What questions are asked in the ISB MBA interview?

Question

Mansih K · Accepted Answer

The ISB interview feels more like a conversation than a grilling,  but it still goes deep fast.
&bull; They often ask about one project in detail, just to see how well someone understands what they contributed. &bull; It&rsquo;s common to get asked, &ldquo;What would your manager say is your biggest area for growth?&rdquo; &bull; The panel might question Plan B goals if the first choice sounds risky,  especially in roles like VC or entrepreneurship. &bull; For those with high GMAT/GRE scores, they sometimes ask how that reflects in real work situations,  like problem-solving or decision-making. &bull; If deferred admit or younger candidate, expect more focus on maturity and long-term direction.
It also helps to know a few electives or clubs at ISB that genuinely align with goals , it shows real interest, not just surface-level research.
For more details you can read this blog on "ISB MBA Interview Questions"

S Raghav · Answer

ISB interviews are not rapid-fire interrogations ,  they feel more like a conversation that gradually tests your fit. Most are conducted by ISB alumni, though occasionally admissions committee members join the panel.
&bull; Many candidates get situational questions like &ldquo;If your post-MBA target industry doesn&rsquo;t work out, what&rsquo;s your Plan B?&rdquo; &bull; They sometimes challenge your goals with &ldquo;Why can&rsquo;t you achieve this without an MBA?&rdquo; to see if your decision is thought-through. &bull; Work-related deep dives are common &mdash; be ready to discuss a specific project, your role in it, the impact in numbers, and what you&rsquo;d do differently. &bull; Current affairs questions pop up, especially if they link to your industry. Reading The Economic Times or similar sources in the weeks before can help. &bull; For those with international exposure, expect questions on cultural adaptability and global business trends.
One applicant from a manufacturing background was asked to outline how India&rsquo;s renewable energy push could reshape supply chains &mdash; a question that tested both industry knowledge and strategic thinking.

Jayant M · Answer

Yes, ISB does cross-question quite a bit, but it feels like a conversation, not an interrogation. The panel was calm and professional.
They started with &ldquo;Walk us through your resume&rdquo; and then moved quickly into my current project. They asked what specific role I played, how I handled disagreements with senior stakeholders, and what success metrics I used. When I mentioned improving process efficiency, they asked how exactly I measured that &mdash; so it's important to be ready with data or specifics.
They also asked why MBA now and what if consulting doesn&rsquo;t work out. That turned into a five-minute discussion around my Plan B. The cross-questioning was polite but persistent, more about testing clarity than catching flaws.
At the end, they asked, &ldquo;Do you have any questions for us &mdash; about ISB, the program, or the interview process?&rdquo; I asked about how alumni stay connected post-MBA, which led to a short but insightful exchange. Having something thoughtful ready made the wrap-up feel stronger and more balanced.

V Ritik · Answer

ISB MBA interview questions usually mix personal background, career clarity, and awareness of the business world. The panel often starts with a &ldquo;walk me through your profile&rdquo; type question, then digs deeper into motivations for an MBA and why ISB specifically.
Expect questions about leadership experiences, challenges faced at work, and times you influenced outcomes without formal authority. If you&rsquo;ve switched roles or industries, they may ask you to justify those moves. Industry-specific questions are common,  for example, candidates from IT get asked about emerging tech trends, while consultants might get case-style questions.
They also test self-awareness, asking about weaknesses, failures, and what peers might say about you. One candidate was asked, &ldquo;What&rsquo;s one decision you made at work that didn&rsquo;t go as planned, and how did you handle it?&rdquo; &mdash; their structured answer using situation, action, and result impressed the panel.