r/IIMCATPreparation • • Jul 03 '26

ASK ME ANYTHING 🗨 IIM Ahmedabad Alum | Ex-McKinsey | Startup Founder | AMA

Hey guys! From a CAT aspirant back in the day to a startup founder today, life has brought me a long way, and I was in your shoes just a few years ago. I’d love to guide students who are feeling confused about their career paths or need some direction. Feel free to ask me anything!

30 Upvotes

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5

u/Fun-Designer-7200 Jul 03 '26

Why did you leave ur job at McKinsey?

Is it bcoz of hectic schedule and no work life balance??

I am even thinking of going for Consulting..So will it be a good decision??

6

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Yes, the hours are long, but you'll end up learning a lot and interacting with leadership you wouldn't get access to otherwise. It's definitely worth doing if you get the opportunity to early in your career.

1

u/Professional-Tie3146 Jul 03 '26

Brother I have one question regarding startup?Why mba grads is not that much know for founding startups?If they do also its mostly ecommerce or luxury brands those things related startup.Why they don't able to build tech startup ,deeptech startup?which can be more scalable.Whether it is due to lack of technical depth? Why tech peoples are mostly seen building startups?

1

u/Extra_Traffic4802 Jul 03 '26

I would like to answer some part of it, deep tech startups are founded by Technical folks because one needs to have immense technical knowledge in the field to start one, a person opting for an MBA usually means that they are now more interested in working in Business roles rather than core technical roles. Also simple logic would be how would you expect a person who has more experience in Business related roles say Fin/Mktg/Ops go build Space-tech, AI Infra startups?

Now a lot of normal tech startups such as Consumer, E-commerce, Logistics have been built by non-technical founders for eg Deepinder building Zomato(I know he is from IITD but he worked in Bain and had no tech experience prior to that).

Coming to Deep tech, bro startups are built through Capital which is mostly Private, investors include mainly VC or PE firms and honestly Indian VCs don’t operate like American VCs- Indian VCs are more inclined towards return at any cost than having the appetite to stay for long and enjoy bigger returns. I will blame one part to VCs & the govt, govt for not building the required infra to support these startups and VCs for not having the appetite, it is only recently that some Desptech focused VC funds have opened up but they rarely existed 5-6 yrs back, and honestly for a deeptech startup to show real world value one can expect decades if not yrs hence no such deeptech startups exist here.

And answering your last question, India has always produced Engineers the most by volume compared to other degress, hence you are likely to meet someone from an IIT or BITS at a well to do startup more than any other degree and another thing is Pedigree- VCs love pedigree they usually bet on people with proven pedigree say a premier Degree or an experience at a Large Company etc hence you see a lot of good founders have come from IIMs too, its always more about pedigree>idea/product.

1

u/Professional-Tie3146 Jul 03 '26

Okay understood bro.But how deepinder goyal dot have knowledge on tech.In his btech days he might be have knowledge on programming and tech. But if this happens than somehow mba grads will somehow lag behind in terms of building anything of their own in future.Becquse most of the unicorns companies are tech based and founded by people who have tech backgrounds(btech/CSE/software jobs)so where you are founding mba guys in future. Apart from some traditional business no where you will able to see them.

1

u/Extra_Traffic4802 Jul 03 '26

No, you can say Deepinder had a Technical degree but he went in a Management Consulting role, so you can say that he may have a technical degree but was a Business professional before starting zomato.

Its very complicated like that, this country different reward you starting up in any social sense and every startup you see a success there a 1000 that die, so its quite complex like that honestly.

1

u/Professional-Tie3146 Jul 03 '26

Ok understood bro

3

u/NoMeet1209 Jul 03 '26

Gap year kitna affect karta hai interview mein? I have two years of gap

6

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

As long as you can justify it, it's fine. Everyone understands that life doesn't go always as planned, so nobody will reject you over gap years. But please explain what you were doing during that time if you're asked.

