial 30-min chat I knew I wanted to work with her because she was very sharp and personable.

I had the opportunity to work with Karen for my MBA applications and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for this process! From the very first meeting, I knew that Karen was going to be the best person to work with for my applications. I had spoken to a couple of other highly rated advisors, but unlike other consultants, Karen made me feel confident about applying to M7 schools even with a lower than average GMAT score from the very beginning. Karen brought out confidence in me and with the help of her expertise and insights, I was able to get into M7 schools. She helped me through the entire process, to present myself in the best way possible, and bring my personality out, supporting me every step of the way with any question I doubt I had. Karen always made herself available, even at last-minute requests, and always had a positive, encouraging and kind attitude.

I was lucky to have her throughout the process, and I could not recommend her enough!

Karen didn’t just help me with my application; she helped me shine through her incredible storytelling and essay ideas. These didn’t just get me into M7 schools—they also helped me understand my career path before and envision my goals after the MBA. Even without hitting the 700 GMAT score, Karen brought my personality to life in my applications and supported me whenever I felt overwhelmed or doubted my chances because of my GMAT score. Her warm mentorship throughout the process really clarified which schools were right for me and where I could thrive.

Karen was there for me anytime, anywhere, and I genuinely believe I’ve made a friend for life. Her kindness, honesty, and straightforward approach, always accompanied by a smile and positive energy, made my application journey rewarding. I’m so grateful to her because I got into my dream M7 school and even snagged a scholarship!

Choosing Karen was the best decision of my entire application journey, and I’m thrilled to have gotten to know her!

I cannot recommend Karen enough. She was with me every step of the way, giving me personalized attention and never making me feel like a number (or just another client). Karen was my cheerleader, helping me craft a compelling story that helped me get into my top-choice school, despite being below the median scores. Her patience and thoughtfulness were evident throughout the entire process. She truly listens and provided invaluable support, especially during the most overwhelming moments. Karen is also extremely honest, which I really respected, and needed throughout the process. I am not saying this to just say it, but hiring Karen was the best decision I made. For anyone seeking a consultant, I wholeheartedly recommend her.

I could not recommend Karen more to prospective clients. I was committed to applying but was not sure where to start with my story. While I needed to reflect myself, Karen asked very thoughtful and pointed questions and was able to draw a story out of me, highlighting unique experiences and pulling them together into a cohesive message. Beyond working on application materials, I found Karen’s knowledge of the admissions process and behind the scenes insights incredibly helpful in navigating the admissions process over the long run. Karen is invested in her clients and I don’t want to think about what my outcomes would have looked like without her partnership.

The moment I met with Karen it was clear that she was the right person to work with. I felt she understood who I was and how we could translate my unique story into a successful application.

From that moment we started working together her creativity and expertise were extremely evident. She was crucial in every step of the process and I am extremely thankful for all her hard work and dedication. Anyone going through the MBA application process would be lucky to have her at their side. Not only is she an amazing consultant but also an extremely kind and caring person.

Working with Karen was a transformative and critically important experience during the grueling MBA application process. Her deep expertise and extensive knowledge of business school and application strategies were evident from the start.

Karen has an incredible eye for spotting the common threads in someone’s story that make them unique. Her years of experience helping craft a story that highlights the best in each applicant is evident. She has a natural talent for supporting and encouraging the people she works with throughout the process.

Karen not only provided me with the tools and insights to understand what schools are looking for but also helped me tell a coherent and compelling story that connected the dots in my life. Her encouraging, gentle accountability kept me on track, and her empathetic support from start to end was instrumental in boosting my confidence throughout this challenging journey.

I can’t imagine having gone through this whole process without Karen, and I am immensely grateful for her guidance and highly recommend her services to anyone aiming for success in their MBA applications.

I started working with Karen 4 months prior to R1 applications and she was able to guide me through 8 applications! Her ability to help craft a unique story for each school based on my life experiences and goals is second to none. Prior to this process I was unclear how my experience would showcase my strengths but Karen was able to listen to my story an help my pull out the meaningful information.

With her help I was accepted into multiple M7 schools including a scholarship that I would never have thought possible before. She encouraged me to set my sights high and not settle for less than I deserve. She made me feel comfortable writing about myself, something I was not good at before, and she allowed my ideas to flourish without shooting them down.

Karen was extremely easy to talk to, which made it easy to listen to her feedback because I trusted her. She was committed to working hard for me which only made me want to craft the best application I could even more. She was always available to talk through my essays or any application questions I had and I never felt that her focus was elsewhere. We went through at least 50 versions of my essays and short answers combined where each iteration showcased my qualifications even more.

Karen has helped me realize my future career goals where I was unsure before. I feel confident in expressing my career interests and am ready to take the next step now with my MBA. Without her help I would never be in the position to be choosing my school from multiple options and I would recommend her to anyone in a heartbeat.

Working with Karen was an utterly amazing and rewarding experience – it exceeded expectations in every aspect!

I had an incredible time working with her. As a non-traditional applicant, Karen was incredibly insightful in figuring out how to ‘translate’ my experiences to the business world to create a stand-out application. She is a talented story-teller and strategist, helping weave together various aspects of your profile and her work ethic is second-to-none. What I appreciated most was how encouraging, honest and straightforward she was throughout the process, especially during stressful times! She challenges you to think differently and to be open-minded, acting not just as an MBA consultant but also as a career coach, mentor and advocate. Her warm and easy-going nature puts you at ease and allows you to open-up and really dig deep into your motivations and experiences – This is vital during the application process in creating your unique voice and a compelling profile.

She was there with me every step of the way and always went above and beyond to support me – from going through questions to ask at admission events even before starting on applications, working through numerous versions of essays, mock interviews, all the way to debriefing after interviews and helping to decide between schools once offers came through. She was super responsive and always available to answer any questions – even when deadlines were fast approaching.
Her years of experience and incredible depth of knowledge about business school applications allows her to be your best guide.

In the end, I received offers from the top M7 schools and will be going to H/S this year!

Last but not least, Karen truly cares and believes in you and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her!

I started working with Karen about 7-8 months before applying. Fortuna’s comprehensive coaching process was amazing. After filling a detailed form with a lot of information about my personal life and career, Karen was able to put together my applicant story. She made me realise things about my life that I had never put together! We worked on various write ups and she gave me incredible advice to approach the conversations with my managers in order to get the best possible recommendation from them. For each of the four schools we worked on together, she gave me school specific advice. The applicant story for HBS, CBS, WBS and Booth was unique each time.

Expect perfection. I believe we reached about 15 versions for some of the school essays. I wrote / deleted / re-wrote countless times some paragraphs. Although when I applied I had two years of work experience, both for my essays and recommendations had amazing leadership focus, more than I could have believe possible. My top goal was CBS. Karen’s expertise with the school is felt throughout the process. From the school specific activities to what the Adcom expects during the interview. I am incredibly thankful to her for all the effort! truly one of a kind consultant! I recommended her/Fortuna to two other friends starting their MBA journey and will continue to do so.

Karen was wonderful not just as an admissions consultant, but as a life coach and cheerleader. Choosing Karen was the single best decision I could have made in my application process, and I would not hesitate to work with her again. With Karen’s help, I got into two of H/S/W and many other M7 programs with full or nearly full scholarships (including my top choice!). I can’t recommend her highly enough!

Karen was an invaluable voice as I navigated the process and helped piece together how to best let my authentic self come through in the different elements of the application. She was exceptionally supportive, bright, and thoughtful in strategically helping me emphasize my strengths, and knew just when we needed to shift directions or dive deeper. She went above and beyond what I could have expected and genuinely cared about me as a person – not just as an applicant – and finding the best next step for me and my career.

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about her and would choose her again in a heartbeat. She is much more than an admissions coach; you cannot do better.

Interestingly enough, I found Karen originally because my brother had worked with her when he applied / was admitted into his target M7 business school two years ago. After working with her myself this past year, I can confirm she was the best consultant / life coach I could have asked for. With her help, I was admitted R1 into HBS, Wharton and waitlisted at GSB—a result that I truly did not believe I would achieve as I had concerns about my GMAT score, competition from others in my field, etc. From taking the time to really get to know my own individual voice and story to providing me sage advice on selection of recommenders to retaking the GMAT or not, Karen made what is a stressful process almost enjoyable as I got to really reflect more deeply on my career aspirations and sense of self both professionally and personally. I simply cannot recommend Karen more highly and think for those who wish to put their best foot forward during this highly competitive process, Karen is worth every penny. Not to mention, she is also just a very kind and genuine person. I loved how we were able to bond over shared professional experiences and she helped me to bring that to life in my application.

Karen was amazing through the whole process and while she did help me gain admission to an M7 school she also helped prepare for a lot of aspects after business school. Extremely reliable and excellent communicator even amongst major life changes. I’ve already recommended Karen to my friend applying next year.

Karen truly exceeded my expectations, and I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the outstanding support and guidance I received from Karen during my MBA application process. I do not believe I would have been able to get my multi-school admittances without her!

Karen is truly an expert regarding the MBA admission landscape as she helped me craft a competitive application with my non-traditional background and experience. Karen’s attention to detail, innovative way of thinking, honesty, and thoughtfulness sets her apart. She truly wants the best for her clients!

I wholeheartedly recommend Karen to anyone seeking assistance with their MBA application journey – you won’t regret it. Thank you again!

One of my coworkers worked with Karen and recommended her to me. I feel incredibly lucky that I had the sense to take the recommendation and begin working with Karen. My job is time consuming and I only have limited time outside of work to spend on my application, and Karen’s guidance made it possible for me to work on my applications efficiently, while helping me represent myself as well as possible in the applications process.
From the start, Karen was an incredible source of knowledge in the applications process. She analyzed my resume and my background and suggested ways that I could take my disparate experiences and mold them into a cohesive and logical story. We worked together on revamping my resume to make it more friendly to the applications process, allowing it to showcase both my professional achievements and a bit of who I was outside of work.
Furthermore, Karen was incredibly diligent in helping me work through my essays. We would constantly come up with new essay ideas and look for every potential improvement that we could make, and by the end of the applications process, between the 5 schools I applied to, we had iterated through more than 100 draft essays!
Karen continued to work with me through the interview process, and helped me understand what the interviewers were looking for, and what I should be prepared to discuss. She was always available to jump on the phone, and we ran through a mock interview together and brainstormed how to approach Wharton’s team based discussion process. Thanks to Karen’s help, I felt confident going into each interview and never felt like there was a question I did not know how to address.
In summary, Karen provided structure to my applications process, put an incredible amount of time and effort into helping me, and enabled me to showcase my strengths as well as I could in the admissions process. I would strongly recommend working with Karen if you want the best results possible from your business school applications.

Karen spent hours with me discussing my story and how to weave all the pieces together. She found ways to help me bring in seemingly disparate experiences I’d had under umbrella themes that gave me fodder for my essays, long and short. Ideating and working with Karen made the daunting process enjoyable, which I never thought I’d be able to say! We spent time getting to know each other and connecting which allowed Karen to help me tell my story and give me honest feedback when I needed it. Karen is so genuine, talented, and brilliant at what she does. I have told all of my friends to use Karen’s services when they apply for MBAs, PhDs, and JDs in the future, and I hope Karen can help coach me throughout my career.

