Stanford GSB
You don’t stand a chance”.
India’s top-ranked P&Q-rated consultant told me as I expressed my desire to apply to GSB.
I was dejected but not delusional, I knew my chances were limited but not 0.
A consultant in the industry recommended Neha. This was the first time I heard one top- rated consultant saying such great things about another. I was intrigued.
During my first conversation with Neha, I learned why.
Neha also knew my chances were slim but instead of changing our destination, she adjusted the sails and taught me how to steer.
The journey is the reward, and it truly was for me. Exploring events from my early childhood days till the presentation I made to my team yesterday, and taking a 30K ft view of it helped me understand myself better. This elevated self-awareness has helped me address my biases and challenges better.
Neha is not just another consultant; she is a true coach
MBA admissions is a very draining process; make sure you pick the right partner; make sure you pick a coach and not a consultant 🙂
Wharton
Neha has been an amazing mentor through the application process for me-no less at a time when she was expecting a baby herself. She took the time out to repeatedly edit my essays, mentor me, be patient with me even when I was stubborn or wrong-and never refrained from speaking the truth. I have had a relatively long and very successful career in Private Equity, but she helped me go back to basics and really view my experiences in the right context-separating false pride from true achievements and helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses so I could begin to work on both. Her resilience comes from the way she bounced back a mere month after delivering her baby to help me with my Columbia interviews. Always professional and kind-her ideas, thoughts and inspiration made all the difference. I am a different person now than when I started with Seven Hats. And I owe it all to her unique philosophy and genuine passion for mentoring.
Private Equity
From Harvard, Wharton and Booth admit
As someone who likes to do things on their own, I was looking for a consultant who would coach me and bring out my voice rather than influence me to fit into a defined profile. When I talked to Neha, I knew right away that she believed in authenticity more than anything else – not trying to change a person into an “ideal” version but bringing out their unique strengths in a way that speaks to others.
Neha takes the time to get to know you – from what inspired you as a kid to what you learned in college to what kind of impact you are trying to create at work. She is an excellent resource in helping you connect the dots and do some deep introspection – laying the groundwork for the entire application.
Where her coaching distinctly stood out for me was the interview preparation – she went deep into why I had done the things I did – my motivations, my approach to decision- making, and my hope for the future. She asked me the “big questions” and helped me communicate my thoughts so I would feel comfortable doing so during the interviews – always focusing on enhancing my unique style. When I was worried or anxious, she urged me to trust myself – reminding me of all I had accomplished so far and helping me stay positive.
Neha is a terrific coach. She will always tell you the truth no matter how hard it is to hear sometimes. She will support your goals and will not dismiss anything as impossible (difficult, yes, but not impossible). Getting accepted into the schools I was aiming for would have been much harder without the training and support I received from Neha.
Columbia Business School
In my MBA journey, Neha was not just my consultant, but also my friend, mentor, and biggest cheerleader. She guided me through the various anxieties that arise throughout the process, always without judgment. Every conversation with her left me feeling energized, and working alongside Neha transformed the entire application process into something enjoyable and exciting with many possibilities.
We delved deep into my story, which allowed me to see myself in a new light! Her emphasis on uncovering and showcasing what makes me unique felt genuine and authentic, and boosted my confidence in my applications. Working with Neha went beyond merely applying to an MBA program; she focused on shaping me into a well- rounded individual. With her help, I was able to clearly articulate my goals, passions, and what motivates me. Moreover, she generously shared her extensive network and recommended relevant resources to help me deepen my interests and expertise. Her creativity in crafting essays and preparing for interviews enabled me to present my story in a compelling and concise manner. She consistently pushed me, ardently believing in me, especially when I did not so myself.
Furthermore, Neha doesn’t chase brand names; instead, she focuses on finding the school that aligns best with your personality and personal and professional aspirations. I am immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Neha, and I cannot recommend her enough.
Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
Neha was the only consultant I spoke to before embarking on the process for MBA admissions. While I had heard positive reviews from close friends who had been accepted to HBS, my first conversation with her strongly reaffirmed my thoughts- her focus was not on force fitting frameworks or solely defining potential as per traditional schools of thought, it was on whether I will be able to introspect and navigate the process through an authentic lens.
The Seven hats approach of systematically first understanding my life story in depth was a key differentiator according to me. We spent hours discussing each milestone and moment of my life, small or big, and Neha would ask just the right questions to make me question my beliefs and get to the truth. She also made the process very comfortable for me, which helped me share my story, even parts that I would have shared only with friends, with her. Before we had even begun writing first drafts, I knew that we were on the same page and more importantly felt very confident about the direction we would take.
