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Welcome to the mbaMission podcast, where every week we discuss different MBA application components and give our expert guidance on everything business school admissions related.
92 Episodes
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Private equity often dominates the MBA admissions conversation — but finance is far broader than PE alone. In this episode, host Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald and Senior MBA Admissions Consultant Julie-Anne Heafey to explore how finance applicants from investment banking, venture capital, equity research, and investment management can stand out in an intensely competitive pool. What truly differentiates a finance candidate? It’s not the number of deals you’v...
West Coast MBA programs offer more than just proximity to tech. In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky is joined by MBA Admissions Managing Director Debbie Choy to explore the distinctive culture, career pathways, and hidden gems across leading West Coast business schools. From innovation-driven classrooms and entrepreneurial ecosystems to recruiting pipelines shaped by Silicon Valley and beyond, the team discusses how geography influences leadership style, community ...
DEI may be under scrutiny, but diversity hasn’t disappeared from MBA admissions — it’s evolving. In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky speaks with Senior MBA Admissions Consultant Nisha Trivedi and MBA Admissions Managing Director Harshad Mali about how diversity, equity, and inclusion are being reinterpreted in business school admissions following the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action. They explain what admissions committees are really looking for today...
What makes the Stanford GSB interview so different from every other MBA interview? In this episode of the mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky sits down with Senior Admissions Consultants Christine Patel and Julie-Anne Heafey to unpack Stanford’s structured behavioral interview. They discuss how GSB evaluates candidates, why authenticity matters so much, and how applicants can prepare without sounding rehearsed. Essential listening for anyone preparing for a Stanford MBA interview. 00:00 Why S...
In this week’s episode of the @mbaMission podcast, the team takes a deep dive into Executive MBA (EMBA) programs and how they compare to part-time, full-time, and mid-career MBA options. Jeremy Shinewald and Harold Simansky are joined by Senior MBA Admissions Consultant Julie-Anne Heafey to unpack who EMBAs are designed for, what makes their admissions process unique, and how experienced professionals should evaluate fit. Together, they explore key considerations including career stage, lead...
The U.S. MBA visa process can feel overwhelming for international applicants—but it’s far more navigable than many assume. In this episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harshad Mali, Harold Simansky, and Jeremy Shinewald break down the full U.S. MBA visa journey, from F-1 student visas and STEM-designated OPT to the H-1B lottery and longer-term pathways. They discuss how top employers continue to sponsor MBA talent, why business schools are actively working to attract international candidates, a...
Timing your MBA application can be just as important as your credentials. Applying too early—or too late—can affect everything from your testing strategy to your chances in a competitive applicant pool. In this episode of the mbaMission podcast, hosts Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald are joined by mbaMission Senior Consultant Nisha Trivedi to unpack when the right time to apply really is. Together, they discuss how to assess your personal and professional readiness, how Round 1, Rou...
Mid-career MBA programs offer a very different experience from traditional two-year MBAs—and for the right candidates, they can be transformational. In this episode of the mbaMission Podcast, hosts Jeremy Shinewald and Harold Simansky explore accelerated, one-year programs designed for experienced professionals, including Stanford MSx, MIT Sloan Fellows, London Business School Sloan Fellows, and USC IBEAR. Joined by mbaMission Managing Director Debbie Choy, the conversation breaks down who th...
The Stanford GSB is the most selective business school in the country, admitting only 6-8% of applicants each year. So how can you stand out in an incredibly competitive pool? In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Jeremy Shinewald is joined by Katy Lewis, mbaMission Executive Director and former MBA admissions reader at the Stanford GSB. Katy shares valuable insights into the GSB admissions process, discusses the ways in which applicants can truly stand out, and explains what appl...
What does it mean to be a nontraditional MBA applicant? What about an overrepresented applicant? Understanding these distinctions can make a big difference in how you approach your business school applications. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simanksy is joined by Senior Consultant Nisha Trivedi and Managing Director Harshad Mali. Harold, Nisha, and Harshad discuss the benefits and challenges of being either a nontraditional MBA applicant or an overrepresented MBA app...
Healthcare is a dynamic and fast-changing industry. More and more MBA students hope to improve lives by driving innovation and strategy in the healthcare space, whether in biotech, pharma, hospital administration, or digital health. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simanksy and Jeremy Shinewald are joined by mbaMission Senior Consultant Christine Patel. Harold, Jeremy, and Christine discuss which MBA programs are leading the way in healthcare, how health-focused MBA ap...
The Stanford GSB application is notoriously challenging, and includes a variety of essay and short answer prompts including the famous: "What matters most to you, and why?" In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simanksy and Jeremy Shinewald are joined by Christine Patel, an mbaMission Senior Consultant and graduate of the Stanford GSB. Harold, Jeremy, and Christine break down the various components of the GSB application and share advice for applicants about how to write tr...
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we think, work, and lead. If you're thinking about earning your MBA, AI is likely on your mind. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simanksy is joined by mbaMission Managing Director Harshad Mali and Executive Director Katy Lewis. Harold, Harshad, and Katy discuss the impacts of AI on the economy and MBA careers, the ways in which business schools are adapting to the prevalence of artifical intelligence, and whether or not MBA appl...
For many business school students, securing a summer internship between the first and second years of their MBA program is a top priority. These MBA internships are competitive, and the recruitment process starts earlier than you might think. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jessica Shklar welcome back Aman Singh. Aman is a former mbaMission client, currently in his second year at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Aman had long dreamed of working at Goog...
2025 has been a unique (and at times unpredictable) year when it comes to business school admissions. Questions around the economy, tariffs, AI, international student visas, and more have left many aspiring MBAs wondering: is this the right year to apply to business school? In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald are joined by mbaMission Executive Director Jessica Shklar. Harold, Jeremy, and Jessica break down what we've seen throughout the 2025-...
As MBA application deadlines approach, many applicants feel the pressure to make their application essays "perfect." But how should you actually go about revising and polishing your essays? How much rewriting is TOO much, and how does a final read-through differ from a standard round of revisions? In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Managing Director Rachel Beck and Executive Director Jessica Shklar. Harold, Rachel, and Jessica discuss the...
In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, we welcome back Liz Ramos, former head of human capital at Bain & Company. Today Liz is sharing her professional journey from management consulting to the field of HR/human capital. She talks about career pivot points, the critical role of people management in successful firms, and universal leadership traits that are needed in every sector. If you are considering a career change post-MBA, or are interested in the field of workforce manage...
Letters of recommendation are a critical -- and often overlooked -- part of the MBA application process. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Managing Director Rachel Beck and Executive Director Jessica Shklar. Harold, Rachel, and Jessica discuss the role recommendations play in business school admissions, how you should select your recommenders, and how to collaborate with your recommenders to ensure that their letters add real power to yo...
Getting into business school is challenging, but PAYING for business school can be just as stressful for many MBA hopefuls. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald sit down with mbaMission Managing Director Rachel Beck to discuss all things related to financing your MBA. They talk about MBA merit scholarships, financial aid, employer support programs, and more. They also discuss some of the common questions we hear from applicants about negotiati...
The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia is known for it's top-ranked faculty,dedication to the case method, and stunning facilities. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald welcome back Dawna Clarke, Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions at UVA Darden. Dawna shares the qualities and features that differentiate Darden among top MBA programs, from its transformational dean, to its entrepreneurship and AI institutes, to its scholar...
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