The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast

Darren C. Joe

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/21d. Total Eps: 231

Get an inside look at how top business schools assess MBA applicants. Interviews with MBA Admissions Directors and students from the world's top-ranked MBA programs. Discover what makes each b-school unique. Strategies and tips on how to craft a successful MBA application. Straight talk on how to get accepted to MBA programs like Harvard, Wharton, Insead, LBS and many, many more.

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https://touchmba.com
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https://touchmba.com/free-school-selection-guidance/
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https://touchmba.com/schools/
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#230 Five Keys to MBA Admissions Success with N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif, Insead MBA '26

Season 1 · Episode 230

Monday, August 25, 2025 • Duration 01:26:14

Darren talks with N'doli Jean-Hugues "Cherif," a French and Ivorian candidate who gained admission to both INSEAD and London Business School's MBA programs. Cherif, an older full-time MBA candidate with diverse experience across five roles - including audit, management consulting, investment banking and infrastructure project finance in the public and private sector - shares his five key success factors for MBA admissions.

Topics

Introduction (0:00)
Cherif's Background & Pre-MBA Plan & Goals (3:10)
How Cherif Found Career Mentors & Built Future Opportunities (10:40)
Cherif's 5 Key Success Factors

Unwavering Focus (17:20)
Strategic Peer Review (27:15)
Work with a Consultant (34:30)
Self-awareness (43:15)
Narrative Coherence (52:30)

How Cherif Assessed his Competitiveness (1:00:00)
Cherif's Interview Tips for Insead & London Business School (1:07:10)

Cherif's Final Tips (1:24:00)

About Our Guest

N'doli Jean-Hugues Cherif graduated from Cranfield University with a Masters in Management and Concordia University with a Bachelors in Political Science. He will be attending the Insead MBA program in Fontainebleau, France, focused on a post-MBA career in infrastructure-focused private equity.

After getting his Masters, Cherif worked as an auditor for PwC, management consultant for Square Management, and then in Financial Advisory and Project Finance for the government of Côte d'Ivoire and then as an investment banker for Obara Capital. He then returned to Paris with his family to do Financial Advisory and Project Finance for Egis.

Show Notes

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#229 AI's Impact on MBA Careers: An Insider's Perspective

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 • Duration 40:52

Darren confronts his own "AI anxiety" with Sabine King, Director of the Career Accelerator at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at University of New South Wales (UNSW). Together, they explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the demand for MBA graduates, the evolving strategies of career services, and how leading business schools are equipping their students to thrive in an AI-world.

Topics

Introduction (0:00)
AI's impact on demand for MBAs (5:50)
How AGSM embeds AI into its curriculum & career services (8:30)
AI tools for resume optimization (11:30)
The importance of authenticity & one's mindset in using AI (13:30)
What AI skills do employers expect from MBAs? (17:00)
Using AI for psychometric testing, initial assessments & interview preparation (26:00)
Using AI for career exploration (30:00)
AGSM's AI courses & resources (36:00)
Ethical use of AI (38:40)

About Our Guest

Sabine King is the Director of the Career Accelerator at  Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. Previously, she worked for Education First as a Program Manager and Cox Purtell as a Recruiting Specialist. She graduated with a degree in Business Management from the International School of Management in Germany.

Show Notes

MBA Application Resources

#220 GLOBIS MBA Program & Admissions Interview with Tomoya Nakamura - "Find Your Kokorozashi"

Monday, March 11, 2024 • Duration 01:14:48

Sometimes, it's hard to differentiate MBA programs. That is not the case with GLOBIS University, Japan's number 1 MBA, which prizes entrepreneurial skills, societal impact, and helping its students find their kokorozashi (personal mission).

Professor Tomoya Nakamura, President of GLOBIS USA, discusses what makes the GLOBIS MBA unique, the school's admissions process, career opportunities and more.

Started by Harvard Business School MBA graduate and entrepreneur Yoshito Hori in 1992 as a single marketing course in Tokyo, GLOBIS has grown to become Japan's largest MBA program, consulting with 60-70% of public Japanese companies with learning hubs in 5 countries. Listen on to learn what makes getting an MBA at GLOBIS - and in Tokyo - unique.

Topics

Introduction to GLOBIS and Tomoya Nakamura (0:00)
Program Highlights - What Makes the GLOBIS MBA Unique? (6:30)
GLOBIS MBA Admissions & Scholarships - How to Improve Your Chances? (33:30)
Career Opportunities after GLOBIS - What to Know & How to Prepare (55:00)

About Our Guest

Tomoya Nakamura is President of GLOBIS USA. Tomoya started his professional career at Marubeni Corporation, reorganized an investment company at Advantage Partners (a buyout VC firm), and was the Senior Managing Director of Sun-Life Corporation. He served as Dean of the English MBA Programs at GLOBIS University while also starting the GLOBIS global training business and continues to serve as the main facilitator for various corporate clients. He primarily lectures on leadership, kokorozashi, and globalization.

Tomoya graduated from the Hitotsubashi University with a Bachelors in Social Studies before getting his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Show Notes

GLOBIS Full-time MBA
Free Online President's Seminar: Leveraging Japan’s No.1 MBA to the World’s No.1 MBA with AI & Technovate, Mr. Yoshito Hori, March 12, 2024 (6:30pm-7:30pm PST)

#130 Breaking into CPG (Consumer Package Goods) as an MBA

Sunday, February 25, 2018 • Duration 48:43

What do you need to know about MBA recruiting for top Consumer Package Goods (CPG) companies? Darren invites Ana Archbold, Michigan Ross MBA '07, to share her experience working for companies like Kraft Foods, Unilever, and Johnson & Johnson, where she is currently a Senior Marketing Director for Neutrogena. Darren and Ana pay special attention to the recruiting process and what applicants can do to maximize their chances of landing internships and jobs. Ana also shares her thoughts on working internationally after getting a top US MBA.

This is Part 6 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here.

Questions

Ana's background (2:54 )
The importance of internships (5:48)
Ana's tips to applicants on how they can get a leg up (9:16)
What are top CPG companies looking for in hires? (16:24)
The recruiting process (21:15)
How important is prior industry experience? (25:20)
Interviews (27:08)
How interns are evaluated for full-time offers (30:15)
Ana's advice to international students applying for US jobs & internships (37:09)
How Ana landed a senior marketing role abroad in the UK (43:20)
Ana's final advice to applicants (46:55)

About Our Guest

Ana Archbold got her MBA from Michigan Ross in 2007 and is currently a Senior Global Marketing Manager for Neutrogena, a Johnson & Johnson brand, in New York City. Previously, she worked as a Global Brand Manager, doing Strategy & Innovation for Unilever in London. Ana has over 15 years of experience in the marketing and brand management.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/mba-careers-consumer-package-goods

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#129 Breaking into Brand Management (as an MBA)

Wednesday, February 7, 2018 • Duration 47:43

What do MBA applicants need to know about MBA careers in brand management?

Darren invites Michael Schwartz, NYU Stern MBA '16, to share his experience working as a marketing and brand manager at companies like Philips, Unilever and Heineken.

Michael has worked in marketing and brand management for 10 years – don’t miss his hard-earned insights into the industry!

This is Part 5 of our MBA Career Series. Looking for more career-related podcasts? Click here.

Questions

Michael's background (2:30 )
What do brand managers do? (8:54)
Common entry points for MBAs into brand management and industry trends (12:04)
Why Michael pursued an MBA despite wanting to stay in brand management (14:36)
Misconceptions about brand management (24:06)
Traits of successful brand managers (25:16)
Best part of job? Worst part of job? (29:15)
Michael's recommended resources (34:00)
Michael's thoughts on the value of a part-time MBA (38:10)

About Our Guest

After graduating from Baruch College with a degree in Marketing Management, Michael Schwartz has worked in Marketing and Brand Management roles for Philips, Unilever and Heineken. Michael graduated from NYU Stern's Part-time MBA program in 2016. Currently he is a Brand Director for Amstel at Heineken in New York City.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/mba-careers-brand-management

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#128 How I Got Into Insead

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 • Duration 52:35

Massine Bouzerar, a 25-year old Canadian, was backpacking through Myanmar in July when he realized he wanted to start his MBA asap. First round deadlines were looming in September. Within 3 months he wrote the GMAT and submitted a successful application to Insead. What should you do when your back is against the wall? Massine shares his experience and what he did to get accepted to one of the world’s top MBA programs: Insead.

About Our Guest

Massine Bouzerar worked as a product manager for two leading Canadian telecommunication companies before starting his current role as a Manager for E-Commerce Strategy at Ecobee. Massine graduated from Brock University where he majored in Finance. He’ll start at Insead in Fall 2018.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/how-i-got-into-insead

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#127 HKU MBA Program & Admissions Update with Sachin Tipnis

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 • Duration 57:47

Sachin Tipnis from the University of Hong Kong discusses what makes the HKU MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for HKU MBAs.

Program Highlights (5:15) | Admissions (26:00) | Scholarships (38:36) | Careers (44:27)

HKU MBA Highlights (last updated Jan 2018)

14-months, Fall intake, ~60 students/year
Typical Class: 5 years work exp / 15 nationalities / 660 GMAT
Has 3 tracks: the London track, the New York track, and the Hong Kong/China track. After finishing 9 months of core courses at HKU, students can study at Columbia University in New York, London Business School in London, or Sudan University in Shanghai for one semester
Graduates get a 1-year visa to stay in Hong Kong and find a job post-graduation
Placement, Class of 2015 & 2016: 85% w/job offers w/in 3 months, $77,265 USD avg starting salary
Top Destinations, Class of 2015 & 2016: 48% Hong Kong / 24% Mainland China / 7% India / 7% Europe / 7% other Asia
Top Industries, Class of 2015 & 2016: 32% Banking, Finance, Accounting, Insurance / 29% Consulting, Advisory Services / 19% Consumer Products & Services / 9% IT, Telecoms
Ranked #1 Asian Business School by Economist for 6 straight years

About Our Guest

Sachin Tipnis is the Executive Director of MBA Programmes at the University of Hong Kong. Sachin was part of HKU's first graduating MBA class and has worked for over a decade developing the HKU MBA. Sachin worked in branding and marketing communications for 7 years before working in higher education.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/hku-mba-program-admissions-update

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#126 Cornell Johnson MBA Admissions Interview with Eddie Asbie

Saturday, December 23, 2017 • Duration 01:08:16

Eddie Asbie from Cornell University's Johnson School of Management discusses what makes the Cornell MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for Cornell MBAs.

