GMAT Club

Emma Bond Reviews

Company: Fortuna Admissions

Emma has a unique breadth of knowledge and insight into London Business School’s programs, recruiters, and selection processes. She joined the London Business School MBA Marketing and Admissions team in 2001 with initial responsibility for recruiting from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East; quickly promoted to management level, she became one of the core senior members of the London Business School Admissions Committee, responsible for full-time MBA selection.

Emma left London Business School in 2008 to become European Recruiting Manager for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Whilst there, she led recruitment of London Business School MBA students into BCG’s global offices, as well as recruiting the company’s associate level consultant intake from Oxford and Cambridge universities. She was also responsible for advising BCG associates applying to the London Business School MBA.

5.0 /5 Average Rating
Based on 59 reviews
December 28, 2023
aimhightech

Joined: Dec 28, 2023

Posts: 0

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I work in a top tech company with quick progression, run a non-profit, and have mentors supporting my MBA decision. Despite this, I approached my profile with a significant concern: a low university GPA resulting from challenging personal circumstances. During this process, I consulted with three different companies. Jennifer spoke highly of Emma, and Emma was already the top consultant for 2023, so it was an easy decision! Emma is simply the best because of the following qualities: 1) a high level of understanding and empathy, 2) an extremely strong sense of ownership and high quality, 3) strong expertise (she is the best in the market, to be honest), 4) profound knowledge of MBA programs, the school selection process, etc., 5) a strong track record of delivering results. Emma dedicated extensive time to comprehensively understand my profile—my education, experiences, challenges, and successes. She then crafted an exceptionally strong branding and positioning strategy. Emma effectively highlighted my strengths and skillfully leveraged my weaknesses as areas for growth. Her attention to detail, unwavering dedication, and diligent approach contributed to the development of incredibly compelling applications. Emma's commitment remained consistent throughout the essay writing, interview preparations, offer selections, and scholarship applications. We worked together over nine months, and she maintained high quality and level of support. With over 20 years of experience, Emma stands out as the premier consultant in the market. She is the best out there in the market. Her deep understanding of the ideal personas and profiles sought by each school was invaluable. Furthermore, she was highly responsive, an excellent communicator, a strategic thinker, and a caring consultant. I worked with her on a 3-school package, but the application outputs and mentorship she gave allowed me to scale my application to more schools and increase my chances. My MBA journey was as much hers, and we received offers from 1xT7 US school and from 5xTop Europe MBA Schools (with offers for scholarships)! Emma wasn't just an MBA consultant to me; she became a mentor, advisor, and an immensely capable partner throughout this journey. She was advising me as if she were in my shoes, and she gave me incredible strength to go through the applications. She changed my life forever, and I am truly grateful. Looking back, I will work with her all over again, and can only highly recommend her to everyone!

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September 28, 2023
avee1582

Joined: Dec 11, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Couldn't have done it without Emma!

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I consider myself incredibly fortunate that I got to collaborate with Emma as my admissions consultant. Her expertise in this field is truly exceptional, and I can confidently say that my achievement wouldn't have been possible without her guidance. She has an outstanding work ethic and consistently went above and beyond what I expected of her, in terms of both time and effort. I'm immensely grateful that I trusted my instincts and selected her because not only did I get accepted but I received a scholarship as well on the only program I applied to - LBS Sloan.

Emma is a true expert at this. She knows exactly what should and shouldn't go into your application to make it stand out. She is sharp and crisp and knows how to cut the fluff. Not only did she help make my application so much more cohesive but she was there to support and guide me through my extended waiting period even after I had submitted my application. During moments when I felt discouraged, she helped ease my nerves. Just knowing that I had her on my side on my journey made me feel so reassured.

Her support was so much more than just transactional, she really wanted me to succeed and she put in extra effort to that end. If you have the opportunity to work with her on your applications, consider yourself extremely fortunate.

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June 09, 2023
shone

Joined: Jun 07, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Consultant and beyond

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Emma has been monumental in the success of my applications - admits from Kellogg, Tuck (40K scholarship), Fuqua (80K scholarship) and LBS. Due to being late in the application process, high cost of admissions consulting and a general lack of direction, I was quite overwhelmed till even a few weeks before the application deadlines. Emma proved to be a knight in shining armor who brought that much needed direction with her expertise in the process which is otherwise a black box. She was so diligent and methodical in reviewing the essays and storyline. Even with the time crunch and last minute notices, she was able to take something raw and help make it into a strong story. From essays to job description to video essays, the perfectionist in her sharpened every aspect of the application to make it holistically attractive to the Admission committee.

But her expertise aside, what set her apart from most consultants was her investment in me beyond a transactional relationship. Her genuine concern and warmth was so crucial in getting through a process which is otherwise very daunting.