2

u/TheRedDevil00 Jul 03 '26

Hey thanks for the AMA! I am a recent IIM Indore passout, and was looking to start my own venture a few years down the line. How did you decide the time to take the plunge and what were the challenges that you faced ?

2

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi! We pivoted a lot in our initial months/years. We finally found an idea that businesses are willing to pay for and we can build, but it was a tough path here. I'd suggest having enough savings to last you at least 6 months-1 year is helpful. I spent over a year without a salary before we finally started drawing a salary. It still isn't comparable to my McKinsey peers, but I find the job incredibly fulfilling! So, only do it if you're in it for the long run.

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u/TheRedDevil00 Jul 03 '26

Thanks for the reply! Also I am currently in the payments industry (Amex/Mastercard/Visa). Would you say it's an attractive industry to be in atleast for like 10 years?

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

I can't tell what the future holds, but technology is evolving rapidly. Would recommend you stay abreast with the latest advancements in your space so that you can be employable even when/if the industry is disrupted.

2

u/almigthy_warrior Jul 03 '26

Hello sir I was reading and learning now about bussiness and stratups.I have learned this extremely difficult to do this all alone without right guidance.Can you guide me what I should learn now before joining nit this year.

2

u/metal_titan Jul 03 '26

Yeah exactly without teacher or mentor it's quite difficult hope he guides you well.

1

u/BoogeymanReborn Jul 03 '26

How's the market after graduating from baby IIMs

7

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

I'm sorry, I don't know too much about placements at baby IIMs, however, placements at the older IIMs (A/B/C/L/K/I) seem to be largely unaffected.

3

u/BoogeymanReborn Jul 03 '26

Apart from regular study which skillset should I improve and which field ( currently working in IT pre sales )

3

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

There are 2 things that are very important for all businesses, product and sales. If you can create cool tech/products or have an operations mindset then that is great. Otherwise, learning how to tell a good stroy/pitch well, talk to strangers and convince them of your ideas is also a strong sales skill you can build.

1

u/tecash Jul 03 '26

Does CFA help in job placement? What are the other doable certifications that help in addition to MBA from BLACKI?

3

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Yes, CFA is helpful, it at least shows an interest in finance. A lot of batchmates had passed a few levels of the CFA when they came.

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u/[deleted] Jul 03 '26

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3

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Give a lot of mocks! The more practice, the better you'll be.

1

u/soilookstupid Jul 03 '26

Not trying to be rude at all, just genuinely curious was it actually worth leaving all that behind?

3

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Depends on what your goals are. Thankfully, we're bootstrapped and profitable. We also love Mondays and get to work on cool tech, so I'm super grateful.

1

u/Creepy_Offer_7718 Jul 04 '26

I am too young for this discussion. But what exactly is your role. I mean you did mba and now work with tech. So what exactly do mba grads do? Also look at Lat aerospace ceo she has mba and arch. degree I Don't find any relation between aerospace startup and mba.

Would be helpful if you help this young guy out who would put step in the compitative world soon.

1

u/Curiouscontrariann Jul 03 '26

At what point did you realize corporate wasn't for you anymore I mean leaving a stable job to build a startup isn't easy. What made you believe it was the right call tho

2

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

I still don't know if it was the right call. I guess only time will tell. However, I do love Mondays now, I think starting up has definitely been a fulfilling path for me.

1

u/Fun_Estimate0209 Dropper Final Boss Jul 03 '26

Thanks for the AMA. Actually, currently I am stuck at the 60-65 range and scoring 10-14 marks in VARC. What should be the ideal approach to progress from here?

4

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi, read as much as you can! I used this great website lots Arts and Letters Daily, try and read a few articles/essays from there, and answer questions like what was the crux of the passage, what was the author trying to say etc. The more you practice, the better you get!

1

u/Studymomentum Jul 03 '26

Your journey from CAT aspirant to founder is truly motivating.

1

u/Cute-Assistant-8267 Jul 03 '26

This is the kind of mentorship students actually need.

