Today we’d like to introduce you to Vinay Narang.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Vinay. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the entrance exam for MBA programs. I first took the GMAT about 25 years ago, scoring in the 99th percentile (top 1% of GMAT takers), as I prepared to apply to business schools. By the time I graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business a few years later, however, the GMAT was a distant memory.
After working in a couple big corporate jobs after Stanford, I took a job as CFO of an Internet startup in San Clemente. When that company closed down, I explored different job opportunities but ultimately decided to start an organizational development company.
Since I knew that it would take time to build up a consulting business, I wanted to take up a part-time job and found a listing for a GMAT instructor. Given my prior history with the exam, I figured that would be a great fit.
Once I started teaching GMAT preparation courses, I realized just how much I enjoyed teaching others how to excel on this challenging exam. I then decided to switch from working for one of the national test preparation companies to another in order to take on a bigger role. Over time I became this second company’s senior-most GMAT instructor, teaching classes and tutoring students in LA and Orange County as well as training new GMAT instructors.
As much as I enjoyed this, I knew that I could do more. Over 250,000 MBA-aspirants worldwide take the GMAT each year. I started GMAT Genius to offer the highest-quality GMAT preparation services to clients worldwide. I wanted to help more people get a GMAT score that reflects their highest capabilities so that they could attend their dream MBA program. Furthermore, the MBA in me relished the opportunity to create and grow a global business that could have a big impact on people’s lives. As our reputation for high-quality GMAT prep has spread, we’ve been fortunate to grow and have a greater reach.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The first couple of years were quite challenging. A few big companies dominate the GMAT preparation industry, and there are many hundreds of small companies and individual tutors trying to carve out their own small portion of the market. As a new small business with a limited marketing budget, it was quite challenging initially to get recognition in this crowded industry. Furthermore, we faced the same challenges that all new businesses face, such as creating a website and building a social media presence. Since I didn’t have experience in these areas, it was definitely a process of trial-and-error.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
GMAT Genius currently works individually with our clients through private tutoring, in-person in Southern California and online worldwide, to help our clients achieve GMAT success. As part of our tutoring, we structure a GMAT curriculum that is tailored to each client’s specific needs. In order to have a bigger reach, we will be expanding next year to offer group GMAT classes and subsequently into additional GMAT preparation services.
Led by one of the world’s most skilled and experienced GMAT instructors, GMAT Genius has developed a reputation for GMAT teaching excellence. Our clients have scored as high as 770 on the GMAT (out of 800 maximum), often improving 50 to 150 points, and have been accepted to top business schools including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and Kellogg. With many clients in Southern California, we’ve also had great success in having our clients matriculate into the MBA programs at UCLA, USC, and UC Irvine.
Our many testimonials speak to the wonderful results that our clients have achieved. We’re proud to be among the topmost-rated businesses in the test preparation industry on Yelp and Trustpilot, and we’re thrilled every time we hear the excitement in a client’s voice after achieving a great GMAT score or getting acceptance into his or her dream MBA program.
What were you like growing up?
Probably not a surprise, but I was very studious growing up, getting straight A’s in school. I was fairly introverted in elementary and middle school, but opened up a lot in high school. Winning the election for Freshman Class President in high school was a transformational point. Serving as a student government leader throughout all four years of high school gave me the opportunity to open up and develop leadership skills.
Pricing:
- Hourly tutoring: $190 per hour
- 10 hour tutoring package: $1,659
- 20 hour tutoring package: $3,179
Contact Info:
- Address: 14252 Culver Drive #A-300
Irvine, CA 92604 - Website: http://www.GMATgenius.com/
- Phone: 949-943-3310
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMATgenius
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GMATgenius
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gmat-genius-irvine
- Other: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/gmatgenius.com
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
