Why Work With Our Team
A complementary partnership combining deep admissions expertise, strategic storytelling and seamless client experience to help applicants navigate every stage of the MBA admissions journey.
Vatsal Srivastava
Founder & Lead Admissions Consultant
Vatsal is one of India’s most seasoned MBA consultants having helped hundreds of candidates secure M7 admits since 2017. Before setting up Narrative Alpha, he was a senior MBA counsellor for Admissions Gateway and The Red Pen.
Vatsal is a seasoned marketing and communications professional, having held leadership roles across technology, venture capital and M&E industries. As a former editor and published columnist, what’s stood out over the last decade for clients is his ability to craft unique and differentiated narratives in their essays.
Shweta Adlakha
Co-Founder, Marketing & Operations Head
Shweta leads Marketing & Operations at Narrative Alpha, ensuring every applicant experiences a seamless, personalized journey from the first conversation to the final application.
With experience across Amazon Web Services, IHS Markit (now S&P Global), Isobar, and Cheil, Shweta oversees communications, operations, and client experience, ensuring every interaction reflects the professionalism, consistency, and attention to detail that define Narrative Alpha.
Why Choose Narrative Alpha
Every successful MBA application begins with a compelling story. At Narrative Alpha, we combine thoughtful strategy, personalized guidance and founder-led consulting to help applicants build authentic, high-impact applications.
Founder-Led Consulting
Work directly with the founder throughout your MBA admissions journey, from school selection and career positioning to essays, interviews and final applications.
Personalized Strategy
Every application is built around your experiences, aspirations and target schools. We believe every applicant deserves an approach tailored to their unique journey.
Story-Driven Applications
Strong applications go beyond achievements. We help you build a clear and compelling narrative that answers why you, why now and why this school.
Selective Client Intake
We intentionally work with a limited number of applicants each admissions cycle to provide dedicated attention and personalized guidance.
The Admissions Framework
Discovery & Positioning
Uncovering your unique story and identifying the narrative arc for admissions committees.
School Strategy
Analyzing your profile against target programs to ensure a strategic competitive advantage.
Narrative Development
Crafting a story-driven narrative that transforms your professional experience into a differentiated story.
Application Execution
Preparing polished application materials aligned with your strategic positioning.
Interview Preparation
Navigating the admissions process through mock interviews and expert guidance
Scholarship Strategy
Maximizing your financial investment through identified scholarship opportunities.
What Our Clients Have To Say
“What Vatsal brought to my applications were judgment and competence.”
In the world of LLMs, where most MBA consultants essentially still only offer good writing, what Vatsal brought to my applications were judgment and competence. His grasp of business and finance is deeper than any consultant I spoke to, and it showed in how fast and how clearly he helped make calls on my story. No wasted drafts, no guessing.
What stood out most to me was how structured his process was from the very beginning. We set targets on day 0 and didn't jump around. First he helped me rebuild my resume from scratch in a format he's refined over more than a decade, and it meant discarding everything and starting from first principles on every single point. Only once that was locked-in did we move to other parts of the application, which were all approached considering numerous nuances.
Goals weren’t just 'what do you want to do'; they were explored by balancing what I'd actually done, what I cared about, and his judgement on what would realistically land. Essays, LORs, weaknesses, the school-specific stuff, all of that came after, with pivotal tips on structuring them. By the time we got there the foundations were so strong that good writing became more the validation of a high-quality application.
“There was always someone pulling the thread from the other end.”
While working with Vatsal, it was clear from the first goal-setting conversation how hands-on he would be during the process and that he wasn't going to let me coast. He asks the kind of questions that don't just tell you what an AdCom wants to hear; they force you to figure out what you actually believe.
For me, coming in at a real inflection point with my company, that process ended up being as personally clarifying as it was strategically useful. His professional background as Content Head at Accel at the time gave me the initial confidence to go with him, and his writing and editing ability more than backed it up.
He brought a structure to both the essays and the resume that felt intentional, helping me always envision the end product we were working toward. There were moments when deadlines felt genuinely out of reach and I was ready to concede a round. Vatsal didn't let that happen. He matched my energy and speed on days I was motivated and supplied some more when I wasn't. Having worked with another consultant in the previous year, I can say with confidence that Vatsal's proactiveness is rare. During my first application cycle, when other commitments got in the way and I went quiet for a week or two, the process would just pause. With Vatsal, there was always someone pulling the thread from the other end.