One of my friends had used Karen the year before I started my MBA apps, and recommended her to me. Looking back, taking that recommendation and hiring Karen was the single best choice I made through the entire MBA application process. A few key points about my experience with Karen:

1.) Karen is extremely skilled at helping you craft your story. I was unsure that my story would be particularly compelling to the admissions committee, and didn’t know how to approach my essays. Karen took time to really get to know me and understand my background, and helped me write a story that was logical, memorable, and a great presentation of who I really am. I started out feeling like my essays and my personal story could be a weak spot in my application, and by the time we had finished them I felt the total opposite, that they were the strength of my application.

2.) Karen is an absolute professional. She is always quick to respond, thorough, and willing to help with any question that I had (I had many). Her calendar is available to you as a client and you can enlist her help with anything that comes up, which is an invaluable resource. She is also with you every step of the way, including comprehensive interview prep after the applications are submitted.

3.) Lastly, Karen is a great person and a pleasure to work with. I had a lot of fun brainstorming and bouncing ideas off of her on our many zoom calls. You can tell she takes great pride in her work and truly enjoys helping people reach their dreams of attending a top business school.

If you are considering applying to MBA programs, hiring Karen is the best choice you could make. I knew next to nothing when I started the process and was totally rudderless, but Karen got me on track and helped me create an application that was better than I’d ever imagined it could be. If your goal is attending a top business school, hiring Karen is the best investment you can make.

When I had my initial consultation with Karen, the last thing I expected her to say was that the thought I was a strong candidate for an M7 MBA. Through our conversations, she was able to find turning points in my life – things I never thought would ever be interesting to an MBA admissions committee – and together we were able to weave them into a story that combined my background, my passions and my work to provide a complete image of me as a candidate.
A great follow-on effect of working with Karen is that while I was waiting for admit decisions I became a more attractive candidate in the job market as well thanks to having a more refined pitch.
In the end, I was admitted to one of H/S/W and an M7 program, and none of it would have been possible if I hadn’t worked with Karen!

I was accepted into a T14 law school and was debating whether or not to apply to the joint degree program with the business school (a top-ranked school.) I contacted Karen three weeks before the deadline, debating whether or not it would be feasible for me to apply. I had somewhat of a nontraditional background and was unsure I’d get in, especially because the transfer program is highly competitive. However, within three weeks, Karen completely revamped my application. On an extremely tight schedule, we went through various rounds of edits. She made my resume business school-friendly, edited my essays to highlight the ways in which my skills could be applied to a business setting, and coached me on my interview. Karen was extremely detail-oriented, working through every single aspect of the application and helping me to craft a cohesive and compelling narrative that stayed true to myself while also signaling certain requirements to the admissions committee. I would not have gotten into the program without Karen’s help, and am so glad I reached out to her! I’m indebted!

Last year, I got into a law school with a strong business school program, and I knew that the endeavor would be 10x as valuable if I could win a spot in the small class of transfers into the JD-MBA program. I contacted Karen almost immediately after my acceptance, and we started right away working on a plan to get me into the JD-MBA program. The process included insightful brainstorming sessions, countless back-and-forth edits, resume construction, insightful interview prep, and invaluable moral support. Karen is not just a consultant, but a thought leader with vision who has her finger on the pulse of current B-School trends. The entire application was seamless, and I actually ended up learning a lot about myself in the process. Thanks to Karen, not only did I get into a top-3 B-School program, but I also developed a sharper sense of who I am and what my goals are. Thank you, Karen! Wishing you all the best!

I realized I wanted to get an MBA around March 2023 – very close to the end of the admission cycle. In finding Karen, she was one of the few people I talked to who believed in me rather than encouraging me to wait until next year. She was willing to help me this late and she committed so much time helping me brainstorm essays, guiding me through all the steps, and of course being very punctual and timely with her edits. Going in, I felt overwhelmed with how I’d craft a great story given I had just been laid off but Karen eased those concerns in a way that added to my career arc. Karen is awesome at extracting every single detail in your story in a thoughtful way and then shaping them into a narrative that works.

Although it didn’t work out with the two schools I originally applied to in R3, she quickly helped me devise a strategy to take advantage of the next round’s J-term cycle. With a little tweaking in my application and intensive interview prep that Karen provided, I was able to earn admission into a top MBA program.

I would 100% recommend Karen to any applicant who wants to go to his/her dream school. She is invested in your success from Day 1, understands every aspect of the process and can provide valuable tips/tricks, and most importantly guides you into becoming the best version of yourself.

With a GMAT score below my target schools’ averages, I knew that taking the extra step to work with an MBA consultant was crucial to put my best foot forward. Karen was willing to take on my somewhat risky approach to business school applications: applying to only two M7 schools, with no safety school, all in R2. Karen worked with me meticulously on all aspects of my applications, and instilled confidence in my candidacy. Her resume critiques and essay advice led to two compelling applications. I truly believe that her essay topic choices and edits were the deciding factors for the schools I applied to, and without her consultation I would’ve had a lesser likelihood to be accepted to both Kellogg and Booth.

Karen was always available to chat and sent timely responses for any offline questions. I would recommend her to anyone seeking the advice of an MBA consultant because I genuinely think she is the best at what she does.

I connected with Karen with limited time (~1 month) before application due dates, and it was amazing how helpful she proved to be. In no time she was invested in me and my applications and helped reconstruct resumes and essays that best told my story. I’m thankful she made time to help me with the applications, and I would recommend her to anyone going through any and all steps of application the process. The value she brings is proven – helping me get into my M7 school.

I held below median scores for both my GMAT and GPA and felt the very best schools were out of reach… with Karen’s help, she helped me crack interviews with all of the top business schools and admission to my dream program, Harvard Business School!

The MBA application looked how I imagine Mt. Everest would from Basecamp: daunting and formidable. On day 1 with Karen in my corner, these fears evaporated overnight; I knew we were going to produce an application that reflected the very best version of myself.

She is an expert coach and extremely knowledgeable about every nuance of admissions. Karen was an incredible sounding board for my ideas and provided invaluable feedback on my essays. During times of frustration, Karen was always available to hop on a call and talk things through. I am confident the soul of my story would not have reached the page without her guidance.

However, Karen’s superpower as a consultant is her passion and unwavering commitment to your success. She will go into the trenches with you and help you fight the admission anxieties and the writer’s block demons, all the while being the lighthouse to get you to your dream school. I sincerely cannot recommend her services enough… it will be the best investment you ever made!

Working with Karen was an amazing experience. She was very insightful with her guidance and was always very helpful with her reviews and feedback. I had intended to pay for a few hours of high-level reviews, but after the first set of reviews, I knew I needed to get her insights on all of my applications. She helped present the best version of my story in the clearest term to all my schools. My confidence in applying to the schools dramatically improved by the time I was submitting my final applications given the level of guidance I had received from her. She was recommended to me by a friend that studied at Booth, I have been admitted to 2 M7 schools so far, including my dream school, and I am going to be recommending her, highly, to all my friends with an ambition to attend top MBA schools.

Karen made the application process as seamless as possible. I couldn’t be more impressed with the assistance and support she provided throughout the process. Whatever concerns I had, she was always available to answer my questions (almost immediately) and gave me the necessary guidance to navigate through the stress of the application process.

What stood out most about Karen was her professionalism and humanity. Sometimes I felt she was my therapist and coach in one. Whether it was reviewing documents or addressing last-minute changes, or having honest conversations about how to put my best foot forward, I loved having her on my team. Karen also brought a personal element to the table that helped me tell my authentic story and isolate what drove me to apply for an MBA.

Karen’s honesty and encouragement made the process so much smoother. She continually challenged me to put my best effort into the applications and was always ready with constructive feedback when I needed it. Without her support, I doubt I would have been able to achieve the level of success we achieved together.

Karen’s work ethic, promptness, and communication skills, coupled with her passion for her work and the sense that she really cared about my personal outcome, made for an experience I will never forget.

As a non-traditional applicant enthusiastic about pursuing an MBA degree at a top business school, I did not know to approach the goal and what my odds were like. During my research stage looking for an MBA consultant, I was told by one agency that I would not have any chances at any M7 schools, and even S16 schools are most likely impossible for me, for my background had nothing to do with business, I was on the older side of typical MBA candidates and was from one of the most competitive pools, and my GRE test score that did not reach 330 was way too low, etc.

Fortunately, I then reached out to Karen, who was referred to me by a Stanford GSB MBA graduate receiving his admission from Stanford with Karen’s help. During our first free 30-min consultation, Karen already strategically sorted out how my education, career path, and passion could contribute to an MBA classroom, and what a reasonable career path post-MBA for me was like. She also pointed out that my test score which was close enough to 330 was not low but competitive, and that I had good chances of getting admitted by schools that I desired to attend. That 30-min session with Karen was way more informative than what I got from speaking with other consultants. Not working in a high-paying industry, I did hesitate about the seemingly high cost of working with Karen, but I realized if I wanted the best result, I would have to work with Karen, and the value I got from working with Karen turned out to be much more than the fee.

I chose the Comprehensive and Premium School Package services and had a wonderful experience of exploring who I was and who I wanted to be with Karen. Along the way, Karen served not only as an MBA consultant, but also as a career, communication, and business writing coach; an interpreter and translator who converted my unique story into a language and style that are understandable to the target audience. She was genuinely interested in me and my story, and was always extremely responsive, supportive, and empathetic throughout this once-in-a-lifetime journey. What’s more, Karen brought out the best sides of me and nurtured them as an educator, supporter, and advocate. I ended up feeling confident on tasks that I was not comfortable with, such as writing concise essays, attending interviews, and many more.

Karen was highly professional, and strategic, and always responded quickly, meeting every need from me under the tightest deadlines we had. She made sure that my package was the strongest as it could be, went on many rounds of Zoom calls learning my story and revising my essays, and gave me the most helpful and constructive feedback at times that were needed. Without her help, I would not have succeeded in receiving admission with a scholarship from one M7 school, being waitlisted by another M7 school, receiving admission with a full scholarship from one S16 school, and being admitted by a couple more S16 schools. Knowing how competitive it was during the round that I applied to, I appreciate all schools that admit me and feel very thrilled about the results.

I couldn’t thank Karen enough for how much she helped with my MBA application and personal growth. I highly recommend her to anyone who aspires to attend their dream MBA school to unlock a life-changing experience of learning and growing with like-minded peers to make more positive impacts on the world.

Working with Karen not only maximizes your chances of getting admitted, but you would also become more ready for the challenges you would face in school. You really couldn’t go wrong with choosing Karen, regardless of your background. Book a free consultation with Karen, and you will know what I mean. Best of luck to all!

If I could give Karen 6 stars, I would. She was amazing each step of the way and gave insights into the application process that never would have crossed my mind. Her help started months before I even began my application and has continued even after I was accepted. Whether it was touching up my resume in May, helping me with the networking process in June, or guiding me through interview prep in August, she was always there making sure I was as prepared as I could be.

