Cathy M.
5.0
MBA Coach | INSEAD MBA | Chocolate Entrepreneur | Ex-Wall Street
Studied at INSEAD
Works at Stacy Blackman Consulting
Available Tuesday at 12:00 PM UTC
Usually responds within 5 hours
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Cathy’s MBA Qualifications
Coaches professionally
60+ people coached for MBA
Cathy has helped clients get into these schools:
From Wall Street to the gourmet chocolate world, from New York to Brussels (and many awesome places in between), the INSEAD MBA was pivotal to my triple-point change of function, industry & geography. Since it changed my life, I’m passionate about helping you get into INSEAD and global business schools, especially those located outside of the US. Since 2015, I’ve worked with candidates to gain admissions into top schools, including INSEAD, LBS, Wharton, HEC Paris, IESE, Cambridge Judge and Oxford Said. I’m committed to working with you and getting to know you, your story, your goals – in order to guide you in crafting your strongest applications possible – so that your application is both true to yourself and tailored to your dream business school. We’ll have some fun along the way too :) A bit about my background: Born and raised in New York to immigrant parents --> if you’re first-generation, I can certainly be understanding to your situation and meet you where you’re at! Attended Amherst College, where I had the freedom of learning – for the sake of learning! --> if you enjoy learning, no matter what schools you attended, I think we’ll work well together :) Love international diversity, so much so that I’m currently living outside of the US --> if you’d like to pursue a future career move outside of the US one day, this would also be a great opportunity for you!
Cathy can help with:
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Editing
Recommendations
Interviews
Ding Analysis
Waitlist Strategy
School Selection
Secondary Review
Application Strategy
Essays
Resume
About Cathy
I've successfully coached candidates to gain candidates to gain admissions into top schools, including INSEAD, LBS, Booth, Wharton, HEC Paris, IESE, Cambridge Judge, Oxford Said & NYU Stern. What motivates me? Working with candidates to dive deeply into their goals, ambitions and motivations through the application process, discovering more about themselves, including their unique strengths -- and making it into their dream schools! From Wall Street to the gourmet chocolate world, from New York to Brussels (and many awesome places in between), the INSEAD MBA was pivotal to my triple-point change of function, industry & geography. Since it changed my life, I’m passionate about helping you get into INSEAD and global business schools, especially those located outside of the US. Since 2011, I’ve worked with candidates to gain admissions into excellent MBA programs. I’m committed to working with you and getting to know you, your story, your goals – in order to guide you in crafting your strongest applications possible – so that your application is both true to yourself and tailored to your dream business school. We’ll have some fun along the way too :) I can help you or anyone you know with… ✅ Applying to global business schools ✅ Crafting compelling essays ✅ Strategic feedback and guidance on your entire application, incl CV/resume, rec letters ✅ Navigating the admissions process as a first-gen student ✅ Mock interview & prep ✅ … and more! If you’d like to switch careers, move countries post-MBA, or return to your home country after immersing yourself in a global MBA program, I'm here to help you achieve your dreams!
Why do I coach?
Do you want to dive into a life-changing experience that will stretch your intellectual and cultural capacities, and emerge a well-rounded, international business professional on the path to achieving your career goals? I'd love to help you get there! The INSEAD MBA was pivotal to my triple-point change of function, industry & geography, and since the experience itself changed my life -- and was so much fun! -- I’m passionate about helping you get into INSEAD and global business schools, especially those located outside of the US. It's been so rewarding to see candidates discover more about themselves, and their goals, ambitions, & motivations through the application process -- and make it into their dream schools. If you're keen on a global business school or program, reach out for an intro chat to see if we can work together to make your dream happen :)
Work Experience
Judge
Academy of Chocolate
October 2021 - Present
• Delighted to exercise my chocolate passion and expertise as a Judge for one the world's most prestigious fine chocolate awards, the Academy of Chocolate Awards! • Taste award entries of chocolates and spreads from around the world, evaluating their taste and quality based on ingredients and recipes, and taking into account regional and cultural taste preferences.