I would say I couldn't have found a better consultant to go on this journey with because she cuts across the transactional relationship between a client and consultant, while bringing such depth of knowledge and understanding of the process that one can't help but feel safe and reassured.

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May 15, 2023
bwhetzel

Joined: May 15, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Fantastic Coach - Top MBA Programs

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After deciding to pursue an elite MBA, I was admittedly skeptical of admissions consultants. Where they worth the cost? How much of an impact would they truly make? These were all questions in my head. Now, I know without a doubt that Emma Bond was responsible for pushing my MBA application above the pack and let to my ultimate acceptance into my top-choice program.

Emma brings an incredible amount of professional expertise, from interview coaching to essay phrasing & styling. Her warm demeanor, coupled with excellent wordsmithing and encouraging suggestions/support throughout the process leads me to only have positive things to say. We're maxed out at 5-stars, but Emma deserves 10-stars!!! I cannot recommend her enough to future MBA applicants.

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April 12, 2023
sbl25

Joined: Dec 09, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
760 Q50 V44 (Online)

Emma Bond - Best for LBS

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I had the pleasure of working with Emma for my LBS MBA application. Her LBS admissions committee experience and personal links to the existing LBS adcom shone through. She was very aware about what LBS was looking for specifically in each of the application questions, and tailored my application to align with LBS' values perfectly. She also pushed me to think out of the box and took my application to a much higher level than what I would have produced on my own. To top it all off, she is an extremely lovely person and was an absolute joy to work with.

I was thrilled to receive an LBS MBA offer and scholarship and highly recommend Emma to anyone on the same journey.

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February 03, 2023
airb1019

Joined: Jul 27, 2020

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

Re-applicant to scholar!

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“These b-schools are hyper competitive and I don’t see components that meet the bar.”

This stupendously demotivating piece of advice is the first piece of feedback that I received from an admissions consultant. Partly, I can’t blame them – I’m a part of the infamous IT Indian male cohort. And I’m a reapplicant.

Emma, on the other hand, went against the grain, took a step further and dove deeper into my profile. What she really excels at is understanding which parts of an applicant’s character, work experience, and extra-curriculars appeal to the folks sitting in the admissions office at the absolute top notch international b-schools.

From our very first meeting, I saw her experience stand out. With the dexterity of a well-seasoned surgeon, she cut into my character to understand which parts of story can be tailored to craft the perfect reapplication and stand out in an over-represented group.

She infused my application with, as a Gen Z faithful would say, “main-character energy” (words from my little cousin, not me.) I was reassured that I was in good hands, especially given the financial burden of such services.

The essays were as smooth as can be – each iterative feedback loop was productive, with clear TODOs and the reasons behind proposed changes.

The video essays were the highlight of the service – Emma, being an interviewer herself, was exceptional at giving me a blunt assessment of my mannerisms, for e.g. telling me when my body-language was off. This piece of advice seeped into my in-person interviews as well.

At the end of this process, I’m proud to say that I got to choose between Oxford, INSEAD, and LBS. And with scholarships from INSEAD and LBS! A privileged position to be in, a position that couldn’t have been reached without Emma.

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January 07, 2023
mgk2022

Joined: Jan 03, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
750 Q50 V42

Thank you Emma!

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I wasn’t planning on working with an admissions consultant, but when I got to the application essays, I hit a roadblock. I struggled with developing a cohesive story and expressing my passion for the programs. I also had difficulty finding a balance between sharing my true self and highlighting the key attributes that I knew the Admissions Committee would be looking for.

Based on my needs, I decided to work with a consultant on an hourly basis. After speaking with a few firms, I chose to work with Emma due to her deep knowledge of European business schools, but also simply because I thought we connected well. Throughout the process, Emma provided prompt and honest feedback. However, what struck me most was how much she cared. Despite having a busy schedule, I never felt that she was rushing through my edits. Emma took the time to truly understand the story I was trying to convey and then helped me refine and package it.

Emma and I primarily worked together on my essays for LBS and Cambridge. However, I was also able to apply her feedback to my other applications. Thanks to her help, I received offers of admission from all four of the schools I applied to and fellowships from three of them.

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January 02, 2023
jroberto

Joined: Jan 02, 2019

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
700 Q45 V40

Emma Bond - Best LBS Consultant in the Business

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Emma was an absolute pleasure to work with! I sought her out specifically for my LBS application process and interview prep because as an American applicant, I felt like I had less insight on the LBS MBA process relative to US schools. I purchased the admissions director evaluation package, and Emma's timely, candid, and invaluable feedback helped refine my essays, CV, and short responses immensely. She has intimate knowledge of what the BS adcom is looking for in applicants, and she went above and beyond at every opportunity to help me put my best foot forward. As a result, I received a partial scholarship based on the merits of my applicant, and I certainly have Emma to thank in-part! She absolutely deserves her reputation as one of the best LBS consultants out there, and I could not recommend her more highly.