What stood out to me the most is that she is so easily able to find what makes you the most unique candidate you can be and does not let go of that, making sure any program knows that they would be lucky to have you. Anybody going through the MBA application process would be lucky to have her as a consultant.

Karen has got to be one of the best at what she does. I’ve worked with Karen for 5 years from my initial set of MBA applications to reapplications and admission to my top program – LBS.

Karen has this unique ability to find a little detail in your background or your initial questionnaire and create a very compelling personal and professional thread from that. For me, that was the hardest thing to do. We all have accomplishments, high test scores, strong recs, etc., but what makes you as an individual unique? Karen helped me surmise this and create a strong candidacy.

My initial set of applications resulted in 3 waitlists which as you can imagine was very frustrating. Karen provided guidance on engaging with the adcom and the institutions more broadly throughout this process. In the off years where I didn’t apply, I still kept in touch with Karen and asked for her feedback on my candidacy which she provided at no cost. She also connected me with some of her peers at Fortuna who were more specialized in certain M7 and international schools. Again, at no cost.

Fortuna has really supported a strong client-consultant relationship so don’t let the sticker price drive you away. Karen and everyone I worked with at Fortuna were incredibly helpful and great to work with – they aren’t just there to provide a service. The team is really good at what they do. Just read through the results below.

Karen especially was very capable throughout, providing insights on different institutions and creating threads from my background that aligned best with each one. As I said, I worked with Karen for over 5 years and I never asked to find someone else. I could tell she was the best and I was right.

I worked with Karen on my applications to business school in 2022, and she was an amazing resource. I truly could not have had the same results in this process without her. She guided me, and helped me to stay level-headed through the very stressful parts of this process. She also was instrumental in helping me to refine my story and my “brand” for my essays, resume, and interviews. I would not have been as sharp and articulate without her. I would recommend Karen to anyone who is applying to business school because I am sure that their results will benefit from having her on their team.

Karen was so incredibly helpful throughout the entire application process. From day one, helping me reflect on my past experiences, identify what was most meaningful to me, and then honestly look at what I wanted to do with my career, she asked the questions that empowered me to define a vision for my life and craft the story for business school. She was also able to see with clarity where my most unique and significant achievements and experiences were, not only enabling me to highlight those aspects of me but bolstering my confidence as I embarked on the daunting application process. She was also instrumental in allowing my voice to shine through in my essays so that my personality came through and my stories were powerful and engaging. Additionally, during the late stages of the round 1 process in August, when deadlines approached and the stress reached the highest levels, she was able to reassure me yet be realistic in the actionable steps I needed to complete and when I needed to do them by. All in all, she was critical in making the process as painless as possible and the end result was getting into my top choice M7 with a scholarship!

I interviewed 6+ consultants before deciding on Karen. Unlike multiple other individuals I spoke with, Karen was supportive and encouraging from day 1. Other consultants tried to make me feel like a candidate who had a very uncertain path to my dream school. Karen was encouraging and optimistic, but still honest about the unpredictability of M7 admissions, even for candidates with strong stats and backgrounds. When we began working together, Karen up-leveled each and every part of my application. From the resume to my recommender briefs, to my essays, Karen consistently pushed me to be not just good, but excellent. She was available whenever I needed her and went above and beyond for me; I really felt that she was invested in my success and my story. I highly recommend Karen to anyone looking for a consultant that will allow them to put their best foot forward to schools.

I had an amazing time working with Karen, she is incredibly knowledgeable about the entire application process and is great at finding what makes the candidate unique and finding the best strategy to amplify these details. It’s tough to say what was the biggest benefit of working with Karen, as she does so many things well. I felt like she walked me through the entire process and really helped me to perform the self-reflection needed to put forth a strong application. I would highly recommend anyone going through the MBA application process consider working with Karen.

I can’t say much beyond what’s already been said on this review board. Karen is absolutely the best in the business. Even before I got the positive news on admittance, I knew the value of what I was getting from our sessions and her input in the actual application deliverables.

No doubt having a cohesive and unique story across your application is critical to your getting admitted, and I think a prior reviewer said it best in that Karen spends so much time understanding who you are, what your story is, and how she can help refine the telling of that story so that it resonates with admissions. Even more true, she challenges you on your profile and encourages you to have an open mind about what makes you the most appealing and digestible applicant possible. She is equipped to do this well because she knows the schools and the process well.

I know for a near fact I would not have had the success in my application that I did without Karen. I picked her because of her reputation on the P&Q platform (and elsewhere), and I am happy to now be here on the other side able to contribute to her story!

Karen was the absolute best. She helped me cultivate a unique and compelling story for who I am and how I can contribute to each school’s application. She was always responsive and available for all my questions, and I could tell that she genuinely cared about my applications. With Karen’s help, I was admitted to the six schools I applied to with merit scholarships from four of the six. If you are looking for someone to help guide you through this rigorous process and get the results you desire, you should work with Karen.

I can’t recommend Karen highly enough. I give my experience with her an A+. She is warm and down to earth. Her passion for helping me was so clearly evident every time we had a session together. Perhaps Karen’s greatest strength is that she makes you think about your story from every angle and helps you craft the best version of yourself. I went into this process thinking I knew how I would respond to each school’s essay prompts, but Karen challenged me to take it multiple levels deeper – something that is essential to having the story stick and having admissions remember you. I got into four of the six schools I applied to, and I can confidently say I wouldn’t have had this success without Karen.

Coming into this process, I was semi-skeptical about using a consultant but upon my consultation with Karen, I distinctively felt she believed in me as a person and was going to be in my corner throughout this experience. She was sharp, thoughtful, and masterful at piecing together the many vignettes of one’s life into a beautiful canvas. When a personal family emergency arose, Karen was deeply empathetic and acted as a trusted advisor who reassured me of my situation, and we strategized for the Round 2 timeline. Every time we spoke live or exchanged emails, it was clear that Karen puts a ton of thought into my applications, coming in with recommendations and ideas to strengthen the materials. Our efforts proved successful when I got accepted to two of H/S/W and many other top programs–you will not regret working with Karen!!!

Karen was tremendous to work with—I could not be happier with my decision to partner with her. I truly believe each of us has a special story to tell, and Karen’s guidance in connecting the dots between past, present, and future took my applications to the next level. Additionally, Karen was extremely professional, caring, and honest, making me feel comfortable from the very beginning. In the end, I applied in R3 (she was transparent regarding the challenges I’d face) and received offers from two M7s. If you have the opportunity to work with Karen, do not pass it up!

I first found Karen through P&Q reviews, and there’s no question that she exceeded the high expectations that were set for her – so I wanted to add yet another positive review. Being a non-traditional candidate, I felt that Karen was critical in helping me position my experience and story. I also don’t have professional mentors who pursued their MBA, so Karen’s advice, expertise, and perspective was invaluable – I would be lost without her! With Karen’s help, I was admitted to Wharton (with merit), Kellogg (with merit), and CBS.

I also really appreciate that Karen is an excellent writer/editor. She provided suggestions for reducing my word count many times and has a great eye for storytelling. This was something I didn’t think about much when selecting an MBA coach, but I now realize how important this quality is. In addition, Karen doesn’t sugarcoat anything which I really appreciated. MBA admissions can feel like a black box sometimes, so having someone tell it like it is can be very refreshing. She is straightforward while also being encouraging. Lastly, Karen is a true coach and friend – she really cares about getting to know you and understanding where you come from and where you’re headed. We had many personal conversations and knowing she was on my team and supporting me made the process much more enjoyable and successful. I highly recommend working with Karen!

I would absolutely recommend Karen to anyone undertaking the MBA admissions process. She was an incredible partner throughout the process from start to finish. She is strategic, sharp, highly organized, and is exceptional at storytelling. She worked tirelessly with me for many months to craft a storyline that protected my own voice. She created an extremely structured and organized timeline to break down the process, making it feel much more manageable and less daunting. Working with her exceeded my expectations in so many ways – if it weren’t for her, I truly do not believe I would have been accepted to my dream school (Tuck).

Thank you, Karen!!

Best decision ever.
Karen genuinely cares about who you are as a person rather than just as an MBA applicant. This is the X factor that makes Karen so great! She guided me through a lot of introspection, which helped me articulate my life story in an authentic way. Also, her positivity and willingness to help you out in any way (even offered to provide feedback on a school that we weren’t working on together) really comes in clutch when you are going through the MBA application process because you feel like you always have someone in your corner.

Also, Karen truly is a professional. She responds to your questions quickly and provides feedback on your work in less than 12 hours. Any feedback that she gives is carefully thought out. She is always available to get on a call or email.

One last thing. While I was going through my MBA coach search, I had a difficult time believing all the reviews because they were all so positive. Now having worked with Karen, I can understand why they all are 5 stars!

I worked with Karen for almost a year for the 2021 intake application cycle. I would absolutely like to recommend her to MBA aspirants as she is great at what she does and is extremely supportive during the entire application process.

I started talking to Karen long before my GRE – she helped me understand what schools should I aim for, what is the score that would help me get there, and motivated me constantly throughout the stressful GRE process.

Over our numerous strategy calls, she was very patient and quick in understanding my journey and why I made certain decisions – she was very quick to understand several technicalities and nuances in my journey and would help distill my experiences and achievements into a structure that would be appreciated by the ADCOMs.

During the peak of the application cycle – she was extremely efficient and time-sensitive! She would provide her review comments and advice very quickly and I could highly depend on her for any last-minute questions or concerns. Her speed and drive even made me push myself to get a lot more done! I always felt that she was looking after my best interests and even often provided tips and guidance for schools outside my package.

Would 100% recommend working with her!

Although Karen typically works with students exclusively focused on MBA programs, she helped me get admitted to my top choice specialized MS program at Columbia University. Karen listens & works with you to accomplish your goals. She helped me completely revamp my resume, strategically craft my story for interviews and other networking calls, and lastly create an impactful personal statement that got me an admit and the large financial package at another program. She is extremely reliable and has an incredibly quick turnaround time for all of your application materials. Without a doubt I recommend her services & can’t wait to share her services with the rest of my friends and family! If you are looking for an MBA coach, Karen is that person. Thank you, Karen!!