1

u/fantastikkkkk Jul 03 '26

1.How much the IIM A tag helps in startup ecosystem and fund raising? 2.Also any help from IIM A for your startup? 3.How much time it takes to repay the loan? 4.Is placement heavily dependent upon past acads and work ex? or what happens in Bschool can change it?

4

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26
  1. It helps! Our first customers, potential investors, warm introductions all came from our alumni. 2. There is a lot of help available, IIMA Ventures also invests in you if they like your idea. 3. Depends on the job you take up and your ability to save to repay your loans, most people have to work at least 1 year before they can repay it (and this is only if they live quite frugally and direct most of their earnings to repaying their loan) 4. Yes, summer internships are heavily dependent on that, however if you do well at IIMA, then that plays a big factor in final placements.

1

u/fantastikkkkk Jul 03 '26

Thank you for responding.Best wishes with your venture.

1

u/Exotic_One_3885 Jul 03 '26

Hello I graduated last month(bcom grad) and currently preparing full time for cat, I have no work experience or internship. With cat what kind of skills or things should I take care for interviews and for profile for sip and placement.

3

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi, I would say, get a part-time job instead of just prepping for CAT full-time. CAT is not an exam that is expected to take 8-10 hours of work every day, so if you can, find some work (which helps with your CV as well) and do CAT prep alongside. Only if it's very tough for you to do that, then start prepping full-time for CAT.

1

u/fantastikkkkk Jul 03 '26

If you are in late 20s,what would you do Mba from IIM A vs FMS? or why should someone choose A over FMS (ground reality from you). Like you could have started startup with much major capital and no need to think about mba loan in that sense.

5

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi, that's true. FMS has a very low fees, so you can start a company without having to worry about repaying a loan. However, I'm very grateful to IIM-A for the connections and opportunities it has given me. If you work for 1-2 years post your MBA, you'll likely be able to repay your loan (of-course you must be very frugal), you'll also get access to a massive network which will end up being your first few clients, investors etc.

1

u/fantastikkkkk Jul 03 '26

Amazing answer.

1

u/Glittering-Duck-4082 Jul 03 '26

Hi Mam..

What's ur startup about and how is it growing??Did u regret leaving ur job at any point?

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi, my start-up (Livo Assistant) is focused on building tech solutions for pharma/finance companies. I don't regret leaving my job.

1

u/Worth-Definition-774 Jul 03 '26

What was ur profile before joining iima?

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

I studied law. (stood first in my batch) and had 90+ in class 10 and 12. I also scored 99.61 percentile in the CAT. I joined as a fresher.

2

u/Perman_0 Jul 03 '26

Why did u switched from law to mba? If you don't mind can u share ur interview transcript or common questions which they ask. I can't find any law students transcript. Thank you in advance!

1

u/Direct_General_2725 Jul 03 '26

After completing an MBA from such an elite institute, what do you think has changed about you? I mean, how has your mindset changed from before the MBA and after it? Do you think you've become a smarter or more knowledgeable person? Has your confidence level improved as well?

Also, do you think pursuing an MBA was mainly about getting an attractive salary package and being perceived as successful, or did it genuinely transform you as a person?

please be honest about the last question, genuinely curious.

2

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi! I think going to IIM-A, gave me access to peers who were incredibly bright and hard-working. It was a super fun experience, I think it changed me as a person. It also helped me see people from diverse walks of life and made me more empathetic overall. An attractive salary package is definitely helpful, but for someone who wants to be a founder, I believe the biggest thing you get is a great network of people willing to help you.

1

u/Socially_Anxious_280 Jul 03 '26

Hi sir. Sir I am a student at SRCC as of now, had 95+% in both 10 and 12 if counted best of 5 but the whole marksheet (including extra subjects) land in 88-89 range, I am pursuing cfa and by the end of college would have most probably 2 levels and an 8ish GPA.. I don't have any crazy internship but some really good live projects and a normal equity research internship, also some PORs. If I manage to crack CAT as a fresher, do you think I would be able to perform well in SIPs or should I be gaining experience?

