Horatiu S.

Horatiu S.

5.0

(9)

From Career Planning to Job Search Strategy: Coaching for Your Next Move

Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern) Logo

Studied at Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern)

MBA Qwest Logo

Works at MBA Qwest

Successful clients at

Available tomorrow at 7:00 PM UTC

Usually responds within 1 hour

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Horatiu's Coaching Offerings

Custom hourly · $279/hr

Get help with Interview Prep, Skill Building, and .

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Horatiu’s Career Coaching Qualifications

Coaches professionally

Experience level: Executive

500+ people coached for Career Coaching

I’m a career strategist and coach with over 20 years of international, cross-industry business experience — but at my core, I’m most passionate about helping people find clarity, confidence, and purpose in their careers. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching professionals at UCLA Anderson’s Executive MBA Program, USC Marshall’s IBEAR MBA Program, and through my own practice, CareerQwest. Each client’s journey has taught me something new about resilience, ambition, and the power of intentional career choices. My own background spans consulting, corporate strategy, technology, and entrepreneurship across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. This variety allows me to understand and relate to clients from many different industries, functions, and stages of life. I combine that perspective with evidence-based coaching and a practical, results-focused approach to ensure our work together is both supportive and impactful. I see coaching as a partnership. Together, we’ll define what success looks like for you, set clear goals, and work step by step toward roles and opportunities that align with your vision for the future. My role is to challenge, guide, and encourage you — and to make sure you never feel like you’re navigating the journey alone. My coaching process is structured yet highly personalized, guiding you through every stage of career advancement—from defining your goals, to landing interviews, to negotiating the offer that truly reflects your value. Career Planning & Job Search Strategy • Clarifying your career goals and defining success on your terms • Building a structured job search strategy with clear milestones • Identifying target industries, companies, and decision-makers • Leveraging networks and recruiters to uncover hidden opportunities Crafting Your Professional Brand • Developing a compelling, achievement-focused resume • Optimizing your LinkedIn profile for visibility and impact • Writing tailored role and industry summaries that highlight your strengths • Showcasing your skills, knowledge, and accomplishments as a marketable story Outreach & Market Engagement • Creating a customized list of target companies and opportunities • Learning how to approach the right individuals with confidence • Using professional and personal networking to expand access and influence • Applying proven criteria to identify the best-fit roles Interview Preparation • Anticipating likely interview questions and building strong, structured responses • Preparing for behavioral interviews with frameworks and practice • Equipping you with insightful, engaging questions to ask interviewers Negotiation & Offer Success • Strategizing for title, role, and scope alignment with your long-term goals • Positioning yourself to secure competitive compensation and benefits • Ensuring final offers reflect both your market value and career aspirations

Horatiu can help with:

Interview Prep

Skill Building

Career Planning

Cover Letters

Professional Networking

Resume Review

Personal Branding

Networking Strategy

Leadership

Salary Negotiation

Job Search Strategies

General Exploration

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About Horatiu

My diverse experiences—from corporate boardrooms and high-growth tech startups to the halls of higher education—have uniquely equipped me to guide MBA applicants in gaining admission to top-tier programs and to empower MBA candidates to launch extraordinary careers. The results speak for themselves: 90% of my clients have been admitted to at least one M7 program. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗕𝗔 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Applying to an MBA program involves more than simply meeting requirements—it’s about telling a story that resonates. The most competitive candidates start early, conduct in-depth research, and devote careful attention to every component of their application. Your overarching goal: present a consistent, forward-looking narrative that emphasizes both what you’ll gain from an MBA and how you’ll contribute to your future cohort. I’m passionate about guiding high-potential applicants toward successful MBA, PTMBA, EMBA, and Deferred MBA admissions. My approach is highly personalized. We’ll start with an in-depth conversation about your background, experiences, and aspirations. I’ll help you identify the schools that best fit your goals, coach you through every step of the application process, and provide honest, actionable feedback. With my support, you’ll approach each application component—essays, recommendations, resumes, and interviews—with confidence, showcasing your full potential. The results speak for themselves. My clients have gained admission to HBS, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Yale SOM, Berkeley Haas, Stanford GSB, Fuqua, and Tuck among others. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 My services are designed to help you navigate the MBA admissions process with confidence and clarity. Whether you’re just starting to explore options or polishing the final details of your application, I’ll serve as your strategic partner, helping you stand out in a competitive field. Whether through comprehensive packages or hourly coaching, I'm your trusted partner in your application journey. • Comprehensive, highly-personalized application strategy and plan. • Personalized school selection based on your background and career ambitions. • Thorough essay brainstorming, editing, and narrative development. • Résumé revision that highlights academic excellence, leadership, and professional promise. • Guidance on selecting and preparing recommenders for maximum impact. • Comprehensive interview preparation, including mock sessions and feedback. • Ongoing strategic counsel throughout the entire admissions cycle. When I’m not strategizing over essays or refining resumes, you’ll find me exploring Paris and Tokyo—my two happy places—and collecting photo-books. And here’s a twist: I design pearl jewelry for men, with clients including Justin Timberlake and Steph Curry.

Why do I coach?

