
Claire Rafson
Customer favorite
GSB & M7 Expert | Knight-Hennessy | Ex-Bain/Nike | 100+ M7 Admits
126,545 min coached
1,326 followers
Top Expert
Studied at Stanford Graduate School of Business
Hiring Manager at Bain & Company
Successful clients at





Available tomorrow at 8:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Claire's Offerings
Custom hourly · $345/hr
Get help with Application Strategy, Ding Analysis, and
Claire’s free events
Live interactive sessions you can join for free.

How to Write Standout MBA Essays
Jul 6 at 10:00 PM UTC
69 people going
Claire’s MBA Qualifications
Coaches professionally
10+ people coached for MBA
AI Certified
Completed Level 1 of Leland’s AI Builder Program
Claire has helped clients get into these schools:
Hi, I’m Claire — one of Leland’s fastest-growing coaches and a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford. As a GSB + HBS deferred admit, I’ve helped 100+ applicants from all backgrounds earn 200+ admits across every M7 school — and many more. I bring insider perspective as a current MBA + MA in Education student, and professional experience from Bain, Silver Lake, Nike, and Eniac Ventures. I know how to position your story with authenticity and impact — and I don’t just help you brainstorm ideas, I teach you how to deliver them with confidence. I’m a storytelling nerd, an interview wizard, and a coach who knows how to help you win. Let’s turn your story into your superpower — and get you into your dream school.
Claire can help with:
Application Strategy
Ding Analysis
Editing
Essays
Financial Aid & Scholarships
General Exploration
Interviews
Networking Strategy
Recommendations
Resume
School Selection
Secondary Review
Supplementary Materials
Waitlist Strategy
Claire also coaches for Management Consulting, Master’s Programs, Prestigious Scholarships & Fellowships, Career Coaching, and Venture Capital. View all.
About Claire
I know what it's like to feel like you don't belong. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago with a mixed-race/cultural family, I never thought that I'd have the chance to be a part of incredible institutions like Dartmouth, Stanford GSB, and the Knight-Hennessy community. I was only able to get there because others invested in me - and now I want to do my part to give back. Before I got to college, I didn't know anybody who went into consulting (or even what McKinsey, Bain, or the Boston Consulting Group were.) My jobs going into college included working as a Starbucks barista and selling equipment at an outdoor goods store. I threw myself into mastering the case interview process and was lucky enough to earn a full-time role at Bain & Company. I then entered the private equity and venture capital industries and have been able to transform the trajectory of my life as well as my family's. My journey has been special, but not because I am. It's because I received mentorship, coaching, and advice from others who believed in me. Now, I'm on Leland to be that person for you. Looking forward to talking about how we can help you pursue your dreams on an intro call soon!
Work Experience

Global Brand Strategy
Nike
June 2024 - August 2024

Knight Hennessy Scholar
Stanford University Graduate School of Business
September 2023 - Present

Investor
Eniac Ventures
October 2021 - May 2023

ESG & Impact Analyst
Silver Lake
April 2021 - October 2021

Senior Associate Consultant
Bain & Company
September 2019 - October 2021
Hiring Manager
Claire was also given offers to work at

McKinsey & Company
Education

Stanford Graduate School of Education
MA in Education, Education
2025 - 2026

Stanford Graduate School of Business
Master of Business Administration - MBA
2023 - 2025
Activities and societies: Knight-Hennessy Scholar

Dartmouth College
Bachelor's degree, History, Native American Studies
Activities and societies: SHEBA Dance Troupe (Director), Inter-sorority Council (VP of DE&I), Academic Tutor, Sigma Delta Sorority (Executive), Rockefeller Center for Public Policy, Dartmouth Outing Club
Claire was also personally admitted to

Harvard Business School
97 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Knowledge
5.0
Value
4.8
Responsiveness
5.0
Supportiveness
5.0
Claire has helped clients get into these schools:
Claire has helped clients get into these companies:


