Mr. Business Development

Hi, this is Deepak Punwani from MBA Exchange. You have a unique profile as other valued experts on this group have mentioned. And you have a very well rounded profile. Solid academics from a top Brazilian University, an awesome GMAT score, solid extra curricular activities and well respected work experience. So you should be in play at every school which has a well established energy track. I like your chances at all schools if you execute well. The energy world is undergoing rapid changes which have only been accelerated by Covid crisis. How you see yourself making a difference in this “brave new world” can also be a factor that plays on adcom’s minds. If you execute well on this H/S would also be interested. And if you want to expand the list of top schools maybe you could even add Wharton to this list and if you feel like dazzling Europe and France in particular (just like Guga did at Roland Garros almost 2 decades back), then LBS and INSEAD will love your profile too. Good luck

Hi Mr. Business Development,
This is Debbie Choy, Senior Consultant at mbaMission. I like that your background has so many points of uniqueness! In my 8 years of experience, I don’t see enough strong candidates from Brazil. That you’re Chinese Brazilian makes your profile stand out even more. Don’t be afraid to share your personal stories with the Admissions Committee (AdCom) – what influenced your upbringing and perspectives on the world. What helped to shape your teamwork and leadership styles? These stories can not only help differentiate you, but also help AdCom get to know you better. Further, the energy sector is not a traditional feeder industry into b-school. So be sure to explain specifically how you think an MBA education can help you reach your long-term career goals. Overall, I think you have above-average odds at Booth (their average acceptance rate ranges from 20-23%). Best of luck!

Hi, it’s Jennifer Jackson from Stratus Admissions. There’s so much to like in your profile! Being from Brazil alone is a pretty big differentiator, and the 760 GMAT is another big plus. It offsets a softer GPA, but you had a hard major and did a lot of extracurriculars so I don’t see that as a problem. I also like the breadth of experience you’ve gotten in finance and then business development in the energy sector. Make sure to tell a personal story of why you want to stay in the energy sector and what kind of impact you can make there if you earn the MBA and can move into a leadership role. Weave in your founding of the organization focused on sustainable supply chain and you can become someone ad-com really wants to root for! I think Booth will love your finance experience and high GMAT plus Brazilian/Chinese background — you’ll have a good shot there!