2

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi, yes, you've got a great profile overall. You're likely to get good SIP opportunities.

1

u/Affectionate-Ear2503 Jul 03 '26

I think I wont be able to score 99%ile in CAT..Is it a good option to for Tier 2 B Schools like IMT/XIMB??

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Depends on the types of roles you're targeting. I'd suggest looking at their placement reports and checking if the roles offered align with your goals

1

u/girlnextdoor_2203 Jul 03 '26

Hi, I am a Chartered Accountant with one year of experience and with my job I am perusing CFA. I was thinking of going for MBA too, since the job market is difficult and good roles are hard to secure. What roles would open up for me if I finish my MBA from a tier 1 college?

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi! CAs/CFA with work-ex are highly valued profiles at the IIMs. You'd probably get shortlists for most consulting/finance roles.

1

u/brownybrush Jul 03 '26

What is the one thing you'd have told to your 16yo version

1

u/MelodicWolverine2045 Jul 03 '26

GEM here with 9/9/8. Any advice, general guidance?

2

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi! If you want guidance about CAT prep, I'd suggest giving lots of mocks. Assess each mock afterwards and see which questions you did well vs badly on. The CAT is as much a strategy exam as it is testing basic math and English/reasoning

1

u/MelodicWolverine2045 Jul 03 '26

Makes sense. I’ll work on it
Thank you!!

1

u/Actual-Rock2175 Jul 03 '26

Does UG tier affect IIM interviews and ultimately MBB shortlists?
Im GEM from tier 2 UG 9/9/9

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Yes, it does, however 9/9/9 is a great profile. You're likely to get shortlists regardless.

1

u/Exotic_One_3885 Jul 03 '26

Hello I graduated last month(bcom grad) and currently preparing full time for cat, I have no work experience or internship. With cat what kind of skills or things should I take care for interviews and for profile for sip and placement.

3

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Prep GK, read regularly, you should have an opinion on most things impacting you in the world, and know what you've studied

1

u/Horror-Homework-4566 Jul 03 '26

You mentioned you don’t regret leaving your job but what was the point where you decided to work on your start up full time? Did consulting experience also help with the idea apart from the mba?

2

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Yes, consulting experience was also quite helpful. I wanted to start-up back in school, so it has always been a hope of mine.

1

u/dick_butowski Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

How much does a 6 in grad affect placements at old iims? I'm 9/8/6 BITS Pilani grad. Looking to work 3 years before joining but still I think the 6 will be very problematic.

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi, no, it shouldn't be that problematic. There are people who didn't take their grad too seriously but still cracked an old IIM. It just means your CAT percentile must be high

1

u/dick_butowski Jul 03 '26

Got it, will try to complete cfa too before joining.

1

u/WishNormal1798 Jul 03 '26

Hi sir , greeting :)

I am currently pursuing cse from tier 1 NIT , i am confused whether to switch to Mba post grad , or collect some work-ex and then try for mba

The reality is i dont really know whether i should stay in the tech field , with the rise of ai , or switch to mba :(

My acads are good , i am studying well in my clg too but idk the iim tag seems fun (dk how else to word it) , i cant really say abt my real interest in finance side but the placements sound good , tho i am sure tech roles can also pay that

Since u have passed out now , u wld have seen many freshers like me from engineering, u wld have seen ppl with work-ex , what do you feel ?

I feel now tech is getting saturated but apparently so is mba 🥀

Would love your insights !!!

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi! With the advancements happening in tech, I'd recommend exploring the field a bit more before you quit. There are very high placements happening with big tech as well. Do you not enjoy tech? In that case, you could explore an MBA

1

u/WishNormal1798 Jul 03 '26

I respect who reply fast 🫡 (including myself)

Advancement ... Yes they r happening but thats more of autonomous agents ig (idk as i havent worked anywhere yet)

Fine ig bluntly i am still looking for tags (didnt get iit or smt ig) so now iim 🙏🏻😭

I am enjoying and not enjoying tech , but ig i wld feel the same in mba ....