The process of writing, editing and re-editing is very gruesome for any candidate, but Neha was very supportive throughout and very patient with me. She motivated me in times when I was tired of the process and ensured we fine tuned it till we both were completely satisfied with the output. Had it been for me, I would have stopped at version 10, but Neha made sure we got to the best output till version 20! When we had to change my essay days before the deadline due to life updates, which needed to be incorporated, she was more patient and calm than I was and helped me re-piece everything together.
Neha also helped me prepare for my interviews for each school, even if I had not applied for those schools with her. She gave valuable inputs on how to approach each interview format and helped me calm my nerves before some of them! She was a true partner in the process for me, I always felt like she had my back.
I was able to independently apply to multiple other schools in a very efficient manner because of the Seven hats approach. I overall managed to get into Stanford GSB and also got admits from Kellogg and Chicago Booth. I would highly recommend her to future B-school aspirants and suggest getting on a call with her to see if you are ready to take the plunge with the Seven Hats approach.
Tech
Columbia Business School (Background, Global Tech)
It really is a monumental task to apply for an MBA in US. The sheer volume of unique requirements for multiple schools seems overwhelming, but if you can choose 1 person to help you along the way, I would say, pick Neha. For me, working with Neha has set new standards on what it means to have a coach.Neha has been with me every step of the way – she kept faith in me despitemy low GMAT scores – she stuck with me through my countless requests for interview mocks. Neha gave me the confidence to not only shoot for the moon but also conquer it.
What you need to know about Neha is that,
Neha doesn’t come in with a pre-determined picture of who you might be. She respects that you’ve lived a unique life, tries to understands it and then take it from there to help craft the perfect story to represent your best self to various adcoms.
To show how much dedication Neha puts with every student,2 instances come to my mind, Starting earlier gave us the benefit of finishing couple applications by May. But even after that, she revisited our earlier work, found that we could make it stronger. I can’t evendescribe how many versions of editing we went throughsince we craftedmultiple essays twice. She will not stop until something is authentic and perfect, and does not run by the clock in terms of what she has to offer you. She will put things through fire, and ensure you come out the other side as a winner. I received interviews from all the schools (HBS, GSB, Columbia, Wharton, Kellogg), was finally waitlisted and HBS and GSB and will be heading to Columbia with a US$100,000 scholarship! Her process starts with a deep understanding of what makes you you. I was surprised that Neha remembered these situations much later in the process,even though I forgot about them, to help craft the optimal response for the interviews. Neha is a wonderful coach who would believe in you more than you currently do yourself, and I wholeheartedly recommend her for anyone looking to pursue higher education
Harvard Business School (Background, ImpactVC)
Before choosing a consultant, I had done an elaborate exercise, probably speaking to all the consultants that exist. For every consultant I considered workingwith, I spoke to atleast 5 students who had worked with them – including those who didn’t get their desired outcome. Everyonewho had workedwith Neha in the past had the same thing to say about her – she is like no other – and now at the end of this journey I can truly appreciate why.
She starts the process by helping you understand yourself better, finally clawing deep inside you to create a storyline that will be so unique to you, and yet so real. I am not exaggerating one bit when I say she is an extremely intelligent individual, and having her on my side was truly game changer for me. Her selfless passion to help me succeed, even when it meant spending more time with me, was what made all the difference in my result.
The time she puts in upfront getting to know you, also makes her an insightful and empathetic interview coach. She put her heart and soul in helping me prepare for the final lap of the HBS interview – playing the role of a coach, friend, teacher and a true well- wisher – helping me overcome my insecurities, nervousness and sometimes even imperfect professional knowledge.
Finally, be ready for some strict feedback, which you betterlearn to appreciate, for your own good 🙂
MIT Sloan
I got Neha’s reference from a good friend. After talking to her on phone, I was convinced that she was the right person to guide me in my business school applications. I wanted to apply to only top 5-6 business schools in the U.S. and therefore, wanted to work with someone who is absolutely best at what they do. Needless to say, Neha exceeded my expectations.
