LBS, HEC & IESE MBA Essay Tips 2026

If you’re applying to LBS, HEC Paris, or IESE, you already know that these schools look far beyond your professional milestones. They want depth, nuance, and authenticity—qualities that often get lost when applicants rely only on their resumes. In our live Coffee with MBA & Beyond session, Shantanu and Vidhi explained why the strongest applications are anchored in compelling MBA essays example that showcase emotional resonance, personal growth, and narrative coherence.

This blog distils those exact teachings and breaks down the three big essays you will face:

• LBS Uniqueness Essay – “What makes you unique?”
• HEC Paris Essay 4 – “Imagine a life entirely different from the one you lead.”
• IESE Fit Essay – “Why IESE and how will you contribute?”

All insights here are directed through the coffee.
No generic advice—only real, practical MBA essays example and commentary.

LBS MBA Essay Tips (Uniqueness Essay)

LBS introduced the “What makes you unique?” essay recently, and it has quickly become one of the trickiest components because:

✔ Your professional achievements are already covered elsewhere.
✔ Your ECs are covered.
✔ Your International experience is covered.

So, what goes here?

According to Shantanu:

“Your uniqueness essay should reveal who you are beyond your resume.”

What LBS Really Wants

• A trait or theme that naturally shows up in your life
• A blend of personal + professional (optional, not mandatory)
• Evidence-based storytelling
• A clear emotional arc

MBA Essays Example

Example 1: Blending Personal & Professional

An applicant was a national-level tennis player AND worked as Chief of Staff + Consultant.
They merged both worlds by focusing on a core trait: perseverance:

• Missing birthdays
• Competing without referees
• Surviving “street-smart opponents”
• Winning state/regional medals
• Using the same grit to achieve $0.5M+ engagement at work

The essay ended with:

“My ability to transform discomfort into growth—whether on a field or in a boardroom—is what makes me unique.”

Example 2: Fully Professional Story

Another applicant switched from Economics → CA → Deloitte → Product Management.
Her uniqueness?

“I can speak the language of a CFO, CPO, and customer alike.”

No personal angle, yet powerful.

Key LBS Essay Tips

• You can skip the professional angle if your personal story is stronger.
• Impact is always welcomed.
• Avoid writing adjectives without evidence.
• Expressiveness matters more than the size of your achievement.
• DO NOT imitate other people’s stories.

As Vidhi said:

“Never start by reading samples. You will unknowingly try to copy someone else.”

HEC Paris MBA Essay Tips (Essay 4 – Alternate Life Essay)

This essay is famously unconventional and often misunderstood.
The session makes it very clear:

“The trick is to stay coherent with your story.”

What HEC Wants

• An alternate life that still reflects your underlying values
• A foundation in who you already are (no random fantasies)
• A bridge between your current skills and this alternate identity

Example 1: Sports → Injury → Sports Commentator

A candidate originally wanted to pursue sports but lost an ankle due to a medical condition.
In an alternate life, he wished to be a sports commentator.

Why it worked:

• He had real passion for sports
• He already had storytelling, analytical, and communication skills
• The pivot was imaginative yet believable

Example 2: HR Professional → Solo Adventure Blogger

A CXO-scouting HR professional who travels extensively imagined becoming an adventure blogger.

Why it worked:

• Travel is a big part of her real job
• She used her global exposure & observation skills
• Not random rooted in her lived experience

Tips From the Mentors

• Avoid wild pivots like “consultant → F1 racer” unless you have grounding.
• Your foundation cannot be imaginary.
• Show subtle links between current traits & alternate life.
• They want interesting, not bizarre.

Vidhi put it perfectly:

“Don’t leave it hanging without connecting it back to your real life.”

IESE MBA Essay Tips (Fit Essay – New Version)

IESE now asks a long, multi-part Fit Essay:

• Why IESE?
• How does it align with your personal values?
• How will you contribute?
• What experiences shaped you?

The Blog shows a powerful structure used for a candidate who already received an interview invite.

Recommended Structure

(A) Start With a Personal Story That Embodies a Value

• Candidate was too shy to raise her hand at age 8
• Later performed dance on stage before 1500 people
• Dance became her first form of expression
• Built a growth mindset through discomfort

This covered two IESE values immediately:

• Global Mindset
• Personal Growth

(B) Add Professional Proof

The same candidate:

• Competed in case competitions
• Funded a student initiative
• Helped underprivileged women build businesses

(C) Connect to IESE’s Values

IESE’s four values:

• Integrity
• Spirit of Service
• Global Mindset
• Personal Growth

Mapped each value to a personal story.

(D) Close With a Visionary Contribution

This was gold:
The applicant proposed creating a “Living Case Book”—a repository of:

• Student-created case studies
• Hackathon winners
• Local entrepreneurial stories
• Student team projects

IESE could use this as a signature resource.

The essay closed with:

“Just as dance once gave me the courage to stand at the center of a stage, I now seek to bring that fearless energy to IESE.”

Perfect emotional callback.

Embedded YouTube Session

Common Storytelling Lessons

These insights were repeated throughout the session:

✔ Avoid Building a Frankenstein Essay

Applicants often borrow stories from others.
Shantanu warned against this:

“Every applicant is unique. Your expression is the differentiator.”

✔ Don’t Start by Reading Samples

Vidhi’s advice was clear:

“It will bias you and make you copy someone else.”

✔ Coherence > Creativity

Especially for HEC and IESE.
Your narrative must connect personal, professional, and purpose-driven elements smoothly.

✔ Impact Helps—but Expression Matters More

Even if your achievements are modest,
your articulation can make them powerful.

Conclusion: Your Story Is the Real Strategy

The Session repeatedly highlighted one truth:

“Adcoms read hundreds of applications full of professional jargon. The moment they read something real, raw, and thoughtful—they remember you.”

Whether you are writing the LBS uniqueness essay, the HEC alternate-life essay, or the IESE fit essay, the power lies not in the quantity of achievements—but the quality of your storytelling.

Use these MBA essays examples and insights from the session to build a narrative that is:

• Authentic
• Coherent
• Emotionally resonant
• Unmistakably yours

This is how you stand out in LBS, HEC & IESE MBA applications. Let’s get it done! Stay focused, be authentic, and let your unique story shine through with MBA&Beyond.