Rachel L.

Rachel L.

5.0

(12)

Wharton MBA | PE/VC Background | Storytelling & Strategy Expert

The Wharton School (UPenn) Logo

Studied at The Wharton School (UPenn)

BDT Capital Partners Logo

Worked at BDT Capital Partners

Successful clients at

Available tomorrow at 2:00 PM UTC

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

Rachel's Coaching Offerings

Custom hourly · $150/hr

Get help with Editing, Recommendations, and .

Rachel’s MBA Qualifications

I’m a Wharton MBA with a background in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, and I’ve spent the past decade helping students and early-career professionals tell powerful stories. I’ve served as a Georgetown University writing tutor, a Georgetown alumni interviewer for seven years, and have evaluated candidates for a private equity firm. Whether you’re shaping your MBA essays, crafting your personal narrative, or preparing for interviews, I bring a sharp editorial eye, deep mentorship experience, and a warm, structured approach to help you present your strongest, clearest self.

Rachel can help with:

Editing

Recommendations

Interviews

Cover Letters

Networking Strategy

Waitlist Strategy

School Selection

Secondary Review

Application Strategy

Essays

Resume

General Exploration

Rachel also coaches for Venture Capital, Private Equity, Startups, Investment Banking, Career Coaching, and Communication & Public Speaking. View all.

About Rachel

My career has taught me that success comes from both strong execution and strong storytelling — and I coach clients to master both. I’ve built my career across investment banking, private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurship — experiences that allow me to coach clients pursuing roles in IB, PE, VC, MBA admissions, and early-stage startups. I began in investment banking at Citi and Morgan Stanley, later joined a multibillion-dollar private equity fund as an investment professional, moved into VC investing, and earned my MBA from Wharton before founding a startup accepted into eight accelerator programs. Throughout these roles, I’ve recruited and interviewed candidates, evaluated founders, presented to investors, and navigated some of the most competitive hiring processes firsthand. Alongside my finance and startup work, I’ve continued to strengthen my communication and storytelling skills through years of performing and speaking — experience that now enhances how I coach clients on public speaking, pitch delivery, storytelling strategy, and executive presence. My foundation in coaching began early as a writing tutor at Georgetown’s Writing Center, where I helped students articulate ideas clearly and confidently — something I now do for professionals at every level. Across all these chapters, one theme has remained constant: I help people communicate who they are and where they’re going. My work combines analytical insight with strong narrative instincts so clients can move into interviews, pitches, and new chapters with clarity, confidence, and a compelling story. Whether you’re pursuing IB, PE, VC, an MBA, a career pivot, or stronger communication skills, I help you bring both your thinking and your story into alignment so you can build a career — and life — you genuinely want.

Why do I coach?

I coach because I believe careers — and lives — are built from the inside out. I’ve navigated multiple pivots myself across IB, PE, VC, and entrepreneurship, and I know how overwhelming it can feel to make big decisions without clarity or support. The mentors and coaches who guided me changed the trajectory of my life, not just my résumé. Coaching matters to me because it gives people permission to design a life they actually want — not the one they think they “should” want. My mission is to help others get clear on their goals, understand their strengths, communicate their story with confidence, and move forward with intention. Whether someone is finding their voice, navigating a transition, or building something new, I’m here to help them step into a life that feels aligned, fulfilling, and exciting.

Work Experience

Coded By Ventures Logo

Accelerator Participant

Coded By Ventures

June 2025 - Present

Coded by Ventures is a venture studio and founder development platform dedicated to building high-performing founders who go on to build high-impact startups. Founded by the teams behind Coded by: and Plain Sight Capital, CBV combines deep expertise in startup education, product development, and early-stage investing to support individuals who may not have traditional access to the venture ecosystem. With a people-first approach, Coded by Ventures focuses on founder development as the most reliable lever for startup success. Through structured programs like The People Accelerator, CBV provides rigorous training, hands-on mentorship, peer collaboration, and access to capital—empowering diverse and driven individuals to become confident, capable entrepreneurs ready to launch scalable tech ventures.

