[Intro by Arvind Kumar]
ISB had always been Arnab’s top choice for an MBA.
With 4+ years of software engineering experience at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, he built high-impact fintech products and collaborated with global teams.
As he progressed in his career, he found himself gravitating toward the product side – wanting to solve broader business problems. An MBA felt like the right next step to transition into Product Management.
From an MBA application lens, Arnab’s profile presented some notable strengths: GMAT score (675), branded employer (BlackRock), impact across products and mentorship initiatives at work.
However, one challenge was the lack of a formal promotion. Though he was already leading key product areas, the absence of a title change was something to be addressed strategically.
While ISB was Arnab’s #1 choice, he also wanted to diversify his chances and consider a mix of US Top-25 programs as well.
Starting with our admitStreet StreetMap questionnaire, we uncovered Arnab’s professional and personal anecdotes, motivations and goals.
Following that, our brainstorming discussions helped prioritize the most compelling anecdotes, shape a coherent narrative and secure strong recommendation(s). Through multiple rounds of feedback, we strengthened the CV and essays, while keeping the tone honest and authentic.
Lastly, our mock interview sessions focused on structuring responses, articulating career goals with clarity, and building confidence for the ISB interview.
All the hard work finally paid off. Arnab made it to his dream school – ISB!
He was also shortlisted for interviews with two top US programs, but chose to go ahead with ISB, given his long-term focus on Product roles and preference for staying closer to home.
This success story dives into Arnab’s background, his motivation for an MBA, his application strategy, ISB interview experience, and advice for future applicants.
Over to Arnab to share his journey in his own words!
Background and MBA Motivation
Following my engineering degree at MIT (Manipal), I worked at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, for 4+ years as a software developer. Over time, I took on a leadership role for a part of the product and collaborated with global teams, especially the product side.
Alongside this, I mentored junior team members and led initiatives to improve product stability and client experience.
As I progressed, I found myself gravitating toward the business and product side – thinking more about the “why” behind what we were building. I wanted to solve broader client problems, craft product strategy, and make more impactful decisions.
An MBA felt like the right next step to strengthen my understanding of business fundamentals, refine my leadership style, and transition into a product management role.
Application Strategy
I started my prep with the GMAT Official Guide. I followed a rotating schedule, alternating between Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights every 2 – 3 days. Once I felt confident with individual topics, I transitioned to mixed sets to simulate the actual test format.
I used GMAT Club extensively, especially for topic-wise practice questions categorized by difficulty. After I’d covered most concepts, I began taking mock tests. I first gave a mock test from a third-party provider, without prep to benchmark my starting point. Later, I used their series for consistent practice.
For the official experience, I took GMAT’s free tests (each can be retaken once) and eventually purchased four more official tests, which I saved for the final stretch of my prep since they closely reflect the real exam’s difficulty. I was subsequently able to achieve a score of 675.
Prioritizing Schools and why ISB
When shortlisting schools, I focused on a few key factors: strong product management and tech-focused career support, experiential learning opportunities, and a culture that encouraged collaboration and leadership. I was also keen on schools with strong alumni networks and proximity to financial and tech hubs to maximize post-MBA opportunities.
Programs like UNC Kenan-Flagler’s STAR initiative and McCombs’ location in Austin stood out to me.
At the same time, ISB’s strong ties to industry leaders, its emphasis on leadership development, and its global recognition made it a compelling choice.
Profile: Differentiating Points
I believe a few things helped my application stand out.
First, my experience at an industry-leading firm like BlackRock gave me exposure to large-scale, high-impact products and the opportunity to lead initiatives that directly influenced client experience. Beyond that, I highlighted my adaptability – having worked with globally distributed teams across time zones and my ability to take on ownership in ambiguous situations.
Resiliency also played a big role. Despite not receiving a formal promotion, I continued to deliver value, stepped up as a lead for key areas, and mentored newer team members to bring them up to speed.
Profile: Challenging Areas
One challenge I faced was the lack of a formal promotion despite having spent several years at my firm and taking on significant responsibilities. While I had grown into a lead developer role and owned critical components of our product, the absence of a title change was something I knew might raise questions in my application.
To balance that, I focused on showcasing my impact through tangible outcomes – like leading cross-team initiatives, mentoring newer team members, and driving key product improvements. Additionally, I aimed to strengthen the academic side of my profile with a strong GMAT score, which helped reinforce my readiness for a rigorous MBA program.
Ultimately, I let my essays and recommendations tell the full story of my growth, leadership, and potential.
Working with admitStreet
Working with Arvind (admitStreet) was, in hindsight, a very important and integral part of my MBA application journey.
