Tanvi Mittal, IESE Business School MBA Class of 2025
Tanvi Mittal, IESE Business School MBA Class of 2025Age: 28
Hometown: India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Thapar University, Computer science engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Technical consultant, Microsoft; Machine Learning Lead, Skit.ai
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I had specialised in computer science and machine learning through my previous academic degrees. Even though I had enough technical depth, I wanted to bridge the gap to understand how leadership takes decision keeping business priorities in mind. And it was this gap, that led me to pursue my MBA.
Why did you choose IESE? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
My top 3 factors were:
1. Academic rigour – IESE’s program is case based which translates to 3 cases per day. This makes the discussion extremely engaging and application based, not merely theoretical.
2. Diversity of the class – My class consists of over 50+ nationalities, gender diversity and obviously diversity of backgrounds. All in all, there’s new to learn everyday.
3. School’s prestige – IESE is not only a great target school of consulting, it also is ranked #3 on FT, which made it a highly top ranked choice for me while deciding on my MBA schools.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
- My background in technology especially in cutting world of analytics, Machine Learning and AI.
- My first-principle thinking which helps elevate the class discussions in moments of confusion.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
- I won a beer chugging competition for downing the beer in 6 seconds.
- I can remember most of my dreams, the next morning.
Post-MBA career interests:
Choice 1: Strategy Consulting. Choice 2: Product Manager at a tech company
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Take GMAT prep seriously. GMAT score is undoubtedly vital for a strong application, but the preparation for GMAT, both Quant and Verbal, is absolutely crucial for the rigorous MBA program that follows.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Specific to GMAT again, book your exam 2-3 months prior. Do not wait for the day when you feel prepared to book the exam. Booking the exam in advance puts that pressure and helps you focus your prep much better.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I engaged with a consulting company to help me with essays initially. They did such a terrible job that I discontinued their services mid-way. Vet your consultants properly if you decide to go that route but still better yet, write your essays yourself. The more introspective you get, the more perspective you are able to build for your goals.
What is your initial impression of the IESE students/culture/community?
IESE community is very supportive and approachable. True to what I heard, IESE’s community is always there to lend a helping hand.
What is one thing you have learned about IESE Business School that has surprised you?
IESE is religious as a school yet it is quite liberal and accepting of people from across ethnicities and religions.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The fine art of balancing academics, internships, extra-curriculars. It always feels like you are missing out on something important.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
To absorb as much as I can from my peers and classroom and become more efficient with my time.
