Leland+ for Career Coaching

MBA Self-Discovery Workbook: Unlock Your Narrative & Write Freely

This is a reflection-focused, 13-section workbook for MBA applicants to uncover and build your story before embarking on the complex, layered process of writing your essays. This resource is informed from my time in Stanford GSB's Interpersonal Dynamics (Touchy Feely), my time helping dozens of other GSB classmates find their voice as the Managing Editor for Stanford GSB's Paper (Nondisclosure), and in helping over 500 MBA applicants self-reflect in a way that feels genuine, personal and clarifying. I wrote this resource with just enough structure (but not too much), and with a practical eye towards covering the ground you'll need for your MBA apps. You'll go deep, but every question has a purpose. I also use this with everyone I work with, and it's something we'll cover at the very beginning of our process. My hope is that this resource, in addition to being a big help, feels like we're in conversation. The goal is just to get to know you a little better, one step at a time, in a way that feels natural, even enjoyable. Even if you're the only one who ever sees it, I've tried to write this in a way that I'd speak about this kind of thing with you. Because I think humans are the best way to help other humans see themselves a little deeper. And trust me, plenty of "coaches" could use more of that too ;) This workbook will cover your background, motivations, short and long-term goals, values, behavioral stories, and more. A PDF is attached here, but there's also a downloadable Word file I recommend using to make things much easier for you to fill out as you go. This took me about 20-30 hours of time to put together, and I suggest putting at least 5-10 into filling this out. Some go at it all at once, but most do it in a few sittings. Long walks are good to interperse between writing sessions, and I actually recommend you reflect and go back to this to update your answers several times throughout your MBA process. Save new versions as you go and you'll be able to see your application pixellate over this monthslong process. If you're reapplying, I'd push you to compare what you end up with here with what you submitted last time. The differences may be revealing. I hope ends up a real tool for you, and that it helps you find answers you might not have found otherwise. It also will give you a glimpse into what coaching together feels like. Don't hesitate to reach out if you feel like sharing this. Working on your writing and applications together is a natural byproduct of the kind of reflection you'll be doing here, and it's my favorite thing to help someone with. Happy writing :) -Ben

Turn Your Resume into Interviews

If your resume isn’t landing interviews, it’s time for a rethink. This session is all about turning your resume into a true conversation-starter with recruiters. You’ll learn what makes a resume stand out in seconds, how to showcase results and momentum, and how to tailor your story for the roles you want. Expect practical tips, real examples, and strategies you can apply immediately. Whether you’re stuck in the application grind or gearing up for your next move, you’ll leave with a resume built to get interviews.

Acing the Sales & Trading Internship

The Internship Playbook: 5 Principles That Separate Great Interns from Good Ones — A concise, no-fluff guide covering the habits that actually matter during your internship: reliability over brilliance, sharing real insight (not just headlines), thinking like a principal, building genuine relationships with fellow interns, and remembering to evaluate the firm while they evaluate you. Written for anyone heading into a finance internship who wants to stand out for the right reasons.

Job Evaluation Tool

Practical template to help you rationally evaluate different job opportunities.

Thriving in Your Environment - Workbook

Neurodivergent Series

Communication Toolkit for Korean Professionals

This toolkit gives you a simple 3‑layer framework to understand what is happening, concrete phrases and templates you can copy and adapt, and a 30‑day practice plan so you build new habits, not just new insights.

Help I'm in the Wrong Job: The Unwritten Rules of Making a Career Pivot

At some point in their careers, most people find themselves wondering where the career path they chose in their 20s is what they want to do for the next few decades. Career pivots are common - especially in a world where technology keeps shifting the job market. But how do you make a career pivot? In this session, we'll explore ways to start moving your career in a new direction -- long before you quit your job. We will have time for prepared topics as well as Q&A - so bring your questions. About Jeff Sigel: Jeff Sigel is an executive and career coach with 20+ years of marketing experience. He has held leadership roles in top Food manufacturing, retail, and restaurant companies - including as VP of Marketing and VP of Corporate Strategy & Business Intelligence. He has made a career pivot of his own into coaching and training emerging leaders.

Home for Ambition #9 — Weekly Live Show [5/13/2026] (Recording)

Home for Ambition is a weekly live show, by Leland, for people trying to stay ahead as work, learning, and opportunity keep changing. Each episode tackles a handful of timely, high-signal topics across AI, careers, education, and the future of work. We expect thoughtful debate, unique perspectives, and practical takeaways you can actually use. It is not a typical interview show or a generic news recap. It is a live roundtable built to help ambitious people make sense of what is changing, understand what matters, and leave with a sharper point of view on how to navigate what comes next.