Karen is such a fantastic coach – I cannot recommend her highly enough!! See below for key reasons why Karen is so fantastic. If you have the chance to work her, do not hesitate!!
1. Consistently shares the WHY (teaches you how to think – not what to think):
a. When I first spoke to Karen, I was on the fence about applying in the 2020-2021 cycle. She recommended that I apply now but I was still skeptical. It was the WHY (the context) she shared that ultimately led me to apply earlier than I originally had in mind.
b. When it came to writing my essays, she stopped me in my tracks when my initial idea was not up to par. She highlighted the ideas that had merit and pushed me to dig much deeper. There was about a month during which Karen continually challenged me to start from my scratch on my main story – when I finally came back with my final version, she confirmed that it was compelling and shared several ideas on how I could build on that theme across my application materials
2. Inspires you to go beyond your limits (takes your performance to the next level):
a. I had some pretty tough times with the GMAT. I was prepared to take it at one point but had to sideline it for months because of a religious commitment. When I took my first in-person test, I scored a bit below the score I wanted and I was crushed. When I IM’d and spoke with Karen, she provided an objective assessment of my score and also was a great sounding board as I thought of what I would do differently in my next attempt. I took the exam again two weeks later and got the score I needed to apply. I only knew that I didn’t need to take it a third time because of Karen’s advice. Karen reviewed my scores and confirmed that my GMAT + above-average GPA would not block me from receiving interviews at any of the HSW – she was right (received interview invites at all 3 in the same round + major merit-based scholarship).
b. Lastly, she pushed me to sharpen my communication during interview prep. I went in thinking I was prepared and left with so many ways I could improve beyond what I viewed as “great”. She met with me several times to practice the interview types across HSW and other schools – that timely support made a huge difference.
3. Really cares about seeing you succeed (helps you manage through the highs and lows of the process)
a. Karen was optimistic and supportive throughout the process. I got on numerous calls with her over the nearly 12 months that we worked together. Not many folks knew I was applying to business school and I didn’t have the luxury of applying through a program like MLT, so it made all the difference to have something in my corner whom I could always contact

While going through my early consultations with various consultants, Karen stood out to me because right off the bat in our phone call I felt like she was interested in MY story and how we could work on making it the most appealing to admissions. Many other consultations made me feel like they were just checking the box going through the conversation.

Ultimately, I ended up working with Karen and another consultant from Fortuna, with Karen overseeing the progress. I found her insight on our strategy calls very insightful and she helped me really find the parts of my application that made me stand out.

From the start, Karen was candid about addressing the challenging aspects of my application, including laying out a plan for how we would overcome these obstacles during the process. Her keen insight about what would be required to make a strong application and to be competitive was reassuring and boosted my confidence throughout an enormously competitive year (COVID cycle). Talking with her felt like speaking with a person who lived, breathed, and dreamed about the application process and understood what the adcom would be looking for in a student.

I initially connected with Karen during the late summer of 2020, while vetting various MBA consulting agencies. (Fortunately, I was paired with her during my free Fortuna evaluation, only a few weeks before she was named one of the top 7 consultants by Poets & Quants). During the consultant evaluation process, there were others who would not work with me because they didn’t think I could pull off admittance to a top program due to my limited quant background and OK quant score. Karen never wavered in her belief in my ability to gain admission into an M-7 program (during perhaps the most competitive cycle in history).
I am eager to attend Columbia in the fall and know that Karen played an instrumental role in my offer. She was pleasant to work with and I would recommend her to anyone who desires to enter a top program.

I can’t say enough great things about Karen! She was incredible to work with, and provided everything you could want in a coach, and much much more.

She was always there for me every step of the way and provided a wealth of experience and insight as I was progressing through the process.

She is an incredibly dedicated, capable, knowledgable, and empathetic person to work with.

I was thrilled to get admitted to an M7 school, and Karen’s insight and expertise took away the stress and made it a very enjoyable, reflective, and rewarding experience.

If you’re aspiring to gain admission into a top MBA program, I can’t imagine anything better than having Karen in your corner 🙂

I knew that I’d want to maximize my chances with my application to business school, so using a consultant was always my plan. But I had not expected the level of attentiveness, insight and open-mindedness that Karen would provide, and her methods helped me earn a massive scholarship at an M7 school. I credit Karen for not making assumptions about what her clients need from her nor what they should focus on in their applications. She takes the time to deeply understand your perspective and your story so that you can create the best application for you.

If I could back in time, I would have met Karen sooner! Coming out of an unsuccessful MBA application year, I decided to seek out help. I signed up for numerous introductory sessions with MBA consultants, but Karen stood out from the rest! From the start, Karen was proactive, attentive, and thoughtful. She took the time to understand my background and helped me put my best foot forward for my essays, resume, and interview prep. Most importantly, I never felt misguided or pushed, and because of this, Karen was someone I could trust. There’s so much more I want to say, but ultimately, Karen was a joy to work with, and I am happy to announce that I will be attending Wharton (my top choice) this August.

I do not think I would have gotten into both Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan without Karen’s help. I was very hesitant to use a consultant service and came to Karen very late in the process. I was fairly confident about the strength of my story and credentials but Karen truly took me to the next level as an applicant. From essays to resumes, every part of my application was elevated by Karen’s sharp and strategic reviews. Even her mock interview was incredibly rigorous and effective for my preparation.

Whether you need tactical help to get you over the edge or a full application roadmap, I strongly encourage you to work with Karen. She has an endless wealth of knowledge about the MBA process and is a pleasure to work with.

When I decided to apply to Wharton, Columbia, and Chicago Booth, I thought getting into any of these programs would be next to impossible for someone with my background. Now, after working with Karen for my Round 1 admissions-class of 2023-I have offers from both Wharton and Columbia in what was the most competitive app cycle in years. I still can’t believe it.

Throughout the application process, Karen was phenomenal and supportive, especially because I didn’t believe in my own candidacy. She did. Karen sharpened my resume, drew out my personal history and stories and had me tell them as clearly as possible in my essays. More, her understanding of what it takes to get into these top programs gave me a significant edge. This manifested in her relentlessness in ensuring that each draft of my essay and resume strengthened my candidacy and ensured that I stand out in the broader applicant pool.

Karen was also quite hands on with my interview prep for all three schools. I remember, she went to great lengths to ensure I was familiar with Wharton’s Team Based Discussion and organized a mock TBD just so I could get a feel for what to expect on interview day. With her guidance, I scaled all three interviews.

Honestly, what I am most sure of is that I likely wouldn’t have received any of these offers without her guidance. Thanks Karen.

It was an absolute pleasure working with Karen and the Fortuna Admissions team on my MBA applications. I had a phenomenal experience with the 3-school package and would highly recommend it to any prospective applicant.

Throughout the application process, Karen took the time to get to know me on a personal and professional level. She was very invested in my success from the get-go, taking the time to understand why I wanted to attend business school and to help me select appropriate reach and target programs. She always responded in a timely manner and consistently found ways to improve my candidacy.

Karen was a tremendous help during every stage of the application process. She helped me refine the content and format of my resume, prepare my recommendation requests, brainstorm essay ideas, proofread countless essay iterations, and prepare for interviews. Additionally, she was very resourceful, leveraging the expertise of her fellow coaches and directors to ensure my applications were competitive.

I’m not sure how I would have navigated this lengthy application process without her guidance. Thanks so much Karen! I am beyond excited to be attending one of my dream programs next year with a merit scholarship!

Karen was able to take my unique background and story and help craft it into a great narrative. She was extremely responsive and helpful, and went the extra mile to work with my schedule. She is extremely organized and would typically get me thorough feedback within a day. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone applying for an MBA; she was worth every penny. I got into my top choice (HSW) and had other options as well among the M7.

Coming into the MBA application process I had virtually no idea what to expect. I was quickly overwhelmed by the amount of information out there, so I made the decision to work with a consultant. Karen was one of the first consultants that I spoke with, but even after speaking with over ten others, I definitely felt the most comfortable with her. Deciding to work with Karen turned out to be one of the best decisions that I’ve made.

Karen has been there every step of the way, frequently going above and beyond to help me with every aspect of the application process. Karen’s insights and suggestions for my essays and overall narrative have been extremely helpful, as she’s really worked with me to craft a fluid and convincing story. Her feedback is extremely thorough and detailed, but she also never fails to view each individual piece of the application in the context of the broader picture. Beyond her help with the essays, Karen has been there to answer every question that I’ve had, no matter how trivial. I cannot emphasize enough how quickly she responds to my questions, and how amazing her overall work ethic is. Karen has been an incredibly effective guide throughout this stressful time, and has offered reassuring, but honest, advice each step of the way.

Karen is exceedingly organized, very personable and friendly, and great at crafting compelling stories. I cannot recommend her highly enough, as with her guidance and support I’ve been admitted to two of my top choices. I don’t know what it’s like to work with other consultants, but I can’t imagine finding a better one than Karen!

Karen was a phenomenal ally to have throughout the application process.

I connected with Karen relatively late (approx. 4 weeks before submission), after I had my story down and prelim essays already drafted.

However, I am so glad I reached out to Fortuna and Karen. My writing was very clinical and Karen’s insight/thoughts really helped me pull out my personality and inner voice to put onto the page. I think this really was the differentiating factor that helped my story pop.

Karen was great to work with. Even during the busy holiday season, she was able to get back to me with feedback or answer any questions often within a day.

After I got the interview invite, Karen helped me prep with a mock interview and was super patient with all of my at times neurotic questions. Ended up with an offer from CBS. Would highly recommend!

When I started my bschool application journey, I interviewed several consultants. Karen was the last one I interviewed, and she really stood out because she was so responsive in her communications (I was considering applying in the extended COVID round, and she and I had some long back and forths over email to figure out if it was the right move – before I had even signed with her!).

My main concern was that perhaps she was TOO nice. The other consultants tended to emphasize the weaknesses in my application (well, your quant score is only in the x percentile, so you should probably consider retaking after signing up for my GMAT tutorial service…..). Karen was positive from the getgo and told me straight up that whatever weaknesses there were in my application could be handled with the right story.

Karen and I went through multiple rounds of each bit of application material (and her being nice did not stop her from drilling down on my essays and resume). She is very patient and takes the time to help you with the little things, from ‘Do I sound too rehearsed in this video essay?’ to ‘which of these pictures should I include in my Columbia application?’ What is more, her positive attitude was extremely helpful throughout this anxiety-inducing process.

Ultimately, I received acceptances to Kellogg ($$$), Haas ($$) and Columbia! I am absolutely thrilled and know I could not have done it without her. I highly recommend Karen to anyone seeking a bschool consultant.

In early 2020, I spent weeks doing consultations with a handful of various consultants. Once I met Karen the decision was simple (the consultation was exponentially better than the others) and my experience could not have been any better. Karen was awesome to work with! Whether it was jumping on countless Zoom calls to answer questions, helping me craft a unique strategy around each school I applied to, or staying patient with me as I kept iterating on my essays, Karen was extremely helpful throughout (also, as mentioned in the other comments, Karen’s response time is off the charts). On paper I felt I would be competitive at most programs, but I wasn’t optimistic on my chances to get into any of the M7. Every time I felt discouraged, Karen was there pushing me along, genuinely believing in me, and building up my confidence. I ended up submitting five applications in R1 (all to M7 schools), and was hoping I’d get lucky on one or two. I ended up going 4/5 on interviews and accepted to two of my top three choices (HBS / GSB / W). I’d highly recommend Karen to anyone considering hiring an admissions consultant!