She diligently worked with me on understanding my life experiences, the decisions I have made, my motivation behind those decisions and many other nuances that can easily be missed. She handled my entire application process personally and was very attentive to small details. I was most impressed with her ability to extract a compelling story out of my entire experience, which formed the basis of all my b-school applications. I was myself surprised to see how significant my achievements were, and how compelling my personal and professional story was. I looked and became a much stronger candidate through the lens that she provided.
Her expertise and efforts directly helped me get interviews from Stanford, MIT, Wharton and Berkeley. Eventually, I received admission offer from MIT, and I’m awaiting positive results from Wharton and Berkeley. It was a pleasure to work with Neha and I couldn’t have achieved these results without her help. She deeply understands the subtle differences in how different business schools look at candidates, and helped me tailor my applications accordingly.
CEO of Fin-Tech Start-up
Wharton, Columbia Business School
Neha is a true partner in this process, forcing you to challenge established notions of your understanding of your own story, and your understanding of what it really takes to get into a top MBA program. You will not just go through the process methodically with her to achieve your objectives, but be forced to think about areas of your life that you thought were purely yours, and not ones that could be shared to build a narrative of a sense of self through the process. She has not only helped me secure admits, but find my voice, and find my story. I will carry this power through my life into my future. There are not many people who come along in your life genuinely interested in the tucked away corners of your life, and gets you to love your own story. She is one of those rare gems. You will change your life by working with her.
Private Equity
Harvard Business School
Neha is a firm, diligent and caring consultant. After switching to Neha from a previous, very expensive and famous global consultant, I realized how my previous consultant was lacking in professional and personal attributes. Because I was working full time and approaching applications deadline, Neha paid great attention to my situation and accordingly planned for the each item’s delivery. In addition, although she works with other clients, I always felt as if I am the only client because every time we had a call she remembered every bit of my profile and application that I myself had considered trivial or unimportant or just forgot. If that tells me anything, it tells that Neha is very passionate about helping a student, very dedicated and thorough in here assessments. Also I have to mention that her firm, structural and scientific method comes from her background; she is a Upenn and Columbia student !! Therefore if anyone is aspiring to attend top schools, you are definitely with someone who shares the same values!”
Private Equity, The Middle East
Harvard Business School and Stanford(Global Multilateral Organization)
Neha’s optimistic/ inspiring approach to the application process is like none other. Neha wants to know you, and her approach to getting to know you is deep, inspiring and meaningful. The b-school application process can too often feel stressful/ exhausting, but Neha is able to make it energizing (whichis incredibly rare). This qualityreally stood out to me from our very first call, and is the reason I was able to make it through the process.
Neha spends time upfront getting to know you and once she truly understands you, she is an incredible collaborator through the process. She remembered specifics of the stories I told her months before, and used them in critical instances to inspire me.
She acts like a friend,life-coach, teacher all rolled into one. I remember feeling like I wasn’t doing well through the interview prep process and she said “just be yourself, if they don’t want you for you, you shouldn’t want them either”.I think that was something I needed to hear. Neha is an incredibly positive force, one that you want on your side through this process.
It is clear that Neha is a pro at what she does. I particularly found her input through the writing process very insightful. Neha came to one of our calls (close to the deadline) and said ‘I don’t think this essay is good enough yet, let’s try another approach’. I was incredibly nervous to try the structure she was suggesting, but am so thankful that she pushed back. The resulting essay was truly something that I loved. Neha will never do something that you don’t want to do, but she is not afraid to push you to write your story in the best way that you possibly can. Neha is a magician when it comes to editing/ adding ideas to your essay. As we went back and forth on making edits to my essay, I would always excitedly wait to see what new ideas she had suggested. She made the writing process feel truly exciting and fulfilling. I had an absolutely wonderful time working with Neha, and can’t recommend her enough.
Harvard Business School
Working with Neha was an absolute pleasure! Her expertise and dedication truly set her apart. From our initial conversations to the final application submissions, she guided me through every step of the process with unparalleled support and insight. She demonstrated a deep understanding of the nuances of each program I was applying to and provided tailored advice that maximized my chances of success. Her attention to detail was exceptional.
What I appreciated most was Neha’s genuine investment in my success. She took the time to understand my unique background, aspirations, and strengths, crafting a compelling narrative that truly showcased my potential to admissions committees. She went beyond her role as an advisor to provide holistic mentorship, encouraging and counseling me every step of the way.
I wholeheartedly recommend Neha to anyone seeking support in their admissions journey. Her commitment to excellence and personalized approach make her a standout choice in the field. Thank you, Neha, for your invaluable assistance and unwavering support!
