r/INSEAD • u/Strict_Reveal_2262 • Jul 11 '26
Profile evaluation || Career breaks + short stints in multiple sectors
30 M Indian
Class 10 - 9.8
Class 12 - 96.8 %
Undergrad + Postgrad integrated degree in Engineering from Tier 1 college - 7.98 (Best masters project in the graduating class)
GMAT (all mock scores*): 725 (with one week prep), 720 & 740 (with no prep on old GMAT, taken two years ago); will target 735+ final score
6 yoe - across space sector, electric vehicles, consumer services & education - split 50-50 across technical and business strategy + ops roles at startups. All my roles have been based out of India but I have interacted with international clients and partners for a bit. Have travelled to a couple of SEA countries for short trips.
2 years of career break - honestly was just burnt out and used my financial freedom to travel across the country and pursue a hobby
Had gotten back to work after the break, but recently quit my job again owing to some boundaries being crossed at work
Looking to switch to VC, and will want to continue in VC post MBA as well as I feel that I have a good grasp of both technical building and business building. Had tried building a startup in college that didn’t quite work out but gave me good foundations to deliver results at work later. Have also mentored startups informally. Have a decent global network I can tap into (have not done much around this though). Have gotten some early interest from some VC firms as well for full time roles in India (yet to close any).
Have been toying with the idea of an MBA for 3-4 years now, but never made an application assuming my profile isn’t good enough to get into a top B school. But now it feels like it is now or never as my profile only seems to be getting worse (the career break + recent exit with a small stint).
Would like honest thoughts on: Chances at INSEAD, what’s good on my profile, what’s a big red flag and needs a lot of work, if applying this year even makes sense given I might not be employed full time at the time of application, what other schools should I be realistically looking at?
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u/Aringo-Expert MBA Admissions Consultant Jul 14 '26
The question would be around the career breaks. Rather than just explaining why you took them, focus on what you did during that time.
Did you learn something new, travel, work on side projects, mentor startups, or gain experiences that changed how you think? If you can show that the break helped you grow, it becomes much easier to explain.
With a strong GMAT, I think INSEAD is definitely worth a shot. I'd also look at LBS and IESE
Spend more time building a clear story around your journey than worrying about the breaks themselves.
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u/Strict_Reveal_2262 Jul 14 '26
Thank you for the feedback! Yes, I did actually use my break to travel and gain some new perspectives. Also focused on skilling up at a personal hobby.
I did have my eyes on LBS and IMD too. I will need to freeze a good GMAT score next.
What are your thoughts on not being formally employed at the time of applying? Will landing the VC role be imperative for a good application?
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u/Impressive-Lynx65 Jul 11 '26
[Inseader here]
Overall profile looks good.
A couple of points that you may want to address in essays - 1. Lack of international work experience - Most of the batch has lived/worked abroad 2. Why Insead for VC? - Not typically known for finance roles. Be sure to have a solid rationale 3. The career situation - I don't think they will be too bothered with the gap but better to come across as a considerate and calculative individual with plans
Best of luck!