When I started my MBA application journey, I wasn’t even considering to apply to the schools I ended up applying to, as I didn’t think I had a shot. However, when I met with Karen for the free 30 min consultation, she gave me so much confidence that I decided to include multiple M7 schools in my list. I spoke with other firms for free consultations and right away it was clear to me that Karen was the right choice. For the next 7 months I’ve been working with her, Karen has been nothing but incredible. She is always available, always knows what to say and how to answer your questions, is a huge cheerleader and most importantly, and my favorite thing about working with Karen, she is very genuine about how much she believes in you. I didn’t have a stellar GMAT and didn’t have a super high undergrad GPA, but Karen knew that with my great professional background, extracurriculars and lined up recommenders, I had a good chance of getting into an M7 school. She really helped me find the best way to tell my story, she helped me be strategic about connecting with the schools, she was a sounding board every time I got nervous about something or thought I should change my plans. I honestly don’t think I could have have done this entire process without Karen and I certainly don’t know if I’d be able to say that, of the 3 schools I have applied to so far, I have already been accepted into 2 (one of them being an M7 school)!

I would recommend Karen, hands down, to anyone looking for guidance, support and encouragement throughout the MBA application process. Working with her truly made the stressful process much more bearable.

I was initially hesitant to use a consulting service given the financial commitment, but now as an M7 admit I can confidently say that it was worth every penny!

I chose Fortuna for hourly services after having an initial consultation with Karen that was head and shoulders above the consultation that I had with another firm. While I ended up being paired with a different consultant (shoutout to Jenifer Raver – who was fantastic in her own right), Karen still made herself available when I needed guidance and treated me as if I was one of her direct clients. As a Columbia alum, she has a deep knowledge of the program and was an integral part of helping me tailor my materials to CBS. This is truly the best thing about Fortuna – no matter who you’re paired with, you will have the broader Fortuna team in your corner.

Overall, I highly recommend Karen, and if CBS is one of your top choices, then she is a must-use! Thanks, Karen!

It’s difficult to put into words how incredible Karen is. There are so many things that I could say about her that come to mind – intelligent, strategic, thoughtful, organized, focused etc. But what stood out the most during the MBA application process was her unwavering belief in me. I came into the process unsure of my chances – I had a strange background with a number of career jumps that I thought would be my downfall. And I was very vocal about my doubts, often poking holes constantly in my story and background. But throughout my anxiety and despair, Karen was steadfast in her belief that my story was strong and that I was worthy of admission to the school of my dreams. Her unwavering confidence washed away my doubts and pushed me to put my best foot forward. I’ve come out of this process not only with admission to my top school (Columbia) but also more confident in my own capabilities, all thanks to Karen.

I was directed to Fortuna by a friend who had used Karen, had a great experience, and is now at CBS. My experience with Karen could not have been better. I’m the first one in my family to go to business school, and while I had a lot of friends who went through the application process, I had no one trusted resource I could rely on to work me through the process and create a clear storyline while protecting my own voice. Deciding to move forward with a consultant was more valuable than I could have realized, she helped me navigate the decisions around the application process and timeline as factors quickly changed with the onset of covid. She also helped work me through the GRE process, landing me with a score that was easily 10 percentage points higher than I was targeting in quant.

I now have been admitted to CBS and received an invitation to interview at MIT. I think Karen was critical to the success of my application process.

I came to Karen late in the game, and can’t overstate how helpful she was! Karen was SO responsive, understanding, enthusiastic, and gave great, candid advice. Her advice regarding my optional essay, emails to the AD, and GMAT v. EA made all the difference. Not to mention that she reviewed all my material and provided advice in fewer hours than I would have estimated. Would 11/10 recommend choosing Karen over any other consultant!

Karen is the reason I ended up choosing Fortuna. They were the last consulting company I talked with and when I talked to Karen I instantly knew who I wanted to work with. I did not have the strongest profile going in and Karen was refreshingly honest about my chances at the schools I was applying to and gave me some solid advice on how to improve my look. The biggest factor was there was no sales pitch and no “no worries” that I’ve heard from others. Karen was then my supervising consultant and she did the first and final reviews on all my applications and her insight was invaluable.

My journey is slightly different as it took over a year for me from the first day I contacted Fortuna. It was late into the admission process in 2019 (Round 2 deadline was approaching) and I had not taken my GMAT at the time. I reached out to Fortuna anyway and Matt scheduled an initial introductory call to learn about my background. I decided to go with Fortuna and was then paired with Karen as one of my choices was CBS. Nevertheless I did not get the GMAT score I wanted (it was December) and decided to delay my application until June this year (2020).
Right from day one Karen has been fantastic and very friendly. Karen was incredibly timely in her response and the whole process was very structured. First, we had a call and Karen mapped out an action plan for me going forward; she suggested which aspect I should focus on first and the timeline for each aspect (brief for recommenders, resume editing, essays – and that I should focus on one school at a time). Karen helped fine-tune my resume and tighten the story without changing my narrative. Her feedback and questions helped me organize the key points in my essays. She was very encouraging throughout the process and was always ready to answer any questions that I may have had. One thing I really like about Fortuna is that they have mid-point review: once my essays were in good shape, they were passed to one of the directors, in my case Judith, who gave the essays another review. It was comforting to know that a former adcom reviewed and approved my essays. Once I was invited to interview Karen had a mock interview session with me beforehand. She acted as an interviewer and gave me constructive feedback at the end of the session that boosted my confidence for the real interview.
Even though I am still waiting to hear results from one other school, I am extremely happy to have been admitted to CBS and I cannot thank Karen enough. Throughout the months of our interaction, Karen was my pillar of support, who alleviated a lot of stress from this daunting process. Overall I really enjoyed working with Karen and I wholeheartedly recommend Karen to MBA aspirants!!!

If you are looking to apply to business school, nobody will be more helpful than Karen. I was discouraged about applying since I am a non-traditional candidate, but after my first meeting with Karen, she assured me that it was in my best interest to apply. From helpful information on the GMAT, resume, and essay help, along with interview preparation, I felt like I was in the best hands from start to finish. I was incredibly surprised when I got my acceptance letter, but in hindsight, I should not have been since Karen was so confident and knowledgeable about the process. I am not sure I would even be going to business school had I not met with Karen (I was iffy about applying given my chances). I can assure you that she knew more about Columbia Business School than anyone I have ever met and answered every tedious question I asked her. I am very happy that, on a whim, I sent an email to Fortuna Admissions and got paired with Karen; I do not know if I would be going to business school had I not.

Fortuna was the last company I wanted to check out before I made my final decision. Karen was the person I talked to. A few minutes into our conversation, I knew my decision.
I decided to apply for business schools at the very last minute. I had less than a month to get everything together. Karen was the person who made me believe that it was not only possible, but also exciting and very much worth fighting for.
Karen was always there for me. Whenever I had a question (big or small) or a bit of a panic attack, she would always respond or jump on a call as soon as she possibly could. She’s superbly organized and calm, which helped a lot during this stressful period. And most importantly, she genuinely cares. I went into the process, feeling unsure about my story/experience. But she could always find the sparks and help me feel confident about myself as an applicant from a nontraditional & international background.
Just reach out, talk to Karen. She’s so incredibly talented. You won’t need to look any further for a dream team.

My highest recommendation goes to Karen Hamou! To put it simply, her incomparable support and enormous help made it possible for me to gain admission to the most selective MBA program in the world!

As an international student, I was very stressed by the interview process, especially that English was not my native language. Though I have done many interviews in the past, I was not sure how to address the MBA interview and how to communicate effectively. Adding more stress to the matter, I had only three weeks to prepare, while I was working 16 hours a day, since the moment I was invited for the interview.

Luckily, I had my secret weapon – Karen. Karen did not waste any time, and Immediately we started working on my interview skills. We did some tough mock interviews. Karen did not go easy on me, not in the interview and nor in the feedback. She dug very deep and peeled almost every layer that I had. She explained carefully what was right, what was wrong, and how I can improve, always with a smile and a great attitude. She was so engaged in the process, that sometimes it felt that she wanted it more than I did.

Having those sessions with Karen made me very confident. There is no doubt that my work with her was critical for my success. I got accepted to all three schools that I applied to, and eventually, I choose to go with Stanford GSB.

Thank you so much, Karen!!!

I worked with Karen to help me prep for my Columbia and Wharton interviews and she was extremely helpful.

Wharton – Karen had put together a mock TBD group where she watched how I interacted with the other applicants in the group setting and gave me candid feedback on my performance. This feedback was very useful and I was able to utilize it during my actual TBD. Karen also was very helpful in prepping me for the 1×1 Wharton interview. We did a mock interview and then I worked with her to refine what I would say and how to best answer any questions I would be asked.

Columbia – Karen played an integral role in prepping me for the Columbia interview. Given that she is a Columbia graduate, she has lots of background knowledge of the school so she is able to provide a lot of insight into the different programs and is also able to fact check what you say during the interview (Very important as I had the wrong name of someone in the administration). Karen also spent a lot of time with me in helping me formulate my questions to ask at the end of the interview. Beyond just providing Columbia interview support, Karen also provided wait list support and was very responsive when I had any questions about Columbia.

Overall, I would definitely recommend working with Karen! She was quick to respond with actionable feedback and was super supportive throughout the whole process which helped me feel less anxious going into the interviews.

I spoke with 5 consultants prior to working with Karen. Some discouraged me from applying given I was applying round 3 to top schools. I considered not applying to school, but when I spoke with Karen my attitude immediately changed. We clicked instantly and she truly had my back and supported me. Karen was able to work with me under tight time constraints and helped me organize and turn around 4 applications to schools. I was admitted to 3/4 including my top choice. Karen truly was amazing to work with and even if I didn’t get into the school she was worth it because she helped me reflect and create a narrative on who I am and what I am looking for in life.

I worked with Karen to prep for both my Wharton and CBS interviews and found her to be both extremely knowledgeable about the admissions process and incredibly easy to work with. Karen especially played a key role helping me prepare for the TBD exercise that Wharton requires. Under Karen’s guidance I was admitted to both Wharton and CBS and I believe that she played an integral role in making that happen.

Cannot recommend her enough.

I reached out to Fortuna way too late. I had applied and been rejected by basically all of my top schools and I was prepping for reapplication the following year. I had a consultation with Karen and in less than 5 minutes knew she was exactly what I needed. She very obviously cares about her clients and wants you to succeed. Karen re-instilled my confidence and told me I should apply to the extended deadline. I would not have been able to get an application together in that short amount of time without her and it was far better than any of the previous applications I had submitted. She was attentive, very quick to respond, and obviously a true expert. Without a doubt I would not have gotten into my dream school this fall without her! Thank you Karen! If you have already decided that an MBA from a top school is a good investment, then this should be a no-brainer too.

Karen helped me throughout the whole process and particularly to tell my personal story in a way that I could have never done by myself. Her work and comments are extremely professional and helpful. She is a great asset and her skills are incredibly valuable if you wish to attend a top business school. I strongly recommend her without any hesitation. She is the best.

Whether you are absolutely confident about your application and target school(s) or you need an entire review of your thought process and application strategy, I wholeheartedly recommend you consult Karen. She will help you improve regardless of your starting point.

I came into my talks with Karen late in the process (our first conversation took place three weeks before deadline) and I was stressed about untangling, structure and combining all the different components of my background coherently and on time. Karen helped me do precisely that and made sure I had well-rounded application for all my target schools.

