Leland+ Content Library

Investment Banking Recruiting - 5 Top Tips to Stand Out

Are you looking to break into investment banking as your next career move? Join Alejandro A., a seasoned investment banking and private equity professional, for an exclusive session where he will share essential strategies to help you stand out in the highly competitive recruiting process. ​​With over 10 years of experience, Alejandro has worked at prestigious firms like Goldman Sachs, where he served as an Investment Banking Associate, and at Fanatics, as Director of M&A. He also co-founded Harbor Street Capital, a private equity fund, and has mentored over 200 students who have gone on to secure positions at top firms such as Goldman Sachs, Evercore, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley. ​​In this event, Alejandro will provide insider insights into how to successfully navigate the investment banking recruitment process and stand out as a top candidate.

Finance to MBA: Showing Impact and Proving Passion

Breaking into an MBA program from a finance background takes more than strong credentials—it’s about showing real impact and authentic passion. In this session, Leland coaches John N. (Kellogg MBA), Faisal K. (Booth adcom), and Kelsey K. (CBS adcom) will share how to differentiate yourself, connect your experience to your goals, and stand out in essays and interviews. Perfect for finance professionals aiming to make a powerful impression in Round 2.

School-Specific Interviews

HBS, Wharton TBD, MIT behavioral, Kellogg/team-based

Competency Questions

Leadership, failure, teamwork, ethics

Master the Interview

Tips and Pitfalls to Avoid

Timeline & Project Management

Managing multiple schools

Pre-Departure Preparation

Visa, housing, networking, CPT prep

AFOQT Overview

Overview of the AFOQT exam

LinkedIn & Online Presence

Strengthening credibility and recruiter alignment

AdCom Insider Tip #5

What Admitted Applicants All Have in Common

Mock Interview Practice

Real simulation exercises

Waitlist Strategy

Updates, new achievements, school engagement

Don’t Blow Your Law Interview: Ask a Stanford JD Anything

Law school interviews can be intimidating—but they don’t have to be. In this interactive session, Machmud M.—a Stanford JD, Rhodes Scholar, and Knight-Hennessy Scholar—will share candid insights on how to prepare for and excel in your law school interviews. From common pitfalls to powerful storytelling techniques, you’ll learn how to communicate your values, experiences, and goals in a way that truly resonates with admissions committees. Drawing on his diverse background across public policy, corporate law, and government—including time at the White House and on the Biden 2020 policy team—Machmud will answer your toughest questions about what law schools are really looking for. Whether you’re prepping for T-14 interviews or your first conversation with an alum, this session will help you approach your interview with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.

Your Path to MBB: How to Stand Out

Learn what it really takes to stand out in the highly competitive MBB recruiting process. In this session, top Leland consulting coaches break down the strategies that consistently help candidates land interviews and offers—from crafting a compelling story to excelling in networking, casing, and problem-solving assessments. You'll leave with a clear roadmap for positioning yourself as a top-tier candidate at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG.

Harvard Business School Application

Full Harvard Application from student

Communication Coaching

Accent confidence, tone, pacing

Job Search Reflection Guide

A structured reflection workbook that helps career-transitioning professionals clarify what they want next in their career with guided exercises.

LinkedIn Cribsheet

A targeted guide that helps experienced professionals rewrite their LinkedIn profiles to better reflect their value, momentum, and career direction.

The AI Brainstorm Lab: Turn Any Idea Into 10 Better Ones

Discover how to use AI as your creative partner, not just your assistant. In this hands-on lab, you’ll learn how to generate, expand, and refine ideas using ChatGPT or Claude—whether you’re naming a project, planning a campaign, or trying to get unstuck. Outcomes: You’ll leave with 10+ new ideas generated live, a framework for evaluating and combining AI suggestions, and practical techniques for overcoming creative blocks and turning raw ideas into real concepts. Learning Objectives: *Recognize where AI can enhance creative thinking and idea generation *Use structured prompting techniques to expand, combine, and refine ideas *Apply AI brainstorming methods to generate actionable outputs for real projects