Elsa Sze
Studied at Harvard Business School
Works at World Economic Forum
Available tomorrow at 5:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
About Elsa
I was one of 30 students admitted to the Harvard Business School–Harvard Kennedy School joint MBA/MPP program each year, and I received three competitive Harvard fellowships. While at HBS, I co-founded a leadership institute for graduate students, focused on helping HBS students connect more deeply to their own stories, values, and motivations. The work was recognized and supported by the school, and it marked the beginning of my coaching practice. After Harvard, I turned my MBA into action. I built a venture-backed startup out of the Harvard Innovation Lab, translating classroom theory into real-world execution as a founder and operator. Along the way, I’ve worked across startups, policy, and global institutions—experience that gives me a grounded, realistic view of what MBA programs are actually looking for. Today, I’m a mother and entrepreneur, working on early-stage AI ventures while continuing to coach people from all walks of life. I’m also a writer, currently working on multiple books, which means I bring exceptional strength to one of the hardest parts of the MBA process: clear, authentic, compelling storytelling.
Why do I coach?
I coach because the most powerful part of an application isn’t strategy—it’s story. My strongest work has always been in recommendations and essays, where applicants are asked to make sense of who they are and why their path matters. What enlivens me is the conversation underneath the tactics: the moment when someone realizes that what they’ve been trying to hide or smooth over is actually their strength. I’ve seen this shift change everything. With one applicant, a single honest conversation reframed how he saw himself, completely transformed his essay approach, and set up his success from there. That kind of clarity is often life-changing—and it’s why I coach.
Work Experience
Founder
Heartspace
March 2019 - Present
Founded a design and innovation studio to prototype social impact ventures, ranging from digital wellness applications to regenerative land-based community frameworks.
Global Shaper
World Economic Forum
September 2016 - Present
I was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Global Shaper, joining a highly selective network of exceptional young leaders driven to improve the state of the world.
Founder
Agora
June 2014 - November 2018
Dedicated every waking moment to fix the broken UI/UX between people and decision makers. Raised capital from a top-tier VC. Failed and shut down after 3.5 years. www.AGORA.co
MBA Candidate
Harvard University
August 2011 - May 2014
Interviewer
Studied human governance in political and corporate institutions. Contemplated deeply about the role of technology in democratizing the world. Had trouble fitting into such a privileged place. Found my courage to create Agora. I never looked back
Business Analyst
McKinsey & Company
October 2009 - July 2011
Felt pretty insecure most of my time there, despite what my performance reviews said. Got really good at structured problem solving and communicating, but a little sick of the word "strategic"
Research Assistant
International Monetary Fund
September 2008 - September 2009
Global economy went poof two weeks after I joined. Became the go-to person to keep G-20 countries honest about their fiscal stimulus commitments. Loved the mission-driven environment
Investment Banking Summer Analyst
Goldman Sachs
June 2007 - August 2007
Slept under my desk once a week. Sat in the room with movers and deal makers of Wall Street and witness the beginning of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. This experience opened my eyes and helped me break out of my Asian tiger daughter mode of glory seeking
Investment Banking Summer Analyst
J.P. Morgan
June 2006 - August 2006
I was an i-banker wannabe. Hustled to get this job. But didn't really care much about Excel models
Elsa was also given offers to work at
Bank of America
Education
Harvard Business School
MBA (2014)
2012 - 2014
Harvard Social Enterprise Fellow 2014 Harvard University Bill George Fellow 2013 Harvard University David M. Rubenstein Fellow 2011
Harvard Kennedy School
MPP (2014)
2011 - 2014
Initially had trouble fitting into such a privileged place; the experience pivoted into an identity search of who I really am Wrote my thesis on the role of technology in democracy; found my courage to create Agora, a civic tech startup to democratize communities
University of Chicago
Bachelor's
2004 - 2008
I studied data science before it was hip. Read Plato, Rousseau, and Locke at nights and weekends at the library basement. Broke the glass ceiling of the largest investment club on campus by becoming its first female president.
Elsa was also personally admitted to
Chicago Booth
Columbia Business School