Leland+ Content Library

Your Path to PE: Non-IB Strategies, Skills, and Opportunities – AMA

Breaking into private equity without an investment banking background is challenging—but far from impossible. In this AMA-style session, expert Leland coach and former consultant turned PE Connor P. will answer your questions about the alternative paths into PE, the skills that matter most, and how to position a non-IB background competitively.

Breaking into Venture Capital - Ask Me Anything

Venture capital is one of the most competitive and relationship-driven industries to break into—but this AMA will give you rare, unfiltered access to someone who’s done it. Jason C. has spent the last decade building and investing in companies, from founding two startups to becoming a partner at Contrary shortly after graduating from Wharton/Lauder. He’s led investments in standout companies like Orchard Robotics, Nomic, and Endeavor AI, and his angel portfolio includes high-growth names such as Warp, Ramp, Clara, and Slingshot AI.

The AI Brainstorm Lab: Turn Any Idea Into 10 Better Ones

Discover how to use AI as your creative partner, not just your assistant. In this hands-on lab, you’ll learn how to generate, expand, and refine ideas using ChatGPT or Claude—whether you’re naming a project, planning a campaign, or trying to get unstuck. Outcomes: You’ll leave with 10+ new ideas generated live, a framework for evaluating and combining AI suggestions, and practical techniques for overcoming creative blocks and turning raw ideas into real concepts. Learning Objectives: *Recognize where AI can enhance creative thinking and idea generation *Use structured prompting techniques to expand, combine, and refine ideas *Apply AI brainstorming methods to generate actionable outputs for real projects

GRE Quant Cheat Sheet: Most Used Formulas

This is a one page sheet with the most commonly used GRE Quant formulas and concepts for you to memorize.

How to Land a role as a PE Summer Analyst

Learn exactly what it takes to break into one of the most competitive finance roles: the Private Equity Summer Analyst position. In this session, top Leland coaches will walk you through the recruiting timeline, essential technical and behavioral prep, and how to stand out—even without a “traditional” background. You’ll leave with a clear strategy, proven tactics, and actionable steps to make yourself a compelling PE candidate.

Duke MBA Essay 1 Example: 25 Things About Yourself

This is an example of the Duke MBA Fuqua Essay #1, which has the following essay prompt: "The ‘Team Fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer."

GRE Quant Workshop: Exponents & Roots - Foundational Theory

Exponent and root questions on the GRE Quant section can feel simple at first glance but often test whether you truly understand the underlying rules. This session is designed for students who want to build a strong foundation before tackling harder problems or timed practice. You’ll learn the core exponent and radical rules, how to simplify expressions step by step, and how to avoid the common conceptual mistakes that lead to lost points.

Expat Roadmap Workshop: Studying & Working Abroad

Dreaming of studying or building your career abroad? In this workshop, Leland coaches Matthew M., Jorn B., and Jennifer P.D. will break down exactly how to navigate applications, visas, job searches, and cultural transitions as an expat. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap and actionable next steps tailored to your global goals.

Letter of Interest Template

Letter of interest template for applicants who are in the process of submitting one to schools.

GRE Analytical Writing Assessment Breakdown

In this lesson you will get an overview of the Analytical Writing Assessment as well as a high-level view of the issue essay, essay structure, and other strategies and tips.

The Resume That Got Me Into Facebook As An IC6 PM

This is the exact resume that I submitted to Facebook, got me interviews and resulted in me being hired as an IC6 PM in 2017.

Build Your First Custom GPT (No Code Required)

Imagine having an AI assistant that already knows your workflow, your writing style, and how you like things done. That’s what Custom GPTs can do: write content, answer client questions, summarize reports, train new team members, and organize project plans. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to build one from scratch (no coding required). We’ll walk step-by-step through defining your GPT’s purpose, adding your own examples or instructions, and refining how it responds—so by the end, you’ll have a personalized AI assistant that works the way you do. (Note: You’ll need ChatGPT Plus to create a GPT, but anyone with the free version can attend, follow along, and learn the process.) Outcomes: You’ll walk away with your first working Custom GPT, a clear understanding of how to teach AI your preferences, and ideas for expanding your assistant’s capabilities for different roles or teams. Learning Objectives: *Understand what Custom GPTs are and how they extend AI beyond one-time chats *Learn the step-by-step setup process (no coding required) *Build and test your first GPT for your own use case or workflow

Start Now: Build Your PM Network

Breaking into product management is competitive, and one of the most overlooked advantages is building the right network before you need it. This session is for aspiring and early-career PMs who want a practical approach to networking that actually moves the needle. You'll leave with a clear framework for identifying and reaching out to the right people, language that gets responses from busy PMs and hiring managers, and a repeatable system for staying visible in the communities that matter most.

Deferred MBA M7 Series: MIT Sloan

Join us for a focused deep dive into the MIT Sloan Deferred MBA Program, designed to help early-career candidates understand what Sloan looks for and how to craft a standout application. We’ll walk through the program structure, what makes Sloan unique, and the key qualities the admissions committee consistently values. You’ll leave with concrete guidance on how to position your experiences, highlight impact, and present an application that resonates with Sloan’s data-driven, principled-leadership culture.

UVA (Darden) Interview Question Bank

Interview questions tailored to applicants interviewing for UVA Darden

Hedge Fund Case Study

This real-world case study presentation was used successfully to secure a job offer at a credit-focused hedge fund. It demonstrates how to structure analysis, present investment ideas, and communicate insights effectively.

Paid Media Strategy Example Template

This is an example media strategy template--it would need to be fleshed out a lot more to add significant value, but this is a great way to start as it covers aspects such as competitive analysis, channels, testing, risk and contingency planning, etc.

Frameworking Mindset Shifts: How to Solve Any Case Prompt

After this session, you will have a repeatable mental framework for approaching any case prompt, regardless of industry or format. We will cover how to identify the core question beneath a prompt, how to structure your thinking before you speak, and how to shift your mindset from solving to synthesizing the way strong candidates consistently do.

Start Write Now: MBA Essay Panel

MBA essays are where you move beyond stats and show who you are, what you want, and why a program should bet on you. In this panel, experienced coaches will break down what actually differentiates strong essays, common mistakes they see every cycle, and how to get started without overthinking. Whether you’re staring at a blank page or revising drafts, you’ll leave with practical insights to write with more clarity and direction.

GMAT: Reading Comprehension Inference Lesson and Drills

Lesson from the GMAT Bootcamp