Revati Devasthale

Q1: Revati, can you tell us a little about your background?

I am academically trained as a lawyer, but at heart I have always been an athlete. I represented India in international badminton tournaments and dedicated over 16 years to professional training, discipline, and competition. After multiple injuries and surgeries, I was fortunate to win a gold medal for India, which remains one of the proudest moments of my life.

Q2: Your career path is quite unconventional. What happened after your sporting career?

Soon after my major wins, my life changed completely. I lost my father to a sudden cardiac arrest, and there was no one to take over our family business, which was a consumer products distribution company operating across Western India.
I stepped in despite having no prior business experience. I learned everything on the job and managed the business for about two to two and a half years. Unfortunately, COVID severely impacted the market and supply chains, and I had to make the difficult decision to wind down operations.

Q3: How did you transition into the corporate world?

After closing the business, I joined Cushman & Wakefield in the real estate finance sector. I currently work in capital markets and land acquisitions.
It was completely different from anything I had done before, but I genuinely enjoy learning new things. I believe life is about exploring, evolving, and building on every experience. That combination of sports, entrepreneurship, and corporate exposure eventually led me to consider an MBA.

Q4: Did you have any doubts about applying to top business schools?

Absolutely. My profile is very unconventional. I did not come from a traditional consulting, banking, or technology background, so I was unsure whether top B-schools would take me seriously.
I spoke to admissions committees, MBA consultants, current students, and alumni across schools. While a few people were discouraging, most were extremely supportive and told me that business schools actively value diverse backgrounds today. That gave me the confidence to move forward.

Q5: Your first round of applications did not go as planned. What went wrong?

The biggest issue was how my profile was positioned.
In my earlier applications, my sporting achievements were not presented in a way that truly reflected their value. Badminton is not widely followed in the West, so many admissions committees did not immediately grasp the level of competition or discipline involved.
More importantly, my story did not clearly connect the dots between sports, leadership, resilience, decision-making, and how those skills translate into business and corporate performance. That narrative was missing.

Q6: What changed in your successful applications?

We completely reworked how my story was told.
Instead of just listing achievements, we focused on transferable skills, long-term career vision, and how I would contribute to the classroom and the business world after graduation.
Once my profile was positioned correctly, the response from schools changed dramatically.

Q7: What was the final outcome?

I received offers from three top business schools: INSEAD, IMD, and HEC Paris.
It was honestly a very tough choice because all three are exceptional institutions. After evaluating everything carefully, I chose INSEAD and will be starting my MBA at the Singapore campus in January 2026.

Q8: Why did you choose INSEAD?

Two reasons stood out.
First, diversity. INSEAD has students from more than 100 nationalities, and I truly value learning from people with different cultures, careers, and perspectives.

Second, the multi-campus structure. The opportunity to study in Singapore, France, and Abu Dhabi aligned perfectly with my love for travel and global exposure. It felt like the best platform for both personal and professional growth.

Q9: What advice would you give to candidates from unconventional backgrounds?

Do not underestimate your story.
I faced around 23 rejections before receiving my final admits. The process can be overwhelming and emotionally exhausting. But if you break it down step by step, position your experiences correctly, and stay consistent, it is achievable.
Your background is not a weakness. If communicated well, it becomes your strongest differentiator.