What is asked in ISB interviews?

ISB MBA Interview Questions: Categories, Expectations, and Sample Answers.

Interviews can be grueling and often it becomes tricky when its not know what to prepare. here are questions that were asked in one the mentor's actual interview and sample answers for reference. Its important to know that the profile based questions vary from person to person and ISB interview is candidate led. Hence use the below for reference only.

Category	Question	Expectations	Sample Answers
1. Icebreaker & Context Setting	How are you doing today? Interviewers introduce themselves & then start	Build rapport; assess communication, comfort, and tone-setting.	"I'm doing well, thank you! Really excited to be here and speak with you both today."
	Not a formal interview; conducted by alumni	Expect informal tone, alumni perspective, and honest storytelling.	"I understand this is informal. I’m excited to have a candid conversation and gain your perspective as an alumnus."
2. Career Decisions & Transitions	Why did you move from private to public sector? Isn’t technology in alignment?	Understand rationale for switch, long-term thinking, and clarity of values.	"I moved to the public sector to contribute to national infrastructure and gain exposure to scale. While the tech was different, I adapted quickly and saw the macro impact."
	What is GATE?	Check understanding and authenticity of academic path.	"GATE is a national-level engineering entrance exam. I used it to pursue my M.Tech, which laid the foundation for my technical skills."
	Would you continue at IOCL post-MBA?	MBA seriousness, backup clarity.	"IOCL has been foundational, but my next goal is to transition into strategy consulting or impact-driven private sector roles post-MBA."
	Where else have you applied this year?	Honesty, competitiveness.	"I’ve applied to ISB, IIM-L PGPX, and SMU Singapore – all programs aligned with my profile and goals."
3. Post-MBA Goals & ISB Fit	You’ll likely work with private firms post-ISB – thoughts?	Gauge awareness and mental preparation for the transition.	"Absolutely. I believe private firms will offer the scale and pace I now seek. My experience in PSUs gives me a unique advantage in cross-sector adaptability."
	What exactly does ISB offer that you're looking for?	Research depth, alignment with goals, clarity.	"ISB offers a one-year, leadership-intensive program with strong alumni and consulting connects – perfect for my mid-career pivot goals."
	Did you research post-ISB opportunities and long-term goals?	Vision, realism, initiative.	"Yes, I connected with alumni in roles at BCG and Tata Digital. I plan to enter strategy roles in tech-enabled industries, then launch a venture by year 7."
	Which companies recruit from ISB?	Seriousness of research, realistic expectations.	"Firms like Amazon, BCG, and Axis recruit consistently. I'm targeting roles aligned with digital strategy and growth transformation."
	What if you don’t make it to ISB this year?	Resilience, backup planning, emotional maturity.	"I’ll continue gaining leadership experience at IOCL, and pursue online executive courses while reapplying with even stronger credentials next year."
4. Leadership & Team Experience	Travel experiences that shaped your leadership	Real-world exposure, self-awareness, and intercultural competence.	"Travelling solo through Northeast India taught me empathy, adaptability, and decision-making in ambiguity—skills I now use as a team leader."
	Tree plantation drive – did you institutionalize it?	Drive towards sustainability, scalability, and leadership beyond the job.	"Yes, I partnered with the municipal body to create annual goals, built a student-volunteer network, and handed it over to local NGOs for continuity."
	Experience working with diverse people	Cross-functional experience, inclusiveness, openness to varied ideas.	"At IOCL, I led a team from five states, across hierarchies. It taught me patience, the power of listening, and resolving cultural misunderstandings."
	Example of conflict & how you resolved it	Emotional intelligence, maturity, and teamwork.	"Once during a plant shutdown, departments blamed each other. I arranged a root-cause analysis workshop, mediated neutrally, and helped co-create a solution."
	Leading vs. Individual contributor – what do you prefer?	Self-awareness, career aspiration clarity.	"Both roles shaped me. But I find leadership more fulfilling as I enjoy enabling others to perform and aligning them with broader vision."
	What did you learn as a leader/from IOCL?	Reflection, growth, accountability.	"At IOCL, I learned that leadership is about trust. Leading unionized teams taught me transparent communication and walking the talk."
5. Diversity, Inclusion & Values	What is diversity and inclusion to you?	Modern workplace values, DEI clarity.	"Diversity is about representation, and inclusion is about respect. Both are necessary to foster innovation and empathy in teams."
	Did you have experience working with people from diverse backgrounds?	Inclusivity, collaboration in varied contexts.	"My current team includes members from varied geographies and functional roles. This diversity has enriched our problem-solving and innovation."
6. Personal Projects & Passions	Was your blog revenue-generating?	Entrepreneurial drive, initiative, and consistency.	"Initially it was passion-led, but over time I monetized through affiliate links and sponsorships, generating modest side income."
	Entrepreneurial journey, inspiration, future plans?	Risk-taking, creativity, future plans.	"My father, a small entrepreneur, inspired me. I ran a blog-business and plan to launch a sustainable travel tech startup in 5 years."
7. Closing & Candidate Curiosity	Do you have any questions for us?	Curiosity, long-term thinking, interest in school.	"Yes – how do alumni from operations-heavy backgrounds like mine transition into strategic roles at ISB? What resources help most in this journey?"