While a graduate of CBS, Karen really is an expert on all top programs and all components of the application. She is sharp, observant, organized, and exceptionally structured and creative. Together, these qualities make her remarkably adept in helping you finding your angel and uniqueness and structure it into a compelling story. An MBA alumna herself, she can draw on her own experiences from applying and going through a top program with all that it implies (studies, recruiting, career paths) and can personally relate to all the emotional swings and temporary confidence and insecurities that the daunting and exciting application process brings with it.

All her professional abilities are blended in with her emphatic, honest, and caring personality, making her an exceptionally present and encouraging support along the way and an absolute pleasure to work with.

I cannot emphasize enough my high regards for Karen and my recommendation for anyone with the ambition to enter any competitive MBA program to talk to her. It will make all the difference for you, as it did for me.

Karen was amazing from the very beginning. She got to know me, helped me realize my strengths and quirks, and set out a schedule for me to make my application as strong as possible. She was extremely fast to reply to all my requests and many edits. She supported me the whole way through and made some vital changes to my application that gave me an edge. She was kind, thoughtful, and insightful. I have never worked with such a good college counselor.

I am an international student and I worked with Karen Hamou on an hourly basis for my R3 applications to an M7 school and a few Top 15 schools. I reached out to Fortuna because I had worked with a consultant from another company in R2 and I was disappointed with their service and my results. In contrast, Karen and Fortuna provided a very high quality of service and they were invested in my success from day 1.

In addition to helping me navigate the uncertainties associated with Covid-19 and produce high-quality applications to my R3 schools, Karen also helped me strategize my waitlist approach for some of my R2 schools (i.e. test retakes, sending updates). Karen helped me structure my essays, coach my recommenders and prepare for my interviews. For my essays, she edited them repeatedly until the stories were strong and compelling. She was extremely efficient and provided high value for the money I spent on the hourly consulting services. Karen was always available whenever I needed her support – turnaround time was less than 24 hours on most materials.

There are so many things to do when you are applying to over half a dozen schools and Karen helped me prioritize the most important tasks so that I was always on top of things. As offers started rolling in, she gave me advice on how to handle them as I waited for my dream school to accept me.

Thanks to Karen’s incredible support, I received an offer from Booth and I am excited that I get to attend such a fantastic school! I would not have been able achieve this without her and I enthusiastically recommend Karen and Fortuna admissions for all your MBA application needs!

From my first interaction with Fortuna, I knew it was the right choice!
I had the first consultation with Matt Symonds and I can’t tell enough good things about him. I was rather conservative with my school choices, but he encouraged me to apply to the schools I wouldn’t have had the guts to go for otherwise. He went above and beyond to even get a second opinion about my profile from one of the directors, just to build up my confidence and motivate for a higher GMAT score.

Unfortunately, from my first interaction with Fortuna, in 3 years’ time, I had to postpone my MBA plans twice. Yet, when I decided to finally try my chances, we restarted the conversation as if it was “yesterday”. I had been matched with Karen, and I don’t think I could’ve hoped for a better coach than her. Karen is absolutely AMAZING! AMAZING. I contacted her less than 2 weeks before the deadline and I was prepared for a rather conservative answer. Instead, she got me mobilized immediately. She sought to genuinely understand my story, helped me highlight the distinctive aspects of my profile, and gave candid feedback on my essays. She is absolutely brilliant at distilling the core points and conveying the same meaningful message in an elegant and succinct way. Her reviews are thorough and impeccable. “Prompt and timely answers” would be an understatement – she made herself available even during the weekend and was always flexible and accomodating of my crazy schedule, especially given the tight deadline. She is the perfect combination of the sweetest cheerleader and most professional coach. I really can’t thank Karen enough for her help and encouragement during the intense sprint. I couldn’t have made it without her.

I don’t want to close this without extending my thanks to Caroline Diarte Edwards as well for her support and to the point tips and advice. Also, thanks to Judith Hodara for making the celebration day feel even more special. (I was admitted to MIT Sloan, my dream school.)

Fortuna Team is just the best and can’t recommend them enough.

I contacted a few companies when I started my MBA journey and almost all of them told me my dream schools were not a likely possibility. Fortuna was the only exception; they believed in me from the very start! Karen took the time to really understand me, my background, and my ideal career trajectory.

Since I obtained my ideal GMAT score in late November, she helped me streamline all 5 of my applications to M7 schools in only one month. She worked around the clock nonstop and was always available when I needed her. She ultimately became the mentor and cheerleader I needed during this frustrating process.

Out of 5 applications, I received 4 interviews. She worked with me prior to every single interview, helping me clearly tell my story and why I was a good fit for each school. As a result, I was admitted to three top programs. I am absolutely ecstatic with the results and I cannot recommend Karen enough!

I couldn’t be more thankful for Karen’s support throughout this entire process. From our first phone call, I was confident she was an expert in the MBA admissions strategy and every component – from application essays to navigating the waitlist strategy. Karen gave great – and timely – feedback and helped keep my anxiety at bay during the entire process. Couldn’t have done it without her!

Karen brings three key things to the table: 1. stellar organizational skills, 2. deep experience in crafting compelling stories, and 3. sustained and personable support (and trust me you will need a lot of it)

My background was not the easiest to work with: management consultant with an undergraduate degree in business and a below-average GMAT. To add to this, I was also only looking at top schools. Over the course of several months, Karen challenged me, again and again, to go deeper into my stories to find the relevant examples that would bring my story to life. I received candid feedback in a timely manner and could always count on Karen’s extremely fast turnaround time for essays.

Above all, I particularly enjoyed how involved Karen was. She believed in me, my story and the hard work we put in. I always knew that Karen had my back and when I received the first rejection letters, she made sure that I would remain motivated. She went above and beyond, even going outside her mandate to help me with additional essays to get scholarships.

I have nothing but great things to say about Karen and I trust that whoever hires her will get the same service as I got. As for me, I am going to Booth this fall and could not be happier.

3 months to the application deadlines, I was very confused and I wasn’t clear about how to go about my applications. I was introduced to Fortuna and I scheduled a 30 mins free consultation call with Fortuna and I was matched with Karen Hamou. After the call, I was convinced I had to go with Fortuna.
Working with Karen, especially was fantastic. She was interested in learning my motivations and story and as a result, she was able to help me structure my thoughts and appropriately convey them on paper.
Also, her turnaround time was fantastic, typically reviewing my material within a day, even during the festive period.
Within a space of 3 months, I was able to come up with my resume and application materials for 5 schools.
With a GRE score of 326, I applied to Booth, Yale, Fuqua, Darden, and Vanderbilt and I got admitted to all the schools!

Even after I had exhausted my consultation time, Karen kept in touch with me, sending me useful links and materials and wishing me success for my interviews

A big thank you to Fortuna and Karen. It was very great working with her and I highly recommend working with Fortuna, whether you’re in or outside the US.

P.S: I am from Africa.

I was recommended Karen by a friend, and I am so happy I was. I had big dreams to go to an M7, and only applied to three schools within that cohort. With a sub-par GMAT score and average GPA, I knew acceptances to these schools were likely a pipe dream and had major anxieties about taking on the process with such an uncertain outcome. That is when Karen came into the picture.

Not only was she incredibly attentive – available any time of the day, any time of the week to review my essays, answer my questions or assuage my fears – but she was incredibly effective. Not long after I started working with her I started seeing the potential she saw. She helped me craft a story that was not only true to who I was and what I wanted, but also compelling. She challenged me to think differently about myself, my experiences and my career, often asking questions I had never before considered. The result was an applicant who was confident she was ready and able to take on any of the three schools she wanted to attend.

I can go on and on about her quality of essay editing, interview prep, and story crafting. She truly does it all and does it well. But the proof is in the pudding. I’ve already been accepted to one of the schools and am waiting to hear from one other. She helped me accomplish something that is nothing short of a miracle, and I believe it wouldn’t have been possible without her keen insight and incredible knowledge of the MBA application process.

Do I recommend Karen? 100% no question. She was the shoulder I needed during this process, and I could not be more thankful.

It has been truly a great journey working with Karen. I was pretty late into the application and only started working on the process with Karen since late October. In the two months of time, she helped me to better strategize and really optimized my chances in the round 2 application.

Karen has great expertise not only in CBS but also in many other top programs. She has a clear sense of emphasis for most of the top programs and is very good at combining those focuses on the applicant’s own experience/background.

I would highly recommend Karen to anyone who is looking for a supportive and professional mentor for their MBA application process.

I interviewed multiple companies and Fortuna stood out for their attention to detail, expansive view of the world, and succinctly getting to the heart of things.

I have seen these same qualities in my every interaction with Karen, starting from our first conversation. Karen has been my cheerleader and supporter through every step of the application process, getting me essay edits back in less than 48 hours, answering all my emails, and helping me really refine the essence of my story and what I can bring to an MBA program. I really appreciated her flexibility in working around my schedule (we’re in very different time zones) and in helping me think strategically when I encountered challenges in my personal life during the application process. For most of us this process is a daunting one that is a test of stamina, willpower, and self-belief, but knowing Karen was on my side really helped me manage the stress and worry. There are a few things I would do differently during my MBA application process, but I would 100% choose to work with Karen in any of them, and I highly recommend her for anyone looking for a supportive, strategic, and empathetic consultant during the MBA admissions journey.

Karen was great! I’d spoken with a few other consultants before going with Fortuna and Judith / Karen were by far the most patient, supportive, and genuine that I spoke with. Karen took the time to get to know me and the story I wanted to tell and helped me stay true to it throughout the process. She pulled the best material out of me and helped me package it properly for the applications/interviews. With her help, I applied to 4 schools in Round 1 and have happily been admitted to a great program with a very generous scholarship package. She also helped me strategize other schools to apply to in Round 2 in case Round 1 didn’t work out, but I didn’t need to go down this path. She was a constant cheerleader along the way and was always available for a call/email to help go through iterations of my essays and other materials. Working with Karen made everything so much more streamline and efficient and I can’t imagine what I would have done without her support and expertise.

Karen was amazing to work with. She was always very quick to give me feedback on my essays or other questions I had regarding my application, it felt as though she was as invested in the success of my applications as I was.

I am going to end up going to the University of Chicago, but also was offered a full scholarship to NYU. Karen’s assistance with everything definitely played an important part in the success of my applications, and I’m very glad to have worked with her.

If you are considering working with Karen, think no more, she is the right choice!

It has been a great experience working with Karen over the last several months. She really took the time to understand who I am – my goals, my stories, and how everything about me fit into an MBA application. In some instances, she proved she had learned who I am better than I knew, as she was able to help me get off the ground where I struggled for ideas.

Karen was always very attentive to my application process. She was exceptionally timely in everything from responding to simple questions to returning a full set of essay or resume edits. She always made a great effort to fit our work into my schedule, rather than fitting into hers. And she always found time to help me through last-minute emergencies with recommenders or applications, no matter the time or short notice.

