
Benjamin Pettigrew
5.0
(2)
Harvard, MIT, Wharton & Stanford Alum | Strategy, Essays, Interviews
Studied at Stanford Graduate School of Business
Hiring Manager at Hola Salud
Available tomorrow at 5:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Benjamin's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $275/hr
Get help with Recommendations, Essays, and .
Benjamin’s College Qualifications
20+ people coached for College
I graduated cum laude from Harvard and went on to earn graduate degrees from MIT, Wharton, and Stanford — giving me firsthand experience navigating admissions at four of the most selective universities in the world. I understand what these institutions look for because I've been through their processes as both an applicant and, later, as a Guest Lecturer at Stanford School of Medicine and MIT. Today I'm an active entrepreneur, investor, and board member with experience spanning six countries and four continents. I've advised students and families across the U.S. and Latin America (I'm fluent in Spanish and Portuguese) on every aspect of the college admissions journey — from building a compelling profile and discovering the right schools, to crafting standout essays and making the final enrollment decision. My approach is centered on fit, not just prestige: the best school for you is the one where you'll thrive academically, personally, and professionally, and that's not always the one with the lowest acceptance rate. I help students tell their authentic story, identify schools they may not have considered, and put together applications that reflect who they truly are.
Benjamin can help with:
Recommendations
Essays
Secondary Review
Application Strategy
Resume
General Exploration
Interviews
Editing
Waitlist Strategy
Supplementary Materials
School Selection
Benjamin also coaches for MBA, Executive Coaching, Career Coaching, and Master’s Programs. View all.
About Benjamin
My path to Harvard, MIT, Wharton/Lauder, and Stanford wasn’t linear—and it certainly wasn’t perfect. A native Texan, I arrived at Harvard planning to play football—until a serious knee injury ended that path almost immediately. Overnight, the identity I had built for years disappeared, and I had to reinvent myself—academically, professionally, and personally. What changed my trajectory wasn’t raw intelligence. It was learning how to think critically, research rigorously, and communicate ideas in ways that command attention. I learned how to compete in rooms filled with extraordinary people—not by trying to be the smartest, but by being clear, disciplined, and intentional. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve built and led companies across private equity, venture capital, family offices, and digital health. I’ve raised and deployed capital, executed cross-border acquisitions across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and served as both a C-suite executive and board member. I’ve lived and worked in Brazil, Mexico, Israel, France, and the UK, and now call Oregon home. I understand what it means to navigate elite institutions, global markets, and high-stakes environments—and to do so without following a conventional script.
Why do I coach?
I coach because I genuinely enjoy helping talented, ambitious people achieve goals that can change the trajectory of their lives—and the communities they influence. I’ve been fortunate to gain access to some of the world’s great institutions. Those opportunities opened doors professionally and globally. But I have also seen many exceptionally talented individuals fall short—not because they lacked merit, but because they didn’t know how to position themselves effectively. Admissions and career advancement are not just about credentials. They are about articulation, clarity, and strategy. Having lived and worked across multiple countries, I understand how opaque U.S. admissions and elite hiring processes can feel—especially to international and nontraditional candidates. Talent is global. Opportunity is not. Helping someone translate their background, ambition, and leadership into a compelling case—one that resonates with decision-makers—is work I take seriously and genuinely enjoy.
Work Experience

Founding Partner
b20 ventures
January 2024 - Present
Hiring Manager
b20 ventures is an early stage venture firm investing in the most disruptive startups emerging from the world’s best universities. Venture Capital, Fundraising and +5 skills

Guest Lecturer
Stanford University School of Medicine
November 2023 - Present
Since 2023, I have been invited to return to Stanford as a Guest Lecturer on digital health and AI in Latin America.

COO, Co-Founder, Board Member
Hola Salud
October 2022 - Present
Hiring Manager
Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and +7 skills

Co-Founder, CEO & Board Member
Crown Legacy Capital
January 2019 - Present
Hiring Manager

COO & Board Member
Clearview Investments
August 2010 - Present
Interviewer

Head of Corporate Develoment & Observing Board Member
Ennis-Flint
November 2006 - June 2010
Interviewer
Associate
Harris Williams
July 2005 - November 2006
Interviewer
Education

Stanford Graduate School of Business
Master of Science - MS, Management: MSx Sloan Fellow
The MSx Sloan Fellows Program at Stanford GSB is a one-year Master of Science program for experienced entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders. Each year, Stanford selects a group of accomplished leaders from around the world as Sloan Fellows for advanced study and preparation as entrepreneurs and for senior roles in business, government, and society. Areas of Expertise: • Startups • Entrepreneurship in Developing Economies • CFO Leadership • Sales & Sales Management • Family Offices • Search Funds & Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Artificial Intelligence (AI), Entrepreneurship in Developing Economies and +5 skills

The Wharton School (UPenn)
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Private Equity & Buyouts
Areas of Expertise: • Advanced Corporate Finance • Securities Analysis & Credit Risk • Financial & Managerial Accounting • Venture Capital & Private Equity • Negotiations • Operations Management – Quality, Production & Supply Chain • Leadership Advanced Finance, Strategic Leadership and +3 skills

The Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies (UPenn)
Master of Arts, International Studies (Latin America & Portuguese)
2003 - 2005

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Master of Science, Real Estate Development
1999 - 2000

Harvard University
Bachelor of Arts, History
1993 - 1999
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