Tech to Stanford GSB: Pearlyn's Journey of Empowerment and Authenticity

Compared to other applicants, Pearlyn initially faced no significant challenges, aside from having slightly more years of experience than average. She had a great academic background, stellar career and decent international exposure. However, as we started the journey, she struggled to balance her demanding work schedule with GMAT preparation and even considered giving up. Ultimately, she achieved a 690 after an intensive month of preparation, which we planned during her annual leave.

Pearlyn quickly developed a trusting relationship with her MBA strategist, which enabled her to share her life story openly. This revealed her tumultuous teenage years and the significant sacrifice her mother made by leaving a finance executive career to help her get back on track. Despite nearly being expelled from high school (and therefore facing serious consequences), she managed to graduate top of her class (maintaining her independent spirit), leading her to enter one of Asia’s top universities.   

The profound impact of her mother’s sacrifice shaped Pearlyn's perspective, leading us to center her narrative on women's empowerment. This commitment was evident not only in her daily work, where she helped millions of women in Indonesia and the Philippines become micro-entrepreneurs, but also in her activities outside of work. She was a founding member of the Women@ chapter at her firm and spearheaded partnerships with similar chapters at other large tech and financial firms. 

Making it genuine and personal

We took a unique approach to GSB's (in)famous essay prompt, 'What matters to you most?' Although we initially considered highlighting her professional achievements, we concluded that her conceptually structured CV sufficiently showcased her career accomplishments. Consequently, we advised her to write a deeply personal essay, openly discussing her formative teenage years and their impact on her long-term aspirations. As a skilled project manager and tech executive, we crafted her vision to focus on developing an edtech platform in Southeast Asia, aimed at bridging the skills gap between employees and employer needs with a key focus on women. 

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She received the GSB offer, despite a GMAT score 40 points lower than the class’ average.

Pearlyn's admission to GSB demonstrated that authenticity and personal storytelling are key components of a successful application. This is why our strategists invest considerable time getting to know our applicants, helping them to reflect on and understand themselves better. Often, events that might seem insignificant or irrelevant at first can form the cornerstone of a compelling MBA application.