While Karen helped me succeed in all aspects of the application process, I thought her biggest strength was in reviewing my essays. No matter how great I thought my first draft or even late-stage revisions were, Karen always found a page full of ways that I could improve every piece of writing I submitted. She couldn’t have been more thorough, and the results really showed in my final essays.

I’m certain that every component of my many applications was markedly improved by working with Karen. She really was a key piece to my success in applying for business school.

Well a little background on me. My GMAT is below average for all the M7 schools and I was considering retaking the exam, infact I had started preparing. Also, as an international from Africa, I felt I needed to do more since the acceptance hasn’t been so good (at least with people that I know that applied). So overall I probably have the most average background you can think of, I even had a lot of loopholes in my undergrad transcript.
After Fortuna reached out to me and we scheduled a 30 minute call to discuss my career and life ambitions, I really felt they genuinely wanted to help and they even offered a discount to me (talk about putting your money where your mouth is).
What Karen helped me do was to present my story in the best possible way and connect the dots in my personal and professional life that made it possible to convince the adcom to want to interview me at the very least. At the end of the day, some parts of your application has to stand out if you have a lot of weaknesses and presenting yourself in the most polished way possible would go a long way.
Her reviews on every part of my applications were very thorough and she was always willing to assist in areas where I got stuck in addressing concerns over my application. Also, her turn around time was commendable and even though I had not met her, it felt like we were really working together throughout the application process. I honestly would recommend her to anyone who is interested in applying to Columbia.

At the outset, I had very high expectations because of all the great reviews about Karen and Fortuna. My high expectations were not just met, but were exceeded.

Karen didn’t just help with essays, but she made every single part of the process advance as seamlessly and smoothly as possible – taking a lot of stress away – and ultimately allowing me to put my best foot forward. All throughout my time working with Karen, she really did care about me and worked very hard reviewing and helping me craft my material. She did so in a very timely, professional and caring way.

Karen was not just my admissions consultant – instead, she was more like a sports coach – she sat in my corner and her insights, encouraging voice and detailed questions helped propel me to a level I would not have reached without her.

The quality of her advice, MBA-specific knowledge, and essay reviews/comments/edits are unparalleled. She is also an extremely strong wordsmith and I’ve learned many things about writing from her.

Summary of key aspects of Karen’s help:
1. Resume – through phone calls and many rounds of review, Karen helped me produce a resume that I was proud of. She dug deep into my choice of particular words/phrasing. By listening to my career experience, she helped me select the most impactful things to show. All throughout the rest of the process, Karen retained my key work experience information and often prompted me to inject a certain piece of work into a part of an essay where it was relevant. Often surprising me as to how good her memory of my work experience was.

2. Essays – helped me understand and articulate my story better. Through many rounds of detailed review and questioning, Karen helped me craft powerful and compelling texts about my career journey, and why MBA and this school.

3. Biodata forms – similar to the above, Karen helped me craft the best possible content into extremely tight forms

4. Interview prep – I was invited to 3 interviews and was admitted to all 3 schools. A big reason why was the live mock interviews (including Wharton’s TBD) that Karen conducted with me. She would finish each mock interview with a candid assessment of my performance on each question. When the real interview came around, I felt very well prepared

5. General prep for MBA fairs – Karen helped me plan/refine/practice my elevator pitch for meeting admissions staff at MBA fairs

6. Fee discussion with schools – post-admission Karen has continued to share her MBA-specific knowledge with me, to help me navigate the complexities of deciding which school to attend and financial aid

7. Backed by Fortuna – Karen is amazing, but she is also backed by a strong team. Secondary reviewers performed a final review of all materials.

Karen was far better than other consultants I’ve seen my friends and workmates rely on. Karen dug deep underneath the surface, remembered critical details about me, and really pushed me to produce great content.

I can 100% vouch for and recommend Karen.

I had a very low GPA and was an older applicant than most. Before Karen, many consultants looked at my profile and said I at best had a shot at a school around the 20th-30th rank range.

Karen helped me get admitted to CBS and also I received an interview invite from Wharton. Although I didn’t get in with Wharton, being admitted to CBS has far exceeded my expectations. I am really glad that I worked with Karen and I couldn’t be happier.

Six months ago, I had just taken the GMAT and decided to go all-in for Round 1 for the class of 2022. I figured I needed all of the help I could get and started to contact all of the consultants I could find. I spoke with probably a dozen, some said I’d get in, others said I wouldn’t. I got the same questions about my GMAT scores, what I wanted to do with my MBA and who would write my recommendations. It sounds cliché, but one was different, and that was Karen. She tried to understand me as a person and what led me to my current path. She made no promises about where I would get in or not get in, but she did say we would try our best together and see where we ended up, which resonated with me.

During the application process, Karen served as a mentor, proofreader, guide, therapist, and cheerleader. She kept me on pace as I entered a busy time at work and kept me focused on the parts of the application that would have the biggest impact. We exchanged hundreds of emails at all times of the day and night, and I knew whenever I sent Karen something, she would review it in-depth and promptly. She pushed me to put forward my best and let me know when she thought that I could do better. She worked with me to personalize every single aspect of my application to highlight the traits that make me who I am. With other consultants, there’s no way we would have reached the depth needed to present my story as effectively.

Without Karen’s help, I can confidently say that I wouldn’t have come close to reaching the goal I set when I started down the path of applying to business school. If you’re on this page and considering working with her, I’d stop right now and get in contact with her before her class fills up.

Like many of you reading this review, I went through the process of deciding whether or not I should engage a consultant and if so, which one I should choose out of a plethora of well-rated firms. Karen Hamou and the Fortuna team stood out to me through their willingness to strategize my MBA approach from the get-go and help position my candidacy as a non-traditional applicant.
Over the course of the past few months that I have worked with Karen, she has helped me set GMAT targets, curate recommender briefs, revamp my resume, and refine my essays into stories that effectively communicated my experiences and accomplishments to the adcoms. Because I had little exposure to the business world, it was difficult for me to translate my professional and extracurricular experiences into a b-school application format. Karen was an incredible coach throughout the whole process and helped me transform my rhetoric into powerful leadership stories. Like others have shared, Karen was always punctual for our meetings and replied to inquiries or draft reviews in a timely manner, often within the span of a few hours.
I was further impressed not only by the hands-on support from Karen but also from the rest of the Fortuna team. During my initial consultation, Matt helped gauge my profile and connected me with a consultant that would best match my needs. Judith stepped in throughout the app process to lend her valuable admissions expertise and also provided critical feedback during final reviews of my app materials.
I am happy to say that I have already received successful outcomes as a result of our work together and feel that the process would have been much more difficult without Karen and the team’s support. As a final note, If you, as an applicant, can bring competitive test scores and experiences that are aligned with your target schools, I confidently recommend Karen’s and the Fortuna team’s services to greatly increase your chances of admission to top schools.

Attending CBS has always been a dream of mine. Once I finished the GMAT, I knew what my MBA goals were, but found myself struggling to create a cohesive ‘story’. I reached out to a few admissions consultants to see if I could get help.
I decided to work with Karen Hamou at Fortuna. From our first call knew I had made the right decision. Not only was she extremely knowledgeable about the schools I was applying to but had the unique ability to take my muddled experiences, interests, goals, and dreams and help me create a coherent and captivating story. She truly has a gift for connecting the dots and seeing things from a holistic point of view.
I chose the comprehensive school package and it was well worth the price. Karen helped me transform my resume, craft my story, strategize my recommenders, edit my essays, and prepare for my interview. Other members of the Fortuna team also took a look at my resume, essays, and application, which was really helpful in getting another perspective.
Karen was also extremely thorough and responsive. I would oftentimes send things late at night and would wake up to find her edits and responses. I was truly blown away by her work ethic.
Karen pushed me to apply in July so that I would receive a decision in August. That way I would know my answer before having to start any other applications. Well, she was absolutely right! Her guidance saved me countless hours and a whole lot of stress.
I cannot recommend Karen and the Fortuna team enough. They really pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I don’t think I would have attained the same success without them!

After having completed the GMAT, TOEFL, getting recommenders on board, etc. I found myself at a huge roadblock at writing essays and completing the remaining content for my applications. Especially as someone foreign to US-style application, it was difficult for me to hit the right tone and narrow down my key selling points for the respective schools.
After talking to some companies, I decided to get support from Fortuna Admissions as I felt they saw the person behind the application rather than just the numbers. I was lucky to have been put in touch with Karen as she cared for my success and always went the extra mile for me.
Getting her on board immediately increase the pace that I was moving forward with and elevated the overall quality by helping me to find the right personal focus points. Karen was highly efficient and I would usually get her feedback within a few hours. Sending in the applications, knowing that this was my best effort, was a great feeling. Karen was also there for me once interview invitations came in to prepare me accordingly. I am not sure I could have made it into Haas without her experience. If you have ambitious goals, I can highly recommend Karen as a coach, as she will get the best out of you!

Karen at Fortuna is an amazing consultant, and I could not have asked for a better person to help me with the overwhelming process of applying to business school. My situation was unique because my decision to work with a consultant came very late in the application process. Some consultants probably would have been turned off by me as a client in this respect, but Karen did not hesitate in taking me on. As we began working together, Karen was always very responsive to my emails; if I sent her a draft of an essay at night after work, she always provided comments by the next day. And when I received interview invitations from schools, she was proactive and available to help me prep at any time that was most convenient for me and for however long I needed. But her speed was not at the expense of the quality of her comments. Karen is extremely knowledgeable about the application processes for all the schools that I applied to, and she provided very thoughtful, school-specific advice on my essays, short answer responses, and interview responses. In our mock interviews, she helped make my responses more crisp and suggested ways that I could weave in important elements of my story. Her comments on every major aspect of my application were crucial in helping me develop and craft my story so that I conveyed it eloquently to the admissions committees. Karen is a pleasure to work with, both professionally and personally, and I highly recommend her and Fortuna to anyone applying to business school.

I would not have been accepted without Karen’s help. When we first started working together on my applications, Karen really helped me clarify my career goals and craft a compelling, authentic personal story, and I landed multiple interviews. During interview preparation, Karen gave honest feedback and was exceptionally encouraging, and I went into every interview with a real shot. When I ended up getting amazing offers from top schools, Karen shared her perspective and allowed me to make the right decision. At every step of this journey, Karen offered me valuable insight and unwavering support. Overall, it was such a pleasure working with her. I would 100% recommend Karen to anyone who aims to join a top-tier MBA program.

I contacted Karen 36 hours before the merit-based deadline for Columbia Business School. I initially thought my application was strong but after getting it reviewed by one more person, they insisted that I contact Fortuna. Now typically, 36 hours is not enough time to edit 4 essays and a resume. However, Karen worked expeditiously to give me consistent feedback until we were comfortable with my admissions package. We made the deadline with much time to spare. The most impressive thing about the entire process is that Karen helped me enhance my content without changing the core of what I was trying to relay to the admissions committee. I don’t know if this can ever be proven, but I can honestly say that the input Karen provided me in those 36 hours played a significant role in my admission to Columbia. I cannot thank Karen enough for the quick and efficient turnaround! When the rest of my friends start this MBA admissions process, I will 100% send them to Karen and Fortuna.