“He brought a methodical and structured approach towards a chaotic process.”
I approached Vatsal a month before the R2 deadline for applying to Kellogg and CBS, and ended up converting to Kellogg. What helped me the most while working with him was the methodical and structured approach he brought towards a chaotic process. In the initial phase, he invested considerable time with me to chart out compelling goals and narratives that formed the backbone of my application (and served me well as I received an admit from Kellogg).
Moreover, his corporate experience at the intersection of marketing, tech, and finance (can correct if not true) meant he understood my professional experience deeply, which he helped me connect powerfully with my overall narrative and the goals. Apart from helping with the application, resumes, and the interview preparations, he's been a strong sounding board throughout the process.
For anyone looking to partner with an admissions consultant who can help you approach the application in a structured manner and brings out the best of your ideas by being an intellectual sparring partner, Vatsal is your man!
Vatsal helped me structure my story into compelling essays that truly reflected who I am.
If you're looking for an admissions consultant to guide your MBA application, I would highly recommend Vatsal Srivastava. Vatsal guided me through my applications to INSEAD and London Business School, and I was fortunate to receive admits from both.
Choosing the right consultant—someone who understands both your goals and your working style—is essential. Before deciding to work with Vatsal, I spent close to a month researching admissions consultants and spoke with more than eight of them. A close friend, whom Vatsal had previously helped gain admission to Chicago Booth, recommended him to me.
Rather than focusing only on GMAT scores and academics, Vatsal helped me identify the story behind my application—why I wanted to pursue an MBA at this stage of my career, my long-term goals, and the value I could bring to my future classmates. He spent time understanding my background and aspirations before helping me brainstorm and shape every essay.
Vatsal helped me build a story that was authentic, compelling, and true to who I am.
I'd highly recommend Vatsal Srivastava as a coach, mentor, and MBA consultant.
During my research to narrow down my target business schools, INSEAD clearly stood out because of its culture and diversity. For the last 18 months, it had been my dream to earn an admit there.
Vatsal was the only consultant who advised me not to retake the GMAT. Instead, he encouraged me to focus on building my story and essays to the highest standard. He developed a deep understanding of my values, background, and personal and professional journey, giving me a clear roadmap for positioning my profile.
Vatsal made time for me almost every day and continually pushed every essay to a higher standard. Beyond application consulting, he became a true coach and mentor, helping me strengthen my creative thinking, connect with the school's values, and build confidence for my video essays and interviews.
Looking back, I believe Vatsal helped me unlock the very best version of my application.
Vatsal helped me uncover the most authentic version of my story and turn it into a compelling application.
I was looking for professional advice and guidance for my Fuqua application, and that's when I got in touch with Vatsal.
From the very beginning, Vatsal took the time to understand my story and laid out a clear plan to strengthen my application.
He invested significant time brainstorming and crafting my stories, encouraging me to bring my most authentic self into every essay while ensuring my responses were concise, impactful, and true to my experiences.
For my reapplicant essay, Vatsal pushed me to highlight the most meaningful personal and professional transformations I had gone through. One of the most enjoyable parts of the process was working on the '25 Random Things' essay, where he helped bring out different facets of my personality.
For interview preparation, he conducted multiple mock interviews and helped me formulate structured, confident answers.
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Vatsal's storytelling helped me uncover the perfect narrative for my application.
On the recommendation of a close friend, I reached out to Vatsal for guidance on my MBA applications. As an INSEAD alumnus, he encouraged me to aim higher than I initially thought possible.
Based on my profile, several consultants advised me to apply to schools with lower admission thresholds. Vatsal encouraged me to apply to my dream schools, and I was fortunate to receive admits from both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge with scholarships.
Given my background in communications, I initially thought I would only need essay reviews. Instead, Vatsal's storytelling skills and attention to detail taught me how to shape a compelling application. He helped me uncover the strongest aspects of my personal experiences and build the right narrative.
Whether it meant joining 5 a.m. Zoom calls or reviewing my final application even on New Year's Eve, Vatsal's commitment ensured every application I submitted was the strongest version it could be.
Profile Evaluation
An expert evaluation of your profile to determine your competitiveness and guide your application strategy.
What to expect?
Expert assessment of your profile
University recommendations based on your goals and profile
Strategic advice on application positioning