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December 28, 2022
mission22

Joined: May 29, 2022

Posts: 1

Kudos: 1

Verified GMAT Classic score:
690 Q48 V36

LBS Admit: Review for Emma Bond

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I worked with Emma on a 2-school package offered by Fortuna Admissions. First, I had a fit call with her wherein we discussed my past experiences (both personal and professional), goals, MBA programmes I am interested in, and preferences. She came across as an empathetic, honest, friendly, and highly knowledgeable professional; working with her through the admission process I can guarantee you she is all this and much more!

1. After the fit call, Emma and I had a comprehensive discussion to shortlist the programmes I am interested in. She not only discussed the timelines for each application, but also made me aware of her working style and was interested to learn about my style as well to make sure we were on the same page. I also filled an exhaustive questionnaire to help Emma understand my experiences and achievements.

2. I was in parallel preparing for my GMAT when we started work on my first application. Emma was highly thoughtful in deciding the to-do tasks as I balanced my job, GMAT prep, and application work.

Coming to the essays, Emma really understood my story and knew exactly the things we need to highlight (this varies from school to school as we had a brainstorming session for each school before starting work on its application). I always had an issue with going over the word limit, but with Emma’s magic each essay of mine was concise, conveyed the story, and made an impact. When you work with Emma, each word in the essay is there for a reason and she always pushes you in the right direction to extract the so-what aspect of the story and keeps a check on how it aligns with your overall application. She doesn’t shy away from multiple reads and edits of the same essay (resume and LoRs as well) until it is in the best shape. You will never waste time in the process since Emma is super responsive and her turnaround time is commendable.

3. Emma made sure to leverage multiple avenues to portray the various positives in my story. With 16+ years of experience and front-end knowledge, she has unique insights into the admission process and is aware of what the schools are seeking. She judiciously placed content in my essays, resume and LoRs – each of these reflected different attributes of mine but provided a holistic picture of me and my story. Special shoutout to Jody Keating from the Fortuna Admissions team for all the resume help!

4. Once I received an interview invite, Emma prepped me for both the video and main interview. For both the interviews, she first conducted a mock with me to assess my responses and then provided actionable constructive feedback to refine my responses. Leveraging her experience, she also helped me with smart tricks to enhance the answers and make them relevant to the school. Her guidance isn’t limited to just the content of the answers, but also includes tips on body language, camera setting, pace of speaking, etc. Needless to say, many of the questions which Emma discussed with me were part of the interviews.

5. I applied to LBS along with one of the top 3 European schools and a T15 US school (I took an hourly support from Emma for the 3rd school). I received an admit with scholarship from both LBS and the European school but have been waitlisted at the US school. I worked with Emma to appeal for scholarships as well and she totally understood my financial situation and did her best here too. In my opinion, there is no one better than Emma to help you for LBS and the European schools; but the main advantage of working with Fortuna Admissions is the wealth of the knowledge they have of every top B-school. When I was applying to the US school as well, Emma reached out to her colleagues who are well-aware of the school and got my application reviewed so that we are not missing out on anything.

I consider myself luckiest to have worked with Emma for my MBA admissions. She is much more than a professional consultant and the best thing about her is how real and humane she is. I have been extremely comfortable discussing sensitive personal experiences with her and love the fact that she understands the place I am coming from and doesn’t judge. Through this journey there have been multiple phases of anxiety (be it work travel or hardware issues during my interview), but Emma has ALWAYS been a message away and never made me feel guilty of my mistakes – rather she comes with a practical solution to counter the challenge. She is a thorough professional and makes sure your applications are top priority even when she is taking a well-deserved break to meet her family after 3 years. She has done much more than just applications for me, including checking the emails I write to the schools, giving me contacts to connect with, or clearing my countless silly doubts. Don’t think twice and just go ahead with Emma – you’ll gain a coach, a mentor, and a friend!

I couldn’t have achieved this with you, so THANK YOU Emma. Forever grateful to you and the Fortuna Admissions team!

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December 19, 2022
rhunzeker

Joined: Dec 19, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
740 Q44 V47

Thank you Emma Bond!

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Emma helped me with my R1 LBS and HEC applications. I reached out to her after realizing I was somewhat out of depth with the process and had a million questions on how to begin. She immediately broke everything down for me and laid out the process in clear and concise steps. She helped with everything from reaching out to recommenders, school outreach, application questions, and interview prep. Emma answered all of my questions and concerns with patience and really made me feel supported and secure throughout the process. Her edits and advise were invaluable in helping me receive offers and scholarships at both schools. I highly recommend Emma to anyone applying for MBA programs, particularly if you are interested in LBS or other European schools.

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