Working with Karen was a fantastic experience overall! I had worked with other consultants prior to switching to Karen and her work was more thorough and customized. Not surprisingly, the results were better as well. Karen always responded to messages in a timely fashion and was happy to dig in to the details. In addition, I had several strategy questions regarding scholarships, waitlists, and small tweaks to important emails, all of which she answered right away without pinching pennies on a few minutes here and there. Perhaps most importantly, I felt like she sincerely cared about my goals and helping me tell an authentic story.

I had a fantastic experience working with Karen and ended up admitted to my top choice R2 school (M7). After working with a different consultant in R1 who did not give me good advice, I was skeptical about hiring another consultant, but Karen immediately demonstrated a thorough and personalized approach that made a huge impact on the strength of my applications. She started by having me fill out a template with my long-term and short-term career goals. She also reviewed by R1 applications and resume and gave me feedback on where I was not showcasing my strengths and experiences as strongly as I could have. She helped me craft a much stronger narrative, and gave clear and extremely helpful feedback on my draft essays. On top of that, Karen went above and beyond to be not only a consultant but a coach — she was encouraging, genuinely invested in my success, and I know that the guidance and feedback she gave me made all the difference between R1 and R2. She was also always very flexible, responsive, and efficient throughout our process of working together. Even after I finished my hours with her, she was generous enough to be available for questions and – after I got interviews at all three schools I applied to – she sent me interview guides and checked in to hear how the interviews went. I ended up getting admitted to my top two of the three schools I applied to. I am so grateful that I found Karen, and highly, highly recommend her!

Karen helped me with a comprehensive package, an interview, and a few essays for additional schools. She took hours to go over my goals and timeline and helped me prioritize essays, resume, etc. I highly, highly recommend her to anyone looking to get into a top 10 business school. I got interview invites to all 4 schools I applied to and was accepted at my first choice. She was very helpful with all of my questions throughout the process and takes the time to make sure you are ready for each step of the application.

I decided to work with an admissions consultant because I wanted to be fully informed about the admissions process, and I only wanted to go through it once. I worked with Karen and Fortuna for eight months in what I found to be a very personalized process. From the start, Karen helped me prioritize the correct activities, which gave me confidence knowing that I was making the best use of my time. I also really appreciated how responsive Karen was, particularly closer to deadlines: she answered my questions almost immediately, returned edited documents within only a few hours (and sometimes even overnight), and I could schedule calls with her within 24h and at my preferred times. I found this invaluable because I could create much stronger essays shortly before deadlines. The edits Karen and her team offered for my essays were always substantial, constructive, and sometimes even challenging, but I always understood and agreed with the reasoning behind them. Working with experts gave me the confidence to redraft larger sections of my essays to help transform them from intelligible to persuasive while keeping them personal, genuine, and in my writing. Fortuna’s resources are current, extensive, and specific for every business school, which was instrumental for my essays and interviews. After submitting the written applications, Karen and I practiced for the interviews and video questions, and her feedback in our practices clarified my areas for improvement and made me feel more confident in the interviews.
Working with Karen ultimately helped me gain acceptance to INSEAD (despite below-average numbers on almost every metric of my profile), and I am convinced that I could not have done it without Karen’s help. I cannot be more satisfied with Fortuna’s support in the process and highly recommend Karen and her team – thank you!

I was initially concerned after reading Karen’s profile that she may not be a good fit for me because she did not have an MBA from my dream school (HBS). However, I am beyond grateful that I had the privilege of working with Karen.
Karen listens. She earned my trust by getting to know me and my application better or as well as I did. She would ponder on my resume, essay, story, and interviews in between sessions. She helped me solve problems with a fresh pair of eyes and perspective—giving me points to emphasize and prioritize in my resume, essays, application, and interviews. No platitudes or “cookie-cutter” feedback from Karen (like I got from other admissions consultants)— feedback was incredibly preemptive and specific, which took my applications to another level. She isn’t afraid to thoughtfully push back when it is needed.
Moreover, Karen was beyond efficient with the time I was billed. She is incredibly thoughtful and proactive about high-quality work within time constraints. On more than one occasion did she burn the midnight oil with me and was beyond accommodating for my schedule and very tight admissions timelines. I do some consulting work and I’ve tried to emulate this for my clients. I can’t believe how much we accomplished in the relatively short amount of time I was billed for.
Karen is one of the best communicators that I have worked with in my career. She isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions that the admissions committee will ask. My application was strong in a few areas (Work history, undergrad major/GPA) and had some gaping-hole weaknesses in others. Karen helped me understand how to prioritize and emphasize points to present my best application to the admissions committees.
Plain and simple, I believe that I wouldn’t have gotten accepted to HBS without Karen. I will recommend her to all friends and family seeking MBA admission moving forward.
Admissions counseling for Karen is a calling. She is excited and enthusiastic about her work—which is why she’s so good at it.
Also, one last point of emphasis: she is beyond organized and always shows up prepared. Every step of the admissions process happened through a CRM and communications were very prompt and thoughtfully managed between our sessions—giving me the right information at just the right time.

I worked with Karen on an application (and subsequent interview prep) to my #1 choice school and was very happy with the results. Yes, I was accepted, but I truly think that Karen helped me craft a “flawless” application – and I don’t think that my application materials would have been nearly as compelling without her help and I don’t know if I could have gotten in without Karen.
I think that Karen really stood out in two areas:
1 – First was responsiveness. Business school applications are extremely stressful and it’s rare to get everything done fully ahead of time. The last thing I would want is someone who takes half a day to get back to me. I was surprised how quickly Karen would respond – often within an hour. I truly felt like she was in my corner and 100% invested in my success. Aside from the major aspects of an application, I would bombard Karen with questions about small details of the process and she would respond as carefully to these small questions as she would in giving me suggestions on the big picture items.
2 – Attention to detail. Karen would be sure to point out any shaky details of my application. This could mean a few words on my resume or a rephrasing of a sentence in an essay. Although this could even get a little frustrating at times because she was so focused on making sure everything was 100% perfect, in the end, I was very happy that she took so much care with my application. I really did think that Karen was fully invested in my success in every aspect of the application, and her attention to detail only solidified this.
There is one caveat I want to add to my review. I absolutely recommend Karen and Fortuna, but do be aware that the onus will be on you to write your essays / the rest of the application. Karen will help you, but a consultant cannot substitute for your own introspection and hard work. It’s a time-intensive process and requires a lot of commitment on your end.

Karen is amazing! If you’re looking for a knowledgeable and supportive partner (not just consultant) throughout this really stressful and emotionally raw process, look no further. The business school application process is such an intense journey and if you come from a nontraditional background (non-IB or consulting), it can feel very isolating and you often find yourself meandering through it. This is why finding the right consultant is one of the many key decisions you have to make.
I’ve worked with a different consultant before (from one of the bigger companies) and I will emphatically say that the difference was night and day. I really felt that Karen cared about my journey from start to finish. If you have quick questions, she generally gets back to you within a few hours. She was available around the holidays before R2 which I really appreciated. She’s always open to discussing over the phone if necessary. If there’s anything that you’re worried about regarding your application/profile/essays, trust that she is also thinking about a solution offline – I know because this has happened many times throughout my time working with her. I never felt stressed about meeting the deadlines because she works thoroughly and quickly and I trusted that she would pull through for me if I needed to ask last minute questions/updates. She helped me prep for my interviews and gave very helpful suggestions on how to handle confrontational questions. She’s optimistic but also a logical thinker and you need someone who can think straight sans pessimism as you’re swimming in doubt and stress – yes that will happen, a lot.
I really can’t say enough good things about her and how she made this process, not only bearable but also enjoyable. Save yourself some valuable time and set up a call with her – as I’m headed to CBS this year 🙂
Also a quick review on Fortuna. It’s a shame that they are not as popular as the other companies because Fortuna really works with you throughout the entire process. I first connected with Judith, one of the founders, awhile back and she really cares and takes the time to match you with the right consultant. She’s also always available for any questions and we’ve pulled from her expertise countless times.

I worked with Karen the whole R1 season. We worked together on three things – resume, essay, and interview. Throughout the process, I was impressed by her responsiveness, trustworthiness, and flexibility. When I have questions, she usually will get me back with her answers in 4-5 hours, 60% of the times she would get me back within 1 hour. She makes me feel supported alongside.
Karen is also experienced in coaching. I had my interview with CBS right 3 days after I got the invite. Karen did 2 mock interviews with me. In each of the session, she listened carefully my answers and would identify the inefficiencies in my communication style. The comment she gave me was right to the point and helped me structure my answers in later interviews.
She’s also an inspiring coach but someone who won’t make you feel pressured. This quality makes me return to her one time after another. I couldn’t imagine how many more hours I would spend on the application if were without Karen.

Karen helped me on my application for five schools from essay building to mock interview. When I came to her, I had already drafted several versions but still feel I was not there. She really spent her time listening to my stories, analyzing my case and building up an application strategy for me. She immediately pointed out my strengths and weaknesses in my academic and working experience and crafted different strategies for different applications. She always has different perspectives and advice to my essay and other application materials to really bring my whole application to the next level.
I truly appreciated her timely feedback on every version of my application. I was under extreme pressure when finishing application for five schools within a relatively short period of time. She was able to give back her comments and advice very quickly, even during the weekends, to help me catch all the deadlines.
Also I have done several mock interviews with her. For each mock interview, she did plenty of preparations in advance and really imitated styles of different schools. She covered various perspectives in the mock interviews and gave good suggestions to my answers and also my body language.
I highly valued and recommend Karen’s coaching on MBA application. She helped me to get into my dream school (HBS).

I had spoken to a couple of other consultants before I spoke with Karen. Unlike the other consultants, Karen did not make me feel like my dream school was out of reach. She immediately told me what my weaknesses were and put forth a strategy on how to deal with them in the application process.
I came to Karen later on in the application process, but never once did she make me feel stressed about my time crunch. She was EXTREMELY responsive all the way through till the end.
At the start of my partnership with Karen, I had very little idea of what the “story” for my essays was going to be. After a long conversation on the phone, Karen helped me come up with a story that made sense with my background, but also felt extremely genuine.
Numerous times while writing my essays I would get complete writers block. This never seemed to be an annoyance to Karen as she would simply tell me to write something out (basically just get anything down on paper), send it to her and then we would discuss ways to enhance and work on what I had.
Karen also did multiple mock interviews with me. In my essays I wrote about switching industries, but I had a very surface level knowledge of the industry I was hoping to switch to. Karen went above and beyond to first discuss with me the trends and buzzwords of this industry, and then ask me industry specific questions. Without this preparation I would have completely fallen apart in my interviews.
Not only was Karen helpful with crafting my story, helping with my essays, and prepping for my interview, but she also offered unwavering emotional support. Often times when we would speak, I felt like I was talking to a friend, which is something I found to be VERY important during this stressful process.
Karen ended up helping me get into my dream school (Columbia), and I would not have wanted to go through this process with anyone else!