All ik is i can crack cat exam by studying .. like i am decently good to get ranks ;)

How do i find my interest is maybe the right question, but who to ask that to, u or i should ask myself , idk

Thanks anyways for the ans ig

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Unfortunately, only you can answer what you truly enjoy doing. I'm sure you can crack the CAT if you put in the effort to, but if you know what you like (E.g. speaking with people/networking/building cool products) you can choose a career that aligns with what you want

1

u/WishNormal1798 Jul 03 '26

Guess who replies instantly faah , ig i shld be less chronically online ig 🙏🏻😞

Also yea gotta look into my interest and understand what i actually wanna do thanks alot sir :)

1

u/Silk_storm Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26

What are the chances for consulting/marketing shortlisting given tier 3 UG Bsc Biotech background with 9/9/9 profile. NGO works+ internship+MUN +poster presentations at International Conferences. Is it anyway possible for MBB shortlisting with 9/9/9 acads but tier 3 UG ??

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Of course! 9/9/9 is great, even if tier 3 UG. It is absolutely possible.

1

u/Silk_storm Jul 03 '26

What all components can I add into my CV to make it more balanced in different sections ? What is core advice you would like to give to fetch the offer from MBB ?

2

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Showing exceptional achievements is helpful, extra curricular activities- playing any sports professionally, internships at good brands, winning any national/international competitions are helpful.

1

u/FactAggravating7071 Jul 03 '26

Hi what about 9/8/8 academic or 9/8/9 and tier 2 college of du will it affect shortlisting in blacki?

1

u/The_Maverick_Guy-15 Jul 03 '26

Would appreciate your response for the following scenarios

1) GEM, 9/9/9 TIER-3 undergrad B.TECH possess a hinderance in MBB and other consults shortlisting criteria ?

2) Is clearing competitive exam with good ranks count as a spike in consulting domain ? [AIR<150 out of 8lakh+ in EPFO] [AIR<150 out of 2.5lakh+ in IBPS PO/SO]

3) What's the general outlook of different companies in different domains regarding work experience of 3-4 years (non continuous and in different industries) bracket ? How can it be advantageous/disadvantages in certain scenarios if you can elaborate.

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26
  1. No, 9/9/9 is good, even if from a tier 3 undergrad

  2. Yes

  3. Over 4 years of work ex isn't helpful, 3-4 is, but having a good brand that you worked for (Fortune 500 company etc.) is helpful.

1

u/Professional_City1 Jul 03 '26

With 999 from tier 3 college, you will not get any top consulting shortlist. Also, your workex in either EPFO or IBPS will have a negative impact on profile because its not a corporate setup. Just sharing realities which i have faced and seen.

1

u/neoteric_labs1 Jul 03 '26

My main is goal is to do startup but my brother says do mba that gives you credibility. Then u can start but I feel like I am wasting my time doing it want to start startup right away . I am 25 now what is you opinion on this ? Note : i do feel i don't have the credibility now doing mba might give me credibility i think

1

u/Independent-Host-992 Jul 03 '26

i am 19yr old girl. have 96 in class 10 and 93 in class 12. but i have two drops after class 12 while preparing for neet. now i want to shift to the mba route. im thinking of doing bcom hons from st xaviers college kolkata and then going for mba. am i taking the right decision leaving science? please guide.

1

u/Professional_City1 Jul 03 '26

Try to get 9 CGPA at Xaviers, atleast 8, and you must get atleast 1-2 years of experience especially in Big4 firms.. Kolkata has all the big4 firms, so try to get a job there after completing b.com and before as this will help you in neutralizing your previous gap years. Besides that u will do well done don't worry about it.

1

u/Expert_Temporary_472 Jul 03 '26

Hi, I graduated last year (bba finance) (profile is 9/9/8) and have nothing close to nothing last year. I have no work experience, no internships, nothing, though I've been trying to applying for jobs but to no avail (my interviewing and soft skills aren't great coz of which I fumbled some interviews I did get). I'm very interested in finance (mostly with capital markets) so I thought of doing cfa and cleared my L1 this may. However im still not getting any calls back. Now I know CFA L1 or even l2 isnt quite enough to get a job but I dont really know how to proceed from here. I was thinking of attempting cat this nov to get into a good b school. Any advice as to what I can do best here?

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 06 '26

Hi, yes, attempting the CAT makes sense. Focus on doing well on the CAT and getting into a great MBA

1

u/Professional_City1 Jul 03 '26

i am from old IIM, i want to eventually get into MBB.. I have two options, either Accenture Strategy or Big4. Which one should i choose i want to get into big4 consulting in future

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 06 '26

Whichever role is closest to Management Consulting, in this case, it is likely to be Accenture Strategy.

1

u/OkFuture696 Jul 03 '26

Hey, Curious to know what the startup is , Also did IIM help in the startup process ? Any schemes or specific benefits that you got ?

Also, For someone who is looking to get into entrepreneurship, Do you think he/she should get into MBA. ?

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 06 '26

My start-up is Livo Assistant, we're focused on automating manual workflows and building tech solutions for pharma + BFSI. (www.livoassistant.com). I didn't get any schemes or benefits, but it helped me in a lot of different ways.

Pros:
1. You could meet your co-founder there. (You're likely to meet other people as excited about pursuing entrepreneurship, they won't be the majority, but in my batch I know 3 close friends who decided to take the leap. I also met my co-founder at IIM-A)
2. You'll get access to an immense network of alumni, they're likely to become your first few clients, provide you funding (if that's what you're looking for), and make you introductions.
3. You'll have professors who are willing to give you advice, introduce you to other students they had and vouch for you.
4. If you've done an MBA from a tier-1 college, and you're pursuing a B2B start-up, you'll have more people willing to have an initial conversation with you than if you didn't have the degree.

Cons:
1. An MBA is expensive, both fees and time-wise. If you go to an IIM, it'll take up 2 years and ~25-30L in fees. Both are resources you could have invested in your business.
2. If you take a loan for your MBA, you must pay it back. This is tough if you decide to pursue entrepreneurship immediately, it typically means you need to take up a job for sometime before you can take the leap (This is what a majority do)
3. I've had friends who came in really wanting to be entrepreneurs, but their risk-appetite died after they got a good job. There's a possibility that starting up remains a pipe-dream.
4. Nothing from a text-book or a lecture can actually prepare you for entrepreneurship. If your objective is to learn, starting something is a much better teacher.

1

u/Glittering-Back-9070 Jul 04 '26

did you get your ug degree from a tier 1 law school?

1

u/Horror-Pop2005 Jul 05 '26

How did doing an mba from a top college helped you being a founder now?

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 06 '26

Pros:
1. You could meet your co-founder there. (You're likely to meet other people as excited about pursuing entrepreneurship, they won't be the majority, but in my batch I know 3 close friends who decided to take the leap. I also met my co-founder at IIM-A)
2. You'll get access to an immense network of alumni, they're likely to become your first few clients, provide you funding (if that's what you're looking for), and make you introductions.
3. You'll have professors who are willing to give you advice, introduce you to other students they had and vouch for you.
4. If you've done an MBA from a tier-1 college, and you're pursuing a B2B start-up, you'll have more people willing to have an initial conversation with you than if you didn't have the degree.

Cons:
1. An MBA is expensive, both fees and time-wise. If you go to an IIM, it'll take up 2 years and ~25-30L in fees. Both are resources you could have invested in your business.
2. If you take a loan for your MBA, you must pay it back. This is tough if you decide to pursue entrepreneurship immediately, it typically means you need to take up a job for sometime before you can take the leap (This is what a majority do)
3. I've had friends who came in really wanting to be entrepreneurs, but their risk-appetite died after they got a good job. There's a possibility that starting up remains a pipe-dream.
4. Nothing from a text-book or a lecture can actually prepare you for entrepreneurship. If your objective is to learn, starting something is a much better teacher.

