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Package Description:
Strategic MBA Architecture – Foundation Package Architecture-Only Engagement for M7 and Top-20 Aspirants This engagement is designed for high-performing young professionals who want rigorous strategic clarity before drafting their applications independently. Candidates targeting M7 and Top-20 MBA programs often understand the importance of strong essays and polished resumes. Fewer understand that the real advantage comes from building a clear and defensible positioning framework before writing begins. This package provides that foundation. The process unfolds in structured phases focused on strategic clarity, school alignment, and messaging architecture. Phase I: Strategic Positioning & Career Architecture We begin with a comprehensive discovery process designed to surface patterns, strengths, and long-term trajectory. You will complete a structured intake covering: • Career progression and leadership experiences • Quantifiable impact and scope of responsibility • Academic background and intellectual interests • Career aspirations and industry alignment • Risk tolerance and long-term lifestyle goals We then conduct a 90-minute strategy session to: • Identify differentiated strengths and recurring leadership themes • Clarify near-term and long-term career direction • Assess feasibility and realism of stated goals • Evaluate alignment between profile and competitive tier Topics may include: • Full-Time versus Part-Time considerations • Industry positioning • Function alignment • Long-term leadership ambition Deliverable: Strategic Positioning Brief a written summary outlining: • Core leadership thesis • Competitive strengths • Areas requiring reinforcement • Near-term career positioning • Long-term trajectory framing This document becomes the intellectual foundation of your candidacy. Phase II: School Portfolio Strategy Targeting M7 and Top-20 programs requires disciplined portfolio construction. Together we evaluate: • Institutional culture and leadership philosophy • Historical career placement data • Academic and experiential alignment • Competitive profile calibration We discuss: • Reach, core, and balanced selections • Risk management across tiers • Realistic competitiveness within the anticipated applicant pool Deliverable: Recommended School Portfolio with Rationale, including: • 1 to 5 target programs • Positioning considerations for each • Cultural and career alignment analysis Phase III: Messaging Blueprint Once positioning and portfolio are clear, we develop a structured narrative architecture to guide your independent drafting. This includes: • Identification of 3 to 5 core leadership themes • Key proof points supporting each theme • Essay angle recommendations by school • School-specific emphasis suggestions • Resume positioning guidance at a structural level • Recommender theme alignment guidance We discuss: • How to demonstrate growth and maturity • How to show leadership trajectory • How to balance ambition with realism • How to avoid overused narratives Deliverable: Messaging Blueprint Document, which includes: • Narrative framework • School-by-school messaging emphasis • Recommended essay focus areas • Resume structural recommendations • Recommender theme guidance ⸻ Phase IV: Application Timeline & Execution Roadmap Strong candidates benefit from disciplined execution planning. You will receive: • High-level application timeline • Draft sequencing recommendations • Testing and recommender timing guidance • Suggested internal deadlines Deliverable: Application Roadmap, designed to help you manage drafting independently with clarity and structure.
What you'll get from this package
Strategic Positioning Brief
Recommended School Portfolio with Rationale
Messaging Blueprint
Application Roadmap
Additional details
Coaching delivered via live sessions and .
Why Young Professionals Choose to Work With Me High-performing young professionals are often surrounded by noise. Online forums, ranking debates, essay myths, and conflicting advice can create confusion rather than clarity. The candidates who choose to work with me are looking for something steadier and more substantive. They value structure, perspective, and guidance grounded in real-world experience. A Broader Professional Lens Many admissions consultants focus narrowly on application mechanics. My background spans 40 years across engineering, corporate strategy, product leadership, business development, and entrepreneurship. I have seen how careers unfold across industries and functions. That experience allows me to evaluate your MBA decision within the context of long-term career architecture, not just short-term admission goals. Young professionals benefit from that broader lens. We talk not only about where you can get in, but about where you are headed and why. Architecture Before Execution My process begins with disciplined discovery. We invest time in identifying your leadership themes, decision patterns, growth trajectory, and long-term ambition. From there, we construct a defensible positioning framework. This architecture-first approach gives you clarity and confidence. It reduces guesswork and prevents reactive drafting. When you understand your narrative foundation, execution becomes more focused and cohesive. Direct, Candid, and Thoughtful Feedback Candidates appreciate honesty. I provide clear assessment of strengths, areas for reinforcement, and competitive positioning. The feedback is constructive, structured, and grounded in experience. It is designed to help you elevate your thinking, not simply edit your words. You will leave our conversations with sharper insight into your own leadership story. Calm Perspective in a Competitive Process M7 and Top-20 admissions are outrageously competitive. The process can feel intense, particularly for young professionals early in their careers. I bring a measured and steady presence. We focus on what you can control: clarity, preparation, and disciplined execution. That perspective helps reduce anxiety and maintain momentum. Efficient and Structured Engagement Many driven professionals are balancing demanding jobs, testing preparation, and personal commitments. My engagements are structured around clear milestones, defined deliverables, and predictable turnaround times. You know what to expect, and you know what comes next. A Partnership That Respects Your Independence The Foundation Package is particularly attractive to strong writers and analytical thinkers who want strategic clarity while maintaining ownership of their application. I guide the architecture and messaging framework so you can execute with confidence. This approach appeals to candidates who are serious, self-motivated, and thoughtful about their future.
