Bhanvee Jain, HEC Paris MBA Class of 2025
Age: 25
Hometown: Jalandhar, Punjab
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai (NMIMS, Mumbai) – B.Com. (Hons.)
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): RCPL (Investment Banking Analyst, 6m) + Goldman Sachs (Investment Banking Analyst, 2y5m)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I made the decision to attend business school as I was at a position in my career wherein I wanted to progress to a frontend client role in Investment Banking, but it required me to upskill and refine my skills and build a deeper network with people already in such roles. To not only enhance my current skill set but also build meaningful connections that transcend geographies, I thought it was essential to opt for an MBA degree from a renowned school such as HEC.
Why did you choose HEC Paris? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
A major part of my decision to go to HEC was driven by the fact that the school sports an extremely dynamic and trans-geographical cohort, which would give me a chance to interact with people from all over the world. It’s also one of the best b-schools as per rankings, which would also help me build a good rapport in the industry and leverage the same to land better and more suited roles. Due to these factors, I felt HEC Paris was a very appropriate choice for my future endeavours!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
I think the fact that I fall on the lower side of the age spectrum for the MBA program is for sure very interesting as I’d bring new and fresh ideas and insights to the program. It would also be an opportunity for me to interact with people who have a lot of experience and refine my skills using their knowledge as a base.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
One fun fact that wasn’t in my application was that I’m a massive travel bug. I truly believe that life’s experiences are the best teachers, and plan to utilise my time in France to explore Europe as much as possible!
Post-MBA career interests:
Finance, mostly IB. But open to explore the PE/VC space and the Consulting domain.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I think one thing that really makes a lot of difference in the applications, and I’d do again in the blink of an eye, would be the essay part of my application. I think it’s such a nice opportunity that we can use to really highlight our character and make sure that we stand out from the general crowd of applications!
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I think one aspect that I would change or maybe add to the existing application process would be a video question or a video submission. I really think it would further help people bring out their creativity in the application process and really help HEC get the best crop of applicants!
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
One part that I wanted to skip at that point in the application was the presentation bit. But then realising the thought process behind that question and working on it as a supplementary tool to display your skills just really helped me make the best of the presentation topics too.
What is your initial impression of the HEC Paris students/culture/community?
I had spoken to a lot of slums and the student community while applying to the school, so my initial impressions were very positive. The community was very helpful and hands-on with sharing their experiences, both academic and professional. They really made a lot of difference in helping me decide on HEC as a b-school.
What is one thing you have learned about HEC Paris that has surprised you?
Before reaching out to the student community at HEC Paris, I was very anxious because I really thought it would be very formal, and they would probably not even reply to my messages. But it was such a pleasant surprise to not only interact with alums from different industries but also discuss the robust student life on campus with them. I had the belief that an MBA at HEC would be filled with nothing but pressure but was happy to know that it comes with a very supportive student life on campus to let off some steam!
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I think the first year for me is mostly about finding a very good internship and making the most of it to explore a new domain. I think my anxiety is mostly about managing to land a good internship without compromising the academics.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m most excited about finally getting to be a part of the student clubs and societies. I’m very excited to be a part of MBAT and meet people from so many colleges across Europe!