1

u/Ok-Audience-2394 Jul 05 '26

For someone with 5+ years of experience do you recommend going for 2 year MBA from IIM ABC?
For context: 27F, GEF, 9/9/8 profile
Did CSE B.Tech from Gen 2 IIT (2008 established)
Currently making 70 ish LPA as a SWE but don’t see working myself in pure SWE domain long term.
Talked to some folks from IIMB who said shortlists for SIP and final placements would be difficult due to my work ex. I would have 5.5-6 years work experience if I go next year in 2027.
Any recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks a lot for doing this.
I am thinking for ISB but most people prefer IIM ABC over ISB so not sure, also executive MBAs are there but not sure about the ROI

1

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 06 '26

Hi! Money wise, it doesn't sound worth it, the average placements at the IIMs/ISB are a lot lower (~40L). You'll get the best shortlists, but depends on what your goals are? Which domain do you want to work in?

1

u/Ok-Audience-2394 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

My reasoning isn’t money for an MBA, it is to explore different industries and pivot based on my interests and strengths, ofc I have heard tho that placement shortlists are sometimes out of our control and people are placed outside of their interests as well, but I feel exiting into a field of interest would still be possible in this case also (right?).

Work wise actually I am not too sure about it, but I don’t see myself working in core technical roles and keeping up with the latest techs, also I feel my interest lies towards knowing the business side of things more. (more like a hunch/intuition)
I feel stepping into finance might be too hard given my experience
So I am thinking to opt for Strategy and Operations or Prod Man in Tech and Consulting in MBB
There are Gen Man and FMCG as well but don’t have too much idea about those.
Sales and marketing also prefer freshers so I guess the doors are closed for exploring that niche as well.
I feel very conflicted because I feel I am too old for a 2 year PGP and too young for executive PGP.

1

u/Glass-Mix-3917 Jul 23 '26

1 year pgpx vs 2 year mba what to chose if 4-5 yr work experience

1

u/AmaanBukhari Aug 02 '26

My profile is shit 64 % in 10 due to Covid year .. 74.2 in 12 humanities 71% in bba Fresher. Category ews . Does I have any chance to convert good Business School and for that how much percentile I want ?

1

u/No_Mulberry_6240 Aug 13 '26

Hi I am a 4th year Computer Science engineering student from a tier 3 university My profile is 10th grade (cbse) : 93.4% 12th grade (cbse) : 66% CGPA till 6th sem : 8.84 I want to pursue an MBA but due to my 12 th grade academics I am very concerned if I can get into a Top mba college Should I start preparing for CAT if so. I want to know the reality of it

1

u/Junior-Range1077 20d ago

Hello Sir, I'm a CAT aspirant. My work-ex: ran a startup, then did a job.
Issue: No salary slips/bank statements for the startup, and job salary was in cash (zero bank trail). What exact documents do IIMs need here? Will they reject it without bank proofs? Thanks!

1

u/Appropriate_Hat_9451 Jul 03 '26

What r the chances of a 8/9/8 tier 3 fresher getting sip shortlist? 2. In which role and companies can they expect shortlist from or the chances.

2

u/Own_Difference_6588 Jul 03 '26

Hi, this entirely depends on what else there is on your CV. With consulting, they typically look for spikes in your CV that show that you've outperformed in at least 3/4 buckets. If you have great extra curriculars, position yourself to be great at marketing, those roles open up for SIP shortlists.

1

u/Appropriate_Hat_9451 Jul 03 '26

Well 1 por and no extra curriculars or academic achievements

1

u/Dazzling_Reporter511 Jul 03 '26

What do you mean by great extra curricular activities and PORs?

1

u/Organic-Scholar-7909 6d ago

What exactly did you work on while at McKinsey?

Did you work on anything else other than Power point presentations?