Foundation Package Guidelines Strategic MBA Architecture This engagement is designed to provide focused strategic clarity before you draft independently. Clear expectations help ensure an efficient and productive experience. Scope This package includes: • Strategic positioning and career architecture • School portfolio recommendation • Messaging blueprint • Resume structural guidance • Recommender theme guidance • High-level application roadmap This package does not include iterative essay editing, full draft review, interview preparation, or ongoing application management. Timeline The Foundation Package is typically completed within 3–5 weeks of our initial strategy session. Services are intended to be completed within 60 days of start date to maintain momentum and relevance. Communication You may expect written deliverables and responses within 48 business hours of scheduled milestones or submitted materials. Maintaining steady cadence helps ensure clarity and progress. School Scope & Adjustments The engagement is structured around the agreed number of target schools at the outset. Additional schools or significant shifts in the application round may require an expanded scope and corresponding fee adjustment. Authorship & Outcomes You remain the author of all application materials. This is a strategic advisory engagement and does not include ghostwriting. Admission decisions depend on many factors beyond any consultant’s control. While the process is grounded in experience and disciplined strategy, outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Upgrade Path Many candidates begin with the Foundation Package to clarify positioning and school strategy. If, during the drafting process, you decide you would benefit from structured essay review, resume refinement, or interview preparation, you may transition into the full Strategic Architecture & Advisory Partnership. The investment made toward the Foundation Package can be credited toward the upgraded engagement within a defined timeframe. This structure allows you to begin with clarity while preserving flexibility.
Services included:
Recommendations
School Selection
Application Strategy
Essays
Resume
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Schedule a call with a Leland team member who can help you explore your options.
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More packages from Bill
Custom hourly · $250/hr
Get help with Recommendations, Cover Letters, and .
Offered by Bill C.
Joined June 2025
5.0
18 years experience in top MBA admissions firm - 200+ M7/T20 successes
With 17 years of admissions consulting experience at a top-ranked firm, advising more than 1,000 candidates and guiding hundreds to M7 and other top-20 MBA programs, I offer a strategic partnership grounded in clarity, efficiency, and long-term career architecture. I have worked with candidates from every background and career path, and I understand how personal and high-stakes this process can feel. My work begins well before essays are drafted. Drawing on a 40-year career spanning engineering, corporate strategy, product leadership, and entrepreneurial ventures, I help you think through not only where you can gain admission, but where you can build meaningful, lasting leverage. Rather than focusing narrowly on one or two programs, we thoughtfully evaluate Full-Time, Part-Time, Executive, and alternative pathways to determine what truly aligns with your goals and life circumstances. I invest deeply in front-end strategy: clarifying your demonstrated strengths, modeling realistic career trajectories, and developing a clear positioning thesis. When that foundation is strong, the writing becomes more natural and efficient. I do not believe in endless cycles of edits. I believe in doing the hard thinking upfront so the messaging reflects who you genuinely are and what you bring. Whether you are a traditional applicant or come from a less conventional background, I serve as both strategic advisor and steady project partner. You can expect candid feedback, structured planning, and focused refinement that surfaces your authentic value. I will not write your essays for you, but I will challenge and support you in ways that help you see your story more clearly than you have before.
$4,000
13h–18h of coaching