From IIT-B to Bain to Boston | Abhinav Received Admits From Harvard, Wharton, Booth, and Columbia
Abhinav was born and raised in Mumbai, completing his education, including his engineering degree at IIT Bombay, in the city. Growing up in a multicultural environment, he was exposed to diverse perspectives, which later helped him adapt to different professional settings. Due to his father’s work abroad, Abhinav spent much of his childhood with his mother, occasionally traveling to visit his father in various countries. These early experiences helped shape his global outlook and ability to connect with people from varied backgrounds.
During his time at IIT Bombay, Abhinav explored multiple career paths. Initially intrigued by engineering, he realized that while some aspects fascinated him, others didn’t align with his long-term aspirations. Seeking alternatives, he interned at Strategy& in strategy consulting. This experience introduced him to problem-solving, structured thinking, and the fast-paced environment of consulting. Parallely, he also took on a leadership role as a core member of Mood Indigo, one of Asia’s largest college cultural festivals, further reinforcing his interest in working with diverse teams and tackling complex challenges.
Recognizing the steep learning curve and the possibility of creating a high-impact working in consulting, Abhinav set his sights on Bain & Company. To deepen his understanding of the firm, he connected with various folks and sought mentorship from seniors. In this research, he was drawn to Bain’s people-first culture and problem-solving approach, ultimately securing a role as a consultant.
At Bain, Abhinav worked extensively across private equity, consumer tech, and healthcare sectors. His engagements included due diligence, portfolio strategy, and market expansion for high-growth firms. His most transformative experience came during a secondment at boAt, an Indian consumer electronics leader. At boAt, he witnessed firsthand how strategic decisions were executed, gaining exposure to profitability analysis, new market expansion, and product launches for different products, including smart rings.
This hands-on experience validated his passion for consumer-facing businesses, particularly in consumer tech. He realized that while consulting provided broad exposure, he wanted to take a more hands-on leadership role in the industry. This insight led him to decide that he wants to pursue an MBA to transition from consulting into a leadership position within consumer tech.
Luckily, he had already taken the GMAT during the pandemic in 2020, scoring a strong 750, so he directly moved towards step number two.
Understanding the importance of strategic storytelling in MBA applications, Abhinav sought guidance from Admissions Gateway. He connected with Rajdeep based on recommendations from IIT alumni and Bain colleagues. In Abhinav’s words, “Our initial conversations were candid and insightful, helping me reflect and identify my strongest stories.”
Together, they refined his resume, crafted compelling essays that authentically reflected his journey, and submitted MBA applications to Wharton, Columbia, HBS, and Booth.
Abhinav’s hard work, dedication, and commitment paid off when he received admits from all four: Harvard, Wharton, Booth, and Columbia. After careful consideration, he’s decided to join HBS this fall.
As Abhinav looks forward to his MBA journey, he is excited to immerse himself in consumer tech, leveraging his consulting expertise to drive innovation and business growth in the sector.
To read more such stories of folks who got into their dream business schools to pursue their lifelong passion, check out our success stories.