Michelle Shen
5.0
(4)
Stanford MBA | M7 expert storyteller | Learned from ex-Dean of Admissions
1,793 min coached
Studied at Stanford Graduate School of Business
Works at Headway
Successful clients at
Available today at 1:30 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Michelle's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $75/hr
Get help with Recommendations, Essays, and .
Michelle’s MBA Qualifications
Michelle has helped clients get into these schools:
Unlike other coaches, I personalize my strategy to you. I had the rare opportunity of being one of ~30 students per year to take the class by the former HBS/GSB Dean of Admissions, where we dove into the ins & outs of what a good MBA resume looks like, what a good interview looks like, and how they align with the values of our school. I myself applied and was accepted into four M7 programs, and have a network extending beyond that I can tap into for you. I help take your raw experiences and shape them into coherent, memorable narratives that admissions officers will champion in committee discussions. I know which details matter, which stories resonate. Whether you're struggling to articulate your "why MBA" or need to present a non-traditional background confidently, I'll help you tell your story with the authenticity and strategic insight that top programs demand.
Michelle can help with:
Recommendations
Essays
Application Strategy
Resume
General Exploration
Interviews
Networking Strategy
School Selection
Michelle also coaches for Business Operations & Strategy, AI Automation & Agents, and College. View all.
About Michelle
Hi, I'm Michelle! As a recently graduated Stanford MBA who successfully transitioned from a neuroscience background into business school, I understand firsthand the unique challenges non-traditional candidates face in the MBA admissions process. My path wasn't typical - I started with a neuroscience degree from Penn, dove into life sciences consulting, and worked across mental health, AI, and women's health before landing here.
Why do I coach?
I coach because I know what it feels like to stare at MBA application prompts and wonder if your story is "business school material." When I was applying, I remember questioning whether my neuroscience research, my pivot through consulting, or my startup experience would translate into a compelling narrative for admissions committees. I felt like I was speaking a different language than the finance and consulting candidates who seemed to have clearer paths. Now, as someone who successfully made that transition and landed at Stanford GSB, I'm passionate about helping other candidates discover their own compelling narratives. There's something incredibly rewarding about watching someone realize that their "different" background is actually their competitive advantage. I coach because I want to be the guide I wish I'd had - someone who understands the unique challenges of translating their story into business school gold.
Work Experience
Commercial Strategy
Headway
2025 - Present
Chief of Staff to CEO
Willow
June 2024 - August 2024
Senior Consultant
Guidehouse
2021 - 2023
Interviewer
Senior Analyst
Windrose Consulting Group
2019 - 2021
Interviewer
Education
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Master of Business Administration - MBA
2023 - 2025
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Biological Basis of Behavior (Neuroscience), Magna Cum Laude
2015 - 2019
Activities and societies: Promoting Enriching Experiences & Relationships (PEER) Mentor, GlobeMed (President '17), Asian Pacific Student Coalition (Vice Chair '17), Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity (Co-Founder, VC of Finance), Sigma Kappa Sorority (Scholarship & Philanthropy Committee), The MedX Program (Director of Education), Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society, Humans of UPenn (Photographer)
4 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Knowledge
5.0
Value
5.0
Responsiveness
5.0
Supportiveness
5.0
Michelle has helped clients get into these schools: