Melanie E.

Melanie E.

5.0

(67)

✍️ Essay Concierge |🚀 Ad Comm | 🎯200+ M7 Admits | 🎓 Columbia MBA Expert

22,485 min coached

739 followers

Super Coach

Supercoach

Columbia Business School Logo

Studied at Columbia Business School

McKinsey & Company Logo

Worked at McKinsey & Company

Successful clients at

+13

Available Thursday at 8:00 PM UTC

Usually responds within 4 hours

If you need MBA interview preparation coaching and do not see a time on my calendar, please message me directly. I will do my best to open up a slot for you!

Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.

Melanie's Coaching Offerings

Custom hourly · $265/hr

Get help with Recommendations, Cover Letters, and .

Melanie’s free events

Live interactive sessions you can join for free.

 Columbia Business School Interview Series
Columbia Business School Interview Series

Feb 10 at 6:00 PM UTC

Shiv Y.
Steven L.
Aliza A.

42 people going

Melanie’s MBA Qualifications

Coaches professionally

100+ people coached for MBA

Open to working with clients outside the U.S.

Melanie has helped clients get into these schools:

✨For a limited time, I’m opening coaching spots at a reduced rate ($265/hour) while expanding my availability on Leland. This is the same high-touch, results-driven coaching I’m known for—just with more availability for a short window.✨ ✨WHY CHOOSE MELANIE? When you work with me, you're partnering with an insider who has firsthand knowledge of what top MBA programs like Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford are looking for. As a Columbia MBA alumna, current Admissions Interviewer, former McKinsey consultant, and professional ICF-certified Executive Coach, I offer a holistic coaching approach that combines admissions expertise with expert storytelling, giving you an edge over the competition. Here’s why I’m the best choice for your MBA journey: • 🎓MBA & COLUMBIA EXPERT: As a Columbia MBA alumna and current MBA Admissions Interviewer, I have insider knowledge of what top-tier schools seek. My experience in admissions interviewing gives me the unique perspective of understanding how to effectively position applicants for success. • ✍️ESSAY CONCIERGE: I’m not just a coach - I’m a writer and editor with an eye for detail. With years of experience writing successful MBA essays, career coaching courses, and crafting works of fiction, I bring a keen sense of storytelling, language mastery, and technical precision to every essay I work on. Whether it’s structure, flow, or word choice, I’ll make sure your essay is perfectly polished and reflects your best self. Through powerful storytelling, I help them build a brand that truly stands out in the MBA admissions process. We fine tune every written piece of your application, including essay, resumes, short-answers, and even LinkedIn profiles! • 🚀PROVEN RESULTS: I’ve helped over 200+ applicants secure spots at M7 schools (as well as top 25 programs), and I’m proud to be part of the top 4 ranked firm on Poets & Quants for 2025. My clients’ success stories are a testament to the tailored strategies and guidance I provide. • 🎯PROFESSIONAL COACH: With over 10 years of coaching experience, I’m not just an admissions consultant—I’m an ICF-certified Executive Coach & Life Coach. My approach goes beyond getting you into business school; I focus on your MBA branding, leadership development, and executive presence to prepare you for the journey ahead. ✨WHO I WORK WITH: • Traditional and Non-Traditional Candidates • Diverse Applicants including POC, Veterans, and LGBTQIA+ • Candidates with High and Low Test Scores • Full-Time, Part-Time, Columbia's J-Term, and EMBA (Executive MBA) Candidates ✨PROVEN SUCCESS AT THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: • Columbia Business School (CBS) • Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) • Harvard Business School (HBS) • University of Pennsylvania Wharton • Northwestern Kellogg School of Management • Chicago Booth School of Business • MIT Sloan School of Management • NYU Stern School of Business • London Business School • INSEAD • University of California, Berkeley (Haas) • Yale School of Management • Michigan's Ross School of Business • Darden School of Business (UVA) • Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth • Duke's Fuqua School of Business • Cornell University Johnson School of Management • Emory University Goizueta Business School • Jones Graduate School of Business (Rice) • University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business • University of Texas, Austin, McCombs • University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson ✨LET'S GET YOU INTO YOUR DREAM MBA PROGRAM: Ready to transform your MBA aspirations into reality? Contact Melanie Espeland for your free consultation today. With my insider knowledge, executive coaching expertise, and essay-writing mastery, I’ll help you craft a standout application that positions you for success—both in admissions and beyond.

Melanie can help with:

Recommendations

Cover Letters

Resume

General Exploration

Supplementary Materials

School Selection

Essays

Secondary Review

Application Strategy

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Interviews

Editing

Ding Analysis

Networking Strategy

Waitlist Strategy

Melanie also coaches for Master’s Programs, Life Coaching, Executive Coaching, Career Coaching, and Communication & Public Speaking. View all.

About Melanie

🚀As a Multi-Dimensional Coach, Melanie ties together the rigor of the executive world with the flow of the spiritual to transform your personal, professional, and academic life. Whether you’re looking to navigate the competitive MBA admissions process, enhance your leadership capabilities, or discover your life’s purpose, Melanie helps you unlock your full potential across all areas of your life. With over 18 years of experience (as of 2025), Melanie brings a powerful and unique blend of strategic business insight, coaching, and holistic healing arts to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Her services include: 🌱 Life Coaching: Melanie empowers you to create meaningful change in your personal life by helping you overcome mental blocks, build confidence, and align with your true potential. Together, you will focus on self-discovery, mindset transformation, and purpose-driven living. ✨ Healing Arts: Through energy healing (Reiki), somatic coaching, tarot, and intuitive guidance, Melanie helps you clear mental and emotional blocks, align with your true purpose, and experience lasting transformation. 💼 Executive Coaching: Melanie utilizes her McKinsey toolkit and coaching methodologies to enable you to make powerful decisions, enhance your executive presence, and drive success. She is the author of the proprietary Espeland Method™ for executive presence. 🎓 MBA Admissions Coaching: As a Columbia MBA alumna and MBA Admissions Interviewer, Melanie has successfully helped 200+ applicants gain spots at top-tier schools like Columbia, Stanford, Harvard, and more. Together, you will craft a unique story that helps you stand out in the admissions process. ****** 📺Recognition: Melanie has been featured in Forbes, NBC, ABC, CBS, Business Insider, TEDx, and more. She has worked with prominent corporate clients including Google, Meta, IBM, and Morgan Stanley; as well as individuals such as business leaders, influencers, and Olympic athletes. ****** 👩🏻Biography: Melanie started her career working in fashion for several iconic brands including Diane Von Furstenberg, Alice + Olivia, and Elie Tahari. She later became a management consultant with McKinsey & Company where she advised F500 companies on strategy and operational improvement initiatives. Following her time at McKinsey, she was a Senior Lead in charge of Strategy and Innovation for Macy’s, the multi-billion omni-channel retailer. Melanie earned an MBA from Columbia University and a BS from Cornell University. She currently lives in Los Angeles and enjoys creative pursuits in her free time.

Why do I coach?

✨Coaching and mentoring is my calling! I've been a natural mentor since childhood, and I’m incredibly grateful to have built a career as a professional coach. 💼 I am ICF-Certified at the PCC level, and have completed a variety of certification and enrichment programs in coaching and storytelling. My journey has allowed me to blend my passion for helping others with my deep expertise, and every day I’m inspired to help clients achieve their personal and professional growth. 🙏

Work Experience

Columbia Business School Logo

MBA Admissions Interviewer

Columbia Business School

2020 - Present

Admissions Committee

Member of the MBA Alumni Ambassador Program, actively interviewing candidates for CBS.

Espeland Enterprises Logo

Executive Coach & Life Coach

Espeland Enterprises

2015 - Present

Espeland Enterprises Logo

Admissions Coach

Espeland Enterprises

2015 - Present

Macy's Logo

Senior Lead, Strategy & Innovation

Macy's

2019 - 2020

McKinsey & Company Logo

Consultant

McKinsey & Company

2016 - 2018

Education

Columbia Business School Logo

Columbia Business School

MBA

2015 - 2017

London Business School Logo

London Business School

MBA, Study Abroad

2016 - 2016

Cornell University Logo

Cornell University

BS

2004 - 2007

67 Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0


Knowledge

5.0

Value

5.0

Responsiveness

5.0

Supportiveness

5.0


Melanie has helped clients get into these schools:


Melanie has helped clients get into these companies:

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