The Interview Narrative Toolkit

Interviews aren't a memory test. They're a communication test. The Interview Narrative Toolkit gives you a repeatable method for answering behavioral questions in a way that's specific, credible, and actually interesting to listen to. It's built around the CARL framework — not because frameworks are magic, but because most people ramble without one. What's inside: You'll learn how to isolate your actual contribution from the team's work, which is the thing most candidates blur and most interviewers notice. You'll get a breakdown of the phrases that feel safe but quietly tank your signal — the "we wore many hats" answers, the "great learning experience" deflections — and what to say instead interview-narra...it (1).pdf . And you'll walk away with a method you can apply to any story, not just the ones you prepped. The goal isn't a perfect answer. It's a demo-able one. Concrete. Under two minutes. Yours. One story rewritten using this method is enough to see the difference. Most people find they've been underselling themselves for years — not because their work wasn't good, but because they never learned how to make it visible.

How Korean Professionals Can Break Into Global Careers

Are you a Korean professional looking to break into global careers and make your mark on the international stage? Join me, Caolan, for an insightful session on navigating high-stakes career transitions and unlocking global opportunities. With a rich background in strategic communication and storytelling, I've helped ambitious professionals like you step into leadership roles and land positions at top companies. This session shows Korean professionals exactly how to transition into global roles with clarity and confidence. You’ll learn how to navigate English interviews, position your experience for international companies, and overcome the cultural barriers that often block career moves abroad. By the end, you’ll know the steps to take, how to present yourself to global employers, and what it really takes to secure your next role in the international market. With experience leading award-winning teams at On, AKQA, and Ogilvy, I bring a unique perspective on crafting compelling personal and professional narratives. During this event, we'll cover essential topics such as interview prep, skill-building, career planning, and more. Whether you're aiming to enhance your leadership skills or refine your strategic communication, this session will provide actionable guidance to turn your potential into results. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot and start your journey to global career success!

Professional CV - two Masters and three Doctorates + work experience!

For anyone looking for a clean, simple, thorough CV template! Includes my background of multiple undergraduate degrees, two Master's degrees, and three Doctorate degrees, along with research bibliography and work experience. Translatable for those entering MBA, Masters, PhD, medical school, dental school, physician's assistant and more.

Home for Ambition #2 — Weekly Live Show [3/25/2026] (Recording)

Home for Ambition is a weekly live show, by Leland, for people trying to stay ahead as work, learning, and opportunity keep changing. Each episode tackles a handful of timely, high-signal topics across AI, careers, education, and the future of work. We expect thoughtful debate, unique perspectives, and practical takeaways you can actually use. It is not a typical interview show or a generic news recap. It is a live roundtable built to help ambitious people make sense of what is changing, understand what matters, and leave with a sharper point of view on how to navigate what comes next.

How to Work With Me - Personal Read Me Guide Example

This 'How to' guide is my favorite tool to set and communicating boundaries at work while acting as a great collaborator. I wrote this note when I was Group PM at LinkedIn in their Sunnyvale (CA) HQ. I shared it with new collaborators every time I changed scope or team and started working with new partners (which happened a lot!). Many colleagues told me they really appreciated my transparent approach to collaboration and the example I set in communicating my boundaries. Some even created their own version and thanked me for it. Feel free to copy it and create your own version. Make sure to adapt it to your personal style and needs, as well as your organisation’s work culture.

Home for Ambition #3 — Weekly Live Show [4/1/2026] (Recording)

Home for Ambition is a weekly live show, by Leland, for people trying to stay ahead as work, learning, and opportunity keep changing. Each episode tackles a handful of timely, high-signal topics across AI, careers, education, and the future of work. We expect thoughtful debate, unique perspectives, and practical takeaways you can actually use. It is not a typical interview show or a generic news recap. It is a live roundtable built to help ambitious people make sense of what is changing, understand what matters, and leave with a sharper point of view on how to navigate what comes next.

How to Lead the Room with Executive Presence

Executive presence is one of those phrases that gets thrown around a lot in leadership conversations. You've probably heard it. You may have even been told you need more of it. But here's the problem: most people can't tell you what it actually means. It's not charisma. It's not being the loudest person in the room. It's not even being the most polished. Executive presence is the ability to make people feel — in your presence — that things are under control, that someone capable is leading, and that their time and attention is being respected. It's a signal. And like any signal, it can be developed, sharpened, and directed. This guide is built around three pillars that I've seen transform how executives show up: Clarity, Credibility, and Confidence. They're related — and yes, they overlap. But they each do distinct work, and understanding the difference matters.

Guide to Getting a Job at a Startup

From my first-hand experience and tons of soul-searching, learn how to get a job at a startup.

Sustainable Self-Care Workbook

Neurodivergent Series

Sample Answer to a Leadership Question (LinkedIn Example)

This is an example response to a leadership question based on an experience with a team at LinkedIn.

Demo: Mastering the Technical Interview

This demonstration shows how in-depth we get with research for technical interviews. This specific example looks at product management as an example, but the skills displayed can be used for any industry.

Stanford GSB career handbook

Stanford GSB career handbook for experienced professionals