MBA Admissions Coach
Stacy Blackman Consulting
October 2018 - Present
• Partnered up with MBA candidates by providing tailored, strategic, insightful advice to craft the strongest applications possible • Personal success rate of 79%, including multiple-admit candidates
Founder
Cocoa Journey
February 2018 - Present
Sharing my chocolate passion and knowledge with my customers through exceptional artisan chocolate degustations & delicious Belgian chocolate workshops -- and loving it! • #1 on TripAdvisor, Brussels Classes & Workshops • #1, Airbnb Experiences Brussels chocolate workshops; all-star reviews for Taste Award-winning Artisan Chocolate Tours • Nominated for Travel & Hospitality Awards, awarded to tour companies & hotels for recognition of outstanding customer satisfaction • Featured host in the category of 'Expertise' selected out of all Airbnb Experience Hosts
Consultant
Consultant
February 2018 - Present
Given my deep chocolate expertise and passion, I'd be happy to create value for you and your clients in this sector. Feel free to browse my experience below and reach out!
Treasurer
Academy of Chocolate
December 2021 - November 2023
Pleased to be Treasurer and Board Member of the prestigious Academy of Chocolate, where we believe that fine chocolate, ethically sourced, should be the norm... and that the more consumers taste and discover, the more they'll be convinced as well. Cash Management, Money Management and +1 skill
Marketing Director
Piierre Marcolini
July 2017 - October 2017
• Managed pricing, placement, communication & product aspects of ±100 haute-gamme SKUs • Procurement negotiations with packaging suppliers resulted in over 21,000€ saving • Directed SKU rationalization, cutting down 15% of low-performing SKUs and decreasing packaging complexity, leading to shorter lead times, less stock-outs and higher profitability • Managed 2 direct reports covering product management and seasonal launches
Brand Manager
Barry Callebaut
March 2012 - June 2016
Brand Strategy Leadership for all Western European Sales & Marketing Teams • Owned leading brand P&L: met and exceeded regional 5% sales and profit growth targets through rigorous implementation of marketing strategy. Led global Gourmet sales. 130€ million portfolio • Translated market insight and analysis into brand-strengthening NPDs >1m€ CCM: led project teams cross-functionally as well as with external partners. Stakeholder management • As principal marketing contact for 24 countries, trained, equipped, motivated & engaged local Sales & Marketing teams on brand, portfolio, and launches, clearly articulating value proposition in 360° sales and marketing tools • Presented budget proposals and business cases to senior management. Conducted and presented portfolio, country & competitive analysis with recommendations. Developed 3-year innovation pipeline • Drove marketing initiatives from creative conception to realization, defining marketing mix, ensuring profitability. International rollout Strategic Entrepreneurship across Key Innovations • Unlocked opportunity in OOH chocolate drinks category: launched top-performing global innovation. 1M€ NSV new growth YTD Dec '15, with one of the top CCM in portfolio • Pioneered growth in ice cream & gelato segment, contributing to 29% growth within one year • Launched 10 new nut products with the La Morella acquisition. Created company’s first & only pistachio paste, working with R&D and chefs: pure, no additives or preservatives, addressing market demands. Highest margin contributor (~30%) in specialized nut range • Captured market share of growing trend of baking with chocolate. Launched bakestable chocolate chips using sustainable cocoa, achieving 2.7m€ NSV new growth YTD April '16. Global rollout • Launched key campaign on Gourmet cocoa sustainability program. Influential presentation to Japanese customers resulted in a significant contribution and partnership in the construction of a child nursery in Ghana
Cathy was also given offers to work at
Lattice Engines
Altfest
Education
INSEAD
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
2009 - 2010
Activities and societies: INSEAD Women in Business, Co-President INDEVOR, Social Impact Club
Amherst College
Bachelor of Arts, History
1999 - 2003
Activities and societies: Co-Chair, Amherst College Program Board Treasurer, Asian Student Association Business Manager, The Amherst Student, school newspaper Co-Editor-in-Chief, Scrutiny, school course evaluation guide Consultant, Amherst IT Admissions Board, Asian Culture House Officer, Student Security
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Knowledge
5.0
Value
5.0
Responsiveness
5.0
Supportiveness
5.0
Cathy has helped clients get into these schools: