TOP MBA CONSULTANT
Founder/CEO
Shaifali Aggarwal
Founder/CEO, Ivy Groupe
EDUCATION & HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Shaifali received her MBA from Harvard Business School (HBS) and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with Certificates (minors) in Finance and Applications of Computing from Princeton University. At HBS, Shaifali served as VP Admissions of the Women’s Student Association; in this role, she collaborated directly with the HBS Admissions Office as a liaison between current and prospective/admitted students. Through this experience, she gained unique insight into the qualities that elite MBA programs look for in candidates – insight she now brings directly to every MBA admissions consulting engagement.
CAREER BACKGROUND
Shaifali's rich and multi-faceted career across industries and functions makes her uniquely well suited to understand the varied backgrounds of her MBA consulting clients. Before founding Ivy Groupe, Shaifali spent most of her career as a finance professional on Wall Street, where she worked in investment banking and asset management at leading firms such as JPMorgan and Neuberger Berman. She also has experience working in the educational non-profit sector and as an entrepreneur, founding an online media company.
MBA ADMISSIONS CONSULTING EXPERIENCE
Shaifali has spent nearly fifteen years successfully coaching hundreds of diverse applicants and re-applicants to elite MBA programs worldwide – including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, M7, and top global programs – many of whom received scholarship awards, including those applying to deferred MBA, part-time MBA, and executive MBA programs.
Prior to founding Ivy Groupe, she was EVP, Business Development & Strategy as well as a Senior MBA Admissions Consultant at Stratus Admissions Counseling; she also gained experience as an MBA Consultant at Stacy Blackman Consulting – two of the most recognized names in MBA admissions consulting.
Having been accepted to Harvard Kennedy School, Shaifali is very familiar with the dual MBA/MPA and MBA/MPP application. She has also helped clients gain admission to specialized Master's programs including Master in Finance, Master in Artificial Intelligence, and Master in Public Health.
INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
Shaifali has been named a top MBA admissions consultant by Business Insider and Poets & Quants – with a perfect 5-star rating across all client reviews and 95 verified reviews on Poets & Quants alone.
She has been quoted as an MBA admissions expert in U.S. News, Business Insider, and Fortune, and has contributed to Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Economist, and The Muse. Shaifali has been a featured speaker domestically and internationally on the QS World MBA Tour and is a member of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC).
ABOUT SHAIFALI
Shaifali especially enjoys working closely with MBA applicants to craft authentic, compelling strategies that tie together their unique experiences and bring their story to life.
Outside of work, Shaifali loves spending time with family and friends, and is passionate about philanthropy, dance (she has been trained in Indian Classical Dance), reading, writing, and travel. She regularly shares MBA admissions insights and advice on LinkedIn, where she has built a following of 13,000+ professionals.
