Karan Saini is Passionate About Clean Tech.
Karan has just finished a very successful MBA application process. This fall he will be going to Kellogg. Karan also received admits from Columbia and Ross, with $100K of scholarships.
Karan was raised by a single mother who he says taught him to be questioning and always gave him the support and freedom to find his own path in life. He excelled in school and while for most Indian children, this would mean getting pushed into engineering, Karan chose to get a B.A. Eco. Hons. Degree from Hindu College.
After getting a campus placement at Bain & Company, Karan got his first taste of public and social sector work when Bain took on a pro-bono engagement with the Prime Minister’s Office for the Government of India. Karan helped build the PMO’s campaign for the World Economic Forum at Davos, pitching India as an investor friendly destination; resulting in a record $62 Billion in FDI.
With PE experience under his belt, Karan joined EV battery-tech start-up, SUN Mobility, as he wanted both start-up experience and was developing a keen interest in clean-tech. Living in New Delhi, he was keenly aware of the effects the notoriously polluted capital has on its residents. Karan worked with private and public sector giants like Uber, Piaggio and Indian Oil to hasten fleet EV adoption via batteries-as-a-service for 2/3wheelers and buses. He also worked with the Delhi Government, helping shape their EV policies aimed at driving EV adoption and curbing emissions.
During the pandemic, Karan volunteered at P-Manifold EV academy, helping develop upskilling courses for laid-off auto workers, qualifying them for retro-fitment of vehicles as EV’s.
With 2 years of PE consulting experience and 2 years of start-up experience, Karan decided it was time for an MBA. He says that while he knew he wanted to target an M7 school, he was unclear about the individual rankings of the top schools.
While colleagues at Bain recommended Admissions Gateway, Karan says he spoke with other consultants in India and the US as well. He decided to work with Admissions Gateway based on the instant rapport they developed and their extensive experience with Bain employees.
He spent a month with Admissions Gateway, deciding on schools and sorting them into ‘dream’, ‘realistic’ and ‘safety’ tranches. Karan says that working with Admissions Gateway brought a strategic lens to each part of the application process, from his resume to his goals. He says that while the process was rigorous, with extensive seminars, one-on-one sessions and brainstorming, he was given the leeway to do what he believed in.
Karan says he realised that while colleagues and alumni may have one-year or short term perspective of the applications process, a consultant brings a long-term overview of each facet that cannot be matched.
He cautions prospective applicants that while an admissions consultant will advise on both ambitious and practical strategies for the applications process, you have to decide your own appetite for risk so that you have an easier time dealing with the results, positive or otherwise.
He concludes by saying that even working the best admissions consultant does not reduce the considerable amount of time, effort and research needed for MBA applications.
“At the end of the day, the consultant is an impact multiplier for the effort that you put into the process.”