Mbamission

MBA applicants—those from traditional industries (e.g., consulting, banking, finance) and less-conventional backgrounds alike—all have the same career-related question in mind when considering which programs to target: Will this school help me reach my professional goals?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky, mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald, and Managing Director Gavriella Semaya discuss some of the MBA programs applicants often overlook despite the strength of their offerings—just because the schools are not among the top ten in the popular MBA rankings. Their conversation challenges the common assumption in admissions that the highest-ranked school must be the best option for every MBA candidate.

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Managing Director Gavriella Semaya speak with Simeen Mohsen, senior managing director of Harvard Business School (HBS) Online, about the Core Business Essentials program and how it can help aspiring MBA students. The discussion covers the program’s structure and origins as pre-MBA preparation, as well as which candidates might benefit from completing it before applying to business school.

Think mbaMission might be a good fit for you? Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation to receive meaningful, personalized advice from one of our admissions experts! Explore our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform. With onTrack by mbaMission, our founder, Jeremy Shinewald, will guide you through a personalized curriculum that leverages interactive tools and technology to help you in creating your best possible MBA applications.

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Founder Jeremy Shinewald continue their conversation with Shari Hubert, associate dean of admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. The discussion moves beyond essays and interviews to explore the program’s paired principles, leadership model, alumni culture, Durham setting, and broader Duke University connections.

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Managing Director Gavriella Semaya tackle the topic of candidates using AI when preparing their MBA applications. Although they both see value in applying the tool for grammar checks, light research, and brainstorming, the trouble starts when applicants let AI do more than support the writing process.

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Founder Jeremy Shinewald speak with Shari Hubert, associate dean of admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, about evaluating applicants’ readiness, character, and capacity to contribute to the MBA program’s collaborative learning environment. Fuqua Wants People Who Will Thrive, Not Just “Fit” Shari explains that Fuqua does not view “fit” as shorthand for sameness or cultural familiarity.

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky, Founder Jeremy Shinewald, and Managing Director Gavriella Semaya discuss whether MBA students in 2026 and going forward can expect to see a meaningful return on their investment in the degree. The question eludes a simple yes-or-no answer. While the degree can deliver enormous value, applicants must measure that value through the proper lens.

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and Gatehouse Founder Liza Weale speak with Clyde Anderson, CEO of GrowthFactor and an MIT Sloan alumnus, about what the Sloan experience can offer applicants who want to build, explore, and learn by doing. After four years in the finance world, Clyde decided to revive his interest in business school. Although he had an interest in entrepreneurship, he had no fixed startup plan.

If you have ever wondered what MBA admissions consultants do for their clients—beyond editing their essays—this episode will illuminate a process that runs far deeper than you might expect. In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky sits down with mbaMission Managing Director Rachel Beck and Gatehouse Admissions Founder Liza Weale for a candid conversation about the core responsibilities of admissions consultants.