Harvard Business School MBA Recommendation Questions
The Harvard Business School MBA Class of 2028 application is now live, which means that the HBS MBA recommendation questions are available to recommenders. HBS requires two recommendations and suggests (but does not require) that one be from a direct supervisor. The other should be from someone who can speak about your professional performance, leadership skills, and potential.
2025-2026 Harvard Business School (HBS) Recommendation Questions:
Recommender Information
Do you know this applicant from a previous employer?
Are you a graduate of the Harvard Business School MBA program?
If yes, year of graduation:
Relationship Context
Relationship Type (drop-down menu):
- Current employer
- Previous employer
- University/Academic
- Extracurricular/Community
- Other
Relationship Context (drop-down menu):
- Direct Supervisor
- Other Supervisor
- Advisor
- Colleague/Peer
- Direct Report
- Indirect Report
- Other
Number of applicants you are recommending to the HBS MBA Program this year:
Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, their role in your organization (300 characters):
Candidate Evaluation
HBS asks recommenders to rate the applicant’s attributes using the following scale: No Basis for Judgment, Potential Area of Concern, Developing, Strong, and Distinctive. To assess the candidate’s strengths and areas of development, HBS divides attributes across several categories:
Business-Minded:
- Analytical thinking
- Professional maturity
- Quantitative skills
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
Leadership-Focused:
- Awareness of and respect for others
- Emotional intelligence
- Integrity
- Interpersonal skills with colleagues and subordinates
- Interpersonal skills with superiors
- Listening skills
- Teamwork: engagement and collaboration
- Teamwork: leadership and development of others
Growth-Oriented:
- Creative problem solving
- Curiosity
- Initiative
- Openness to others’ perspectives
- Receptiveness to feedback and willingness to change
- Self-awareness
Please comment on the ratings you have assigned, elaborating on relative strengths and opportunities for further development. (Required, 150 words).
Open Response Questions
Please respond to the questions below in a single document.
- Please provide specific examples of how the applicant’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles. (Recommended: 300 words)
- Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (Recommended: 250 words)
- (Optional) Is there anything else we should know? Please be concise.
MBA Applywire
I am a Bangladeshi corporate banking professional at a global bank, managing a $660M lending portfolio across power, infrastructure, manufacturing, and commodity clients. I worked on a $286.5M financing for a 584MW gas-fired power plant and led power-sector stress testing during Bangladesh’s 2024–25 political transition. I am also a CFA Charterholder. Alongside banking, I co-founded a cross-border advisory boutique connecting Chinese contractors/operators and South Asian sponsors across healthcare infrastructure, steel, solar, and EV distribution. My long-term goal is to build a South Asia-focused infrastructure advisory and capital platform that mobilizes institutional and strategic capital into essential sectors.
Former U.S. Marine Corps infantryman currently pursuing Economics and Psychology at the University of Arizona. Interested in investment banking and private equity with long-term goals in high finance leadership roles. Prior to military service, owned and operated a service-based business during high school, developing early experience in sales, client management, and operations. Previous leadership experience includes serving as Vice President of DECA. Current experience includes working within the university finance department on budgeting and financial projects, participating in the university’s venture capital and startup investment ecosystem through Tech Launch Arizona/Wildcat Seed Fund initiatives, and completing an investment banking internship in Summer 2027. Building a strong foundation in valuation, financial modeling, leadership, and strategic decision-making while leveraging military leadership experience and academic performance to pursue a top MBA program with strong investment banking placement.
I have a 3.6 GPA in 60 credits of math, computer science and physics.
I have a small online language businesses with international clients and employees.
Hi experts and community,
I am a prospective applicant for the 2027 intake and need a "brutal" evaluation. My biggest concern is my short work experience (I will have under 3 years by matriculation). I need advice on how to maximize my total overall profile in the next 4 months to compete with more seasoned candidates.
My Profile:
- GMAT Focus: 675 (I consider 675 is under my best performance a little).
- Education: GPA 3.51/4 in a major university in Vietnam, Passed CFA Level 2 (90th percentile)
- Work Experience (Under 3 years at matriculation):
+ 15 months - Buy-side Equity Investment: Sector analysis and valuation.
+ Current (approx. 16 months by matriculation) - Corporate Finance: Focus on Capital Raising and M&A Execution (preparing deal documentation and due diligence for subsidiary acquisitions).
- Extracurriculars & Leadership:
+ CFA Society Vietnam (Vietnam Community of Investment Professionals): 4 years volunteer in total, of which 1 year as a Volunteer Lead for community projects.
+ Entrepreneurship: Co-founder of a small language center (managing operations, sales and finance).
Post-MBA Goals: Transition to Investment Banking (IB) or stay in Corporate M&A.
My Questions for the Experts:
+ School Stretch: Given my limited YOE, which Top EU/UK MBA programs (LBS, INSEAD, HEC, Oxford, Cambridge, IESE,...) are my realistic targets?
+ Overall Profile Maximization: What specific areas should I sharpen in the next 120 days to strengthen my profile?
Thank you all in advance for your time and insights!
In addition to my undergraduate degrees in landscape architecture and geography, I also have an MA in geography 3.9 gpa, and a PhD in Architecture. I am currently a VP at my company and a likely candidate for CEO in the near future. I want to continue working while pursuing my MBA to increase my chances of moving into the CEO role. Also, my goal is to start my own ClimateTech firm in the next several years. An MBA will help achieve both of these goals. For each of the selected schools, I would pursue their online MBA program so I can continue working. While I, of course, want to attend a prestigious program, I'm not willing to sacrifice my money or too much of my company's money to spend six figures on an online MBA. That is a part of the driver for the programs I have selected to look at. In the US, it is rare that online programs provide funding; a bit seems to be available at European programs.
MBA LiveWire
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