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Accelerator Member

INSEAD

June 2025 - Present

The LaunchPad actively promotes the vision of a connected global INSEAD start-up community and raises the profile of Paris as a leading centre for entrepreneurship.

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Podcast Co-Host

Bestseller By Design

May 2025 - Present

A podcast and video series featuring bold conversations with founders, creatives, and leaders on what it takes to scale ideas, teams, and impact. The Victory Show uncovers the mindset shifts, strategic moves, and pivotal moments behind real business growth. Episodes are designed to inform and inspire, blending tactical insights with compelling storytelling that bridges business strategy and personal evolution.

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Accelerator Member

Ballard Spahr

September 2024 - Present

The Ballard Spahr BASE Accelerator supports early-stage businesses by providing legal guidance, educational resources, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs build a strong foundation for growth.

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Founder

CFO 4 ALL

July 2024 - Present

AI-powered centralized financial analytics and educational software informing strategic decisions and improving business outcomes for early stage consumer goods businesses.

MassChallenge Logo

Accelerator Participant

MassChallenge

June 2024 - Present

MassChallenge is a global, non-dilutive startup accelerator that aims to support high-potential early-stage entrepreneurs across a variety of industries. By providing access to expert mentorship, a comprehensive network, and resources such as office space and funding opportunities, MassChallenge empowers startups to scale and succeed without taking any equity in their companies. The program is designed to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Harbinger Ventures Logo

Investment Professional

Harbinger Ventures

January 2022 - August 2023

Harbinger Ventures is a leading growth-equity investment firm focused on identifying and scaling high-growth companies in the consumer sector. We work exclusively with early-stage companies that are led by female or mixed-gender founder teams, and address significant market gaps through product, brand and business innovation. Our Portfolio is more than a collection of brands; it represents a cohesive vision and is composed of companies whose strategies and leaders are well-suited to reinforcing each other. Harbinger facilitates and incentivizes collaboration among entrepreneurs through a model in which each entrepreneur also has an equity stake in the larger Harbinger portfolio, encouraging innovation and expertise to be shared across companies and “truncating” learning for all.

BDT Capital Partners Logo

Investment Professional

BDT Capital Partners

July 2018 - January 2022

BDT & Company is a private equity firm that provides advice and long-term capital through its affiliated funds to help family- and founder-led businesses pursue their strategic and financial objectives. The firm works with owners of closely held businesses to find creative solutions to their most complex issues, while providing access to a world-class network of business owners and leaders. The firm’s affiliate, BDT Capital Partners, has raised over $18 billion across its investment funds and has created and manages more than $6 billion of co-investments from its global limited partner investor base.

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Writing Tutor

Georgetown University

May 2015 - May 2018

Assisted Georgetown University students with written communication skills.

Education

INSEAD Logo

INSEAD

Certificate of MBA Exchange, Business

2025 - 2025

Wharton / INSEAD exchange program.

The Wharton School (UPenn) Logo

The Wharton School (UPenn)

Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business Administration and Management, General

2023 - 2025

Activities and societies: Cluster 2 President (227 students) managing 10-person board; Wharton Follies cast member; Battle of the Bands finalist; Penn startup pitch competition winner; Penn Innovation Fund Validation Award and Implementation Award winner; Venture Initiation Program Incubator and Accelerator INSEAD P5 Exchange program participant, Singapore Campus (May / June 2025)

Georgetown University Logo

Georgetown University

BSBA, Finance & Accounting

2014 - 2018

• Majors: Finance & Accounting | Cumulative GPA: 3.7 / 4.0 | Graduate Record Exam (GRE): 334 / 340 • Graduated Cum Laude; received the Georgetown Accounting Society Award for Service and Excellence • Activities: Phantoms A Cappella (performed annually at the White House), GU Student Investment Fund VP of Consumer, New Student Orientation Advisor (underwent 10-day management training and led +10 freshmen through orientation week) • Internships (received return offers): Morgan Stanley – Investment Banking Summer Analyst, Media and Telecommunications Industry Group (NYC, 2017); Citi – Sophomore Leadership Program Summer Analyst (NYC, 2016)

12 Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0


Rachel has helped Leland clients get into The Wharton School (UPenn)

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Rachel L.

Rachel L.

5.0

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