Program Highlights (7:14) | Admissions (29:50) | Scholarships (52:07) | Careers (58:38)

Cornell MBA Highlights (last updated Dec 2017)

1-Year Cornell Tech MBA (New York City), May intake, ~50 students/year
1-Year MBA (Ithaca, New York), May intake, ~75 students/year
2-Year MBA (Ithaca, New York), September intake, ~275 students/year
Typical 2-Year Class: 5 years work exp / 35% international / 700 GMAT
Offers 7 immersions in corporate finance, investment research and asset management, strategic marketing, strategic operations, digital technology, sustainable global enterprise, and investment banking
Placement for 2-Year, Class of 2016: 94% w/job offers w/in 3 months, $121,000 USD avg starting salary, $31,000 USD avg signing bonus
Top Destinations for 2-Year, Class of 2016: 53% NorthEast US / 18% West US / 8% Midwest US / 5% Southwest US / 4% Asia
Top Functions for 2-Year, Class of 2016: 33% Finance / 29% Consulting / 22% Management / 11% Marketing
ROI: one-third of class win merit-based scholarships, up to 25 students/year can win Roy H. Park 2-Year Full Tuition Fellowship
Ranked #16 by US News and World Report in 2018

About Our Guest

Eddie Asbie is the Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management. Eddie has worked over 5 years for the Cornell MBA and specializes in helping military, underrepresented and dual degree program candidates. Previously Eddie served as an Admissions Advisor for University at Buffalo.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/cornell-johnson-mba-admissions-interview

Episode Sponsor

The IESE MBA in Barcelona is consistently ranked Top 15 worldwide by the Financial Times. Do you want to challenge yourself and take your career to the next level? IESE’s full time MBA program will transform your capacity to think strategically, explore new perspectives and be a leader in today’s global world. The IESE MBA: Give us 19 months and we give you a lifetime of impact.

#125 Should You Hire an MBA Admissions Consultant?

Friday, December 15, 2017 • Duration 27:00

When should you use an MBA admissions consultant? How can you get the most value? What should you look for when hiring one?

As a former MBA Admissions Director and Admissions Consultant, Darren shares his thoughts.

Questions

Why are MBA Admissions Consultants so expensive? Are they worth the fees? (6:25)
Should you hire an MBA Admissions Consultant? Which service should you get? How can you get the most value? (13:10)
What you should look for from an Admissions Consultant? (19:43)
Questions to ask an MBA admissions consultant (21:12)
A framework to help you make the decision (22:15)

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/should-you-hire-an-mba-admissions-consultant

Episode Sponsor

Get informal feedback on your profile at mba.iese.edu or visit us on campus at our Open Days.

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#124 Georgia Tech Scheller MBA Admissions Interview with Katie Lloyd - "At the Intersection of Business and Technology"

Friday, December 8, 2017 • Duration 55:12

Katie Lloyd from Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business joins the show to discuss what makes the Georgia Tech MBA unique, the school's admissions process and career opportunities for Georgia Tech MBA students.

Program Highlights (4:19) | Admissions (21:03) | Scholarships (37:00) | Careers (41:18)

Georgia Tech Scheller MBA Highlights

Fall intake, 22 months, 80 students/year
Class: 80 students / 4.5 years work exp / 25% international / 680 GMAT
Students can explore 8 immersive tracks at the intersection of business and technology: technology commercialization, leading new ventures, innovating for sustainability, business analytics, computational finance, leading digital transformation, managing technology products, supply chain innovation
ROI: two-thirds of class win funding through graduate assistantships and fellowships
Placement for Class of 2016: 95% w/jobs w/in 3 months, $108,000 USD avg starting salary, $16,000 USD avg signing bonus
Top Industries for Class of 2016: 40% Consulting / 19% Technology / 14% Financial Services / 6% Transportation & Logistics / 6% Consumer Products / 4% Health Care
Ranked #29 by US News & World Report in 2018 MBA Rankings

About Our Guest

Katie Lloyd is Executive Director of MBA Admissions at Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business. Previously, Katie served in senior admissions roles for Emory's Goizueta Business School, including Director of Admissions for its 1-year MBA. She has over 20 years over experience in MBA admissions. Katie attended Vanderbilt for her Bachelors, Indiana University Bloomington for her Masters and University of Georgia for her Doctor of Education.

Episode summary, show notes and more at: http://touchmba.com/georgia-tech-scheller-mba-admissions-interview

Episode Sponsor

The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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