IIT Bombay → P&G → Harvard Business School — Anish Kulkarni's Unexpected MBA Journey

From manufacturing Pampers at a Hyderabad plant to cracking an admit at Harvard Business School, Anish Kulkarni's journey is anything but conventional. In this candid conversation, our Senior Consultant Gunjan Jhunjhunwala talks with Anish Kulkarni (IIT Bombay, P&G | HBS Class of 2028) to talk about overcoming self-doubt as an Indian applicant, his GMAT strategy, the power of authentic storytelling in essays, and why being "non-traditional" can actually be your biggest strength. If you've ever wondered whether your profile is "good enough" for a top MBA, this one's for you. 📌 What's Covered 00:00 Introduction | Harvard Business School Admit Anish Kulkarni 01:04 Why I Chose an MBA Instead of a PhD | The Turning Point 03:32 Biggest MBA Application Fears | Am I Good Enough? Can I Afford It? 06:20 GMAT Focus Strategy | How I Scored 725 (99th Percentile) 09:34 MBA Essays & Self-Reflection | Building an Authentic Personal Brand 11:17 Biggest MBA Essay Mistakes Applicants Make 12:21 Why Storytelling Matters More Than Your Resume 13:23 Defining Career Goals | From Execution to Business Strategy 14:26 Coffee Chats & Networking | Connecting with MBA Alumni 15:47 How Structured MBA Admissions Consulting Helped 18:21 Why Accountability Can Make or Break Your Application 19:13 Harvard Business School Interview Experience | What Really Happens 21:11 Staying Calm During an Intense MBA Interview 23:44 Actual HBS Interview Questions & What They Tested 26:48 Post-Interview Reflection (PIR) | The Most Underrated Step 29:20 The Harvard Admit Moment | Opening the Acceptance Letter 30:30 The Sacrifices Behind a Top MBA Admit 32:38 Dreams That Became Possible After HBS Admission 34:18 What Was My Biggest Differentiator in Admissions? 35:30 Rapid Fire MBA Admissions Advice 36:02 Biggest MBA Admissions Myths 36:16 Stop Over-Optimising Your GMAT Score 36:47 Most Underrated Part of the MBA Application 37:22 The One Quality Top Business Schools Really Value 37:46 Biggest Regret | Don't Leave Applications Until the Last Minute 38:42 Best MBA Resources for Interview Preparation 39:24 Coffee Chats vs Rankings | What Actually Matters? 39:44 The Hardest Part of the MBA Journey 41:12 Final Advice for Future MBA Applicants #HarvardBusinessSchool #HBS #MBA #MBAJourney #HBSAdmit #MBAAdmissions #CoffeeChat #IndianMBAApplicants #IITBombay Thinking about applying? Connect with The Red Pen for personalised MBA admissions guidance. Book a free consultation: [email protected] | +91 77807 69732 https://theredpenmba.com/book-an-appo...