From the very first interaction, it was evident that Arvind cared about crafting a narrative that was uniquely mine, not a cookie-cutter story, but one rooted in my real experiences, motivations, and aspirations. He took the time to understand the nuances of my role at BlackRock, the kind of work I had done, and how it could be positioned to reflect leadership, initiative, and long-term thinking.
One of the biggest challenges in my application was the absence of a formal promotion, despite years of impactful work. This initially felt like a weak point, but Arvind helped me reframe it thoughtfully. Instead of focusing on titles, we emphasized the increasing scope of my responsibilities, my mentorship efforts, and the tangible value I delivered. Arvind’s insight helped me showcase this as a strength: evidence of sustained trust and growth in a high-performing team.
What truly set Arvind apart was his meticulous approach. The admitStreet questionnaire was incredibly thorough, it helped surface a range of anecdotes from my professional and personal life, which we then carefully mapped to ISB’s essay prompts. This made my application feel both cohesive and deeply personal.
Every essay went through multiple rounds of detailed edits, with Arvind pushing for clarity, coherence, and emotional resonance. His feedback was thoughtful and precise. He didn’t just critique, he collaborated. His strategic guidance and eye for detail ensured my ISB application was not just well-written but truly reflective of who I am and I believe that made all the difference.
Thanks to his guidance, I was able to present my story confidently and authentically and I’m now heading to ISB, my top choice in India, with clarity on what I want and how to get there.
Overall, my experience with Arvind (admitStreet) was a game-changer, and I’d highly recommend them to anyone navigating the MBA admissions journey.
ISB Interview Experience
I interviewed in-person (Delhi). The process began with a Written Ability Test (WAT), where we were asked to write essays on behavourial questions. I had around 20 minutes to complete it.
Following the WAT, my ISB interview with the panel went on for an hour.
The interview covered multiple topics covered, including my background, motivation for MBA, career goals and why ISB was my top choice. The panel also challenged my reasons for pursuing an MBA.
What surprised me was that since the panel consisted entirely of alumni, they often referenced their own student experiences and posed behavourial/ situational questions based on those. It was clear they wanted to assess whether I could hold my ground, think critically, and still maintain decorum – qualities that matter both inside and outside the classroom.
Despite the pressure, I remained steadfast in my answers, staying calm and composed throughout. I made sure to respond professionally and logically, even when I had to disagree or defend my perspective. I believe that’s exactly what the panel was testing – how I handled pushback under pressure.
To prepare for the interviews, I did a mock interview with Arvind (admitStreet), which was incredibly helpful. He made me aware that ISB panels often try to stress test candidates, so I went in expecting pressure.
During our prep, we went through my CV in detail, and Arvind emphasized the importance of presenting my experiences chronologically and adding meaningful context to each point, especially things that weren’t explicitly mentioned in the document. Most importantly, we had prepared for the question “Why not pursue a PM certification instead of an MBA?” – which turned out to be a key question in my ISB interview.
We also focused on anticipating cross-questions based on my profile. Arvind helped me think deeply about my experiences, achievements, and motivation behind the MBA, and we crafted structured responses to ensure clarity and confidence during the actual interview. This preparation gave me a strong foundation and helped me stay calm and composed even when the panel challenged my answers.
Advice for Prospective Applicants
My advice to individuals considering applying to MBA/ B-school would be to start with deep introspection. Understand why you want an MBA, what you hope to achieve through it, and how your current experiences tie into that journey. Business schools don’t just want impressive resumes, they’re looking for clarity of purpose and authenticity.
Invest time in building your story and don’t underestimate the importance of each part of the application, especially essays and recommendations. Reach out to alums, attend info sessions, and engage with the school communities to understand where you truly fit in.
Also, give yourself enough time; rushing through GMAT prep or essays won’t help. And lastly, don’t let things like lack of promotion or a below-average GMAT score discourage you. Highlight your strengths, own your journey, and let your personality and potential come through in every piece of the application.
If you’re applying to ISB, it’s crucial to have a strong understanding of why the school is the right fit for you. ISB values clarity of thought and purpose, so make sure your motivations for an MBA and for choosing ISB come through authentically.
Given the highly competitive nature of the applicant pool, especially for overrepresented profiles, it’s important to highlight what makes you stand out, whether it’s cross-functional experience, global exposure, leadership in challenging situations, or meaningful contributions outside of work.
ISB places a strong emphasis on leadership potential and impact, so showcase examples where you’ve taken initiative and created value, even in small ways. The interview process can be intense and may involve stress-testing, but if you stay composed and defend your viewpoints with logic and professionalism, it reflects maturity, something ISB appreciates deeply.
Lastly, don’t just use your essays to list accomplishments. Tell a compelling story that ties your personal and professional journey with your aspirations and why ISB is the perfect place to bridge the gap.