First, Alex and Graham, I love your podcast!! I am a very long-time listener (2years+) If I'm featured that would be cool!
African (from French-speaking Africa) that moved to central Europe for undergrad and now works here.
Studied Business at U-grad at a tier 3 school.
Out of u-grad I worked on a healthcare startup focused on Africa but was not successful due to my partner falling ill and passing. I was then hired to work in Business Development, helping healthcare companies expand their footprint in Europe at a small boutique firm. Due to COVID-19, I was laid off but bounced back at an F500 tech firm as part of a selective early-in-career development program for top talent in sales and engineering. My role is entry-level but looking at a promotion in the upcoming months.
I hope to get my MBA to go back to Africa and work on helping small healthcare firms grow and find funding but short term I am hesitant between going into consulting which will help me gain skills to solve problems or going into investment banking which will help me gain technical skills to help healthcare firms back in Africa raise money. I feel that consulting fits my story best. What do you think?
Worth mentioning, I started a foundation following the death of my partner to find & support other kids like him in Africa who have the dream to change the world. I am LGBT, my extracurricular activities revolve around that since u-grad & at work. I am also a poet.
My low GPA is because of a startup I worked on in U-grad that helped me pay for my school fees and living expenses and support my family back home.
Intend to apply to schools that are known in Africa but also have a network on the continent. Wharton/Lauder is my top choice.
I have a couple of questions.
1. I would love to know, how important is my promotion if my current career has no relevance to my post-MBA goals? Should I apply in R1 even without promotion, or wait for R2 after I get it?
2. I would have 3 years of post-grad we by the time I apply, is that enough?