I coach because I’m deeply committed to helping my clients realize their potential and express their stories with authenticity and clarity. Through a highly personalized approach—no formulas, no templates, no one-size-fits-all—I work with each client to uncover the through-lines that connect their experiences, values, and goals, bringing their passions and aspirations to life thoughtfully, strategically, and in ways that make them stand out. If you’re ready to craft an application that’s true to you—and impossible to ignore—let’s connect.

Work Experience

UCLA Anderson Logo

Manager, Career Strategy & Development

UCLA Anderson

2022 - Present

Deliver career, leadership, and professional development programming and one-on-one coaching to Executive MBA candidates pursuing career transitions or career advancement. ◆ Provide highly personalized, one-on-one career planning and leadership development coaching. Develop and deliver career education workshops, and organize speakers, panels, and networking events to help students cultivate both strategic vision and actionable execution plans for their career advancement. ◆ Lead quarterly Job Search Teams providing guided, interactive small-group career and job search coaching and skill-building tutorials, and draft career and leadership development articles for weekly Career Catalyst newsletter on topics ranging from personal branding to making successful career transitions. ◆ Integrate technology and AI into career development and job search modalities including resume and LinkedIn profile development, interview preparation, networking, and company | industry research to enhance career services delivery. Selected to present workshop on applications of AI in career services at 2024 EMBAC conference. Career Strategist, Executive Coaching and +3 skills

MBA Qwest Logo

Founder & Managing Partner

MBA Qwest

2017 - Present

MBAQwest is a boutique MBA Admissions Consultancy offering highly-personalized, end-to-end application support. Clients have secured offers from programs including HBS, Columbia, Wharton, Kellogg, Booth, MIT Sloan, Tuck, Fuqua, Anderson, Yale, and Stern, among others, and scholarships of up to $75,000/year, significantly enhancing the value of their MBA experience.

USC Marshall School of Business Logo

Associate Director of Career Development

USC Marshall School of Business

2017 - 2019

Oversaw career education planning, design, and delivery for globally recognized 1-year, full-time MBA program for mid-career professionals. ◆ Designed and implemented career education curriculum, content, and programming including year-round workshops, industry and recruiter panels, executive speaker series, and networking events to enhance career preparation and outcomes. ◆ Developed and executed employer outreach and engagement strategy; planned and led career treks to Silicon Valley and Seattle including company visits, roundtables, and networking events w/ participants from 40+ corporate partners.

Samsung Electronics Logo

Engagement Manager, Global Strategy Group

Samsung Electronics

2007 - 2012

Led strategic and operational initiatives across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America to enhance business performance, enter new product categories and markets, and drive sustainable long-term growth for Samsung’s consumer electronics, retail, construction, and financial services businesses; advised C-level executives globally. ◆ Directed global cross-functional team of 5 through multi-phase program to redesign the go-to-market strategy for Samsung's B2B printer business in North America; conducted operational assessment and evaluated channel strategy, product portfolio, and customer experience to identify opportunities to increase profitability and market share. ◆ Restructured on-boarding, training, and performance management processes at 500+ door apparel retailer resulting in a 15% increase in retention and 20% increase in NPS; secured buy-in from HR, Training & Development, and Sales Operations teams to implement recommendations and integrate w/ existing talent management systems. ◆ Designed social media and influencer marketing strategy and roadmap for Samsung’s corporate communications across categories, channels, and geographies; introduced HQ Center of Excellence and localization framework. ◆ Redesigned and implemented university recruiting strategy and new hire on-boarding, training, and professional development processes to scale hiring for Samsung’s Global Strategy Group from 15 to 50+ per year; built talent pipeline resulting in a 40% + increase in retention and transfers to line management roles within 3 years at scale.

Deloitte Logo

Consultant, Strategy & Operations

Deloitte

2001 - 2004

Developed and implemented strategies, systems, and processes to drive operational excellence at Fortune 500 clients including Mercedes-Benz, Aetna, and Rohm & Haas. ◆ Formulated strategic plan to increase off-lease vehicle sales at Mercedes-Benz, generating an estimated $75M in incremental revenue over 5 years; conducted competitive benchmarking study, evaluated pricing and dealer incentive structure, and launched pilot program in collaboration with Sales Operations and Marketing teams. ◆ Led 6-member cross-functional team through review and re-design of business policies and operational processes at $1.8B insurer as part of enterprise-wide digital transformation; defined business requirements and collaborated with technical resources to automate workflows and create management dashboard / reports. ◆ Planned and managed on-campus recruiting activities including corporate presentations, speakers, and case interview workshops at Swarthmore College; successfully recruited 4 students to the Business Analyst program.

Education

Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern) Logo

Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern)

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Management & Strategy

2005 - 2007

Swarthmore College Logo

Swarthmore College

BA, Economics & Political Science

1997 - 2001

Horatiu was also personally admitted to

  • Columbia Business School Logo

    Columbia Business School

  • UCLA Anderson School of Management Logo

    UCLA Anderson School of Management

  • NYU Stern School of Business Logo

    NYU Stern School of Business

  • The Wharton School (UPenn) Logo

    The Wharton School (UPenn)

  • Dartmouth College Logo

    Dartmouth College

  • Johns Hopkins University Logo

    Johns Hopkins University

  • Cornell University Logo

    Cornell University

  • Middlebury College Logo

    Middlebury College

9 Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0


Horatiu has helped clients get into these schools:


Horatiu has helped Leland clients get into Bain & Company

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Horatiu S.

Horatiu S.

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