Harry's Journey from Energy Sector to Harvard Business School

We knew that we had a guaranteed M7 admit: great academic background, good career progression and a strong personal story. However, securing an admission offer at HBS presents unique challenges. The primary obstacle was differentiating his profile from the highly competitive group of typical Chinese engineers. Another challenge involved crafting a narrative that authentically integrated elements of his personal life, ensuring it enhanced rather than overshadowed his professional achievements, without becoming overly dramatic. Additionally, Harry struggled with his GMAT prep, and took much more time than anticipated to score his 760. We provided support and guidance throughout this difficult period, helping him to successfully navigate through these ups and downs.

Over two years, we developed a deep trust with Harry, allowing us to thoroughly understand and articulate his story. We spent a lot of time getting to know him, looking at every detail of his life. For instance, he wrote us a 5,000-word essay on his value system, blending important life anecdotes, that was instrumental for us to better prioritize his achievements. Building a high-trust relationship with him was crucial in developing a multifaceted narrative that aligned with his long-term goals and demonstrated his potential for impactful leadership.

Having spent his early career in the Oil & Gas sector - known to be a natural career for engineering students, we wanted to demonstrate to the admissions committees that his career path was deliberately chosen and not imposed. We highlighted his childhood experiences growing up in a highly polluted environment in an industrial city in China to frame his commitment to transforming the energy sector. Additionally, we emphasized his efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion within the oil industry, underscoring his bravery in openly embracing his identity in a challenging corporate culture. This dual-focused narrative showcased his unique angle and dedication to initiating change.

Our journey with Harry included navigating various challenges over two years. We provided extensive support throughout his demanding GMAT preparation spanning over a year, and remained a constant source of encouragement. Our team also conducted over 10 mock interviews to ensure he was thoroughly prepared for the rigorous HBS interview process. 

Harry's well-crafted application and our strategic guidance culminated in admission offers from HBS, MIT, Booth, and Kellogg, marking him as one of our most successful clients. While we’re proud to have delivered on our commitment to send him to HBS, we are the proudest of his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world, and legendary humility.

Harry's admission to several top MBA programs, including HBS, is a testament to the effectiveness of a personalized and strategic approach in navigating the complexities of MBA admissions. His story highlights our commitment to leveraging unique personal experiences and industry involvement to enhance candidate profiles and achieve exceptional results.