Leland+ Content Library

Insider Tips for the Harvard Kennedy School App from Former AdCom [6/16/2026] (Recording)

Applying to Harvard Kennedy School requires more than simply demonstrating policy interest or public service commitment. This session will provide insider perspective on how the HKS admissions committee evaluates candidates, what distinguishes successful applicants, and the common mistakes that undermine otherwise strong profiles. Attendees will gain practical guidance on how to position their experiences, essays, and career vision to align with what HKS looks for in future public leaders.

Essay Edit: Watch Me Transform an Underwhelming Draft [6/18/2026] (Recording)

Strong master essays are built through strategy and revision, not first drafts. In this live workshop, attendees will watch a real-time transformation of an underwhelming master essay into a far stronger and more compelling submission. Along the way, the session will unpack the strategic thinking behind each edit, illustrating how top applicants improve storytelling, structure, reflection, and differentiation throughout the drafting process.

AMA: M7 MBA Admissions and MBB Recruiting [6/9/2026] (Recording)

Want to break into an M7 MBA program and land an offer from MBB? Join Alec Emmert, a Wharton MBA, former McKinsey consultant, and former McKinsey interviewer, for an open, judgment-free coaching session on MBA admissions, consulting recruiting, and career reinvention. Alec was admitted to Wharton at 35 with a 2.85 undergraduate GPA and later joined McKinsey after being rejected in a previous application cycle. In this session, he’ll share the lessons, strategies, and hard-earned insights that helped him overcome nontraditional odds and answer your questions directly. Bring anything you want to ask about MBA applications, M7 positioning, consulting interviews, networking, overcoming weak spots, or building a compelling story.

From Idea to Product with AI Agents [6/11/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know how to move from a raw product idea to a working prototype using AI agents, without a traditional engineering team. We'll cover how to scope an agent-driven build, which tools actually hold up in production, and how to think about iteration when the system is doing the work for you. Attending live means you can describe your specific idea or constraint and hear how to approach it directly, which is context a recording cannot give you. The coach works on AI-powered product development daily, and this session is a chance to see how that thinking applies in real time.

Home for Ambition #12 — Weekly Live Show [6/17/2026] (Recording)

Home for Ambition is a weekly live show, by Leland, for people trying to stay ahead as work, learning, and opportunity keep changing. Each episode tackles a handful of timely, high-signal topics across AI, careers, education, and the future of work. We expect thoughtful debate, unique perspectives, and practical takeaways you can actually use. It is not a typical interview show or a generic news recap. It is a live roundtable built to help ambitious people make sense of what is changing, understand what matters, and leave with a sharper point of view on how to navigate what comes next.

Why MBA, Why Now, Why [X] Program: Answers that Define Your App [6/11/2026] (Recording)

Few questions matter more in MBA admissions than why you want an MBA, why this is the right moment, and why a particular program is the right fit. Yet many applicants answer them superficially. This session will explore how to develop thoughtful, credible, and differentiated responses to these foundational questions, and why the quality of those answers often determines the strength of the entire application. Attendees will leave with a framework for articulating a sharper and more persuasive admissions narrative.

Summer Sprint: Jumpstart Your PE Recruiting Prep [6/11/2026] (Recording)

In this session, you will leave knowing how to structure your PE recruiting timeline before fall cycles accelerate, what sourcing and deal experience interviewers actually weight when screening candidates, and how to position your background for firms at different stages and strategies. These are the patterns that consistently separate candidates who get to final rounds from those who stall early. Attending live means you can ask directly about your specific profile and hear how those details change the advice, context a recording cannot give you. The coach works with PE candidates daily and will share the same frameworks they use when evaluating where a candidate actually stands and what needs to move first.

Get 10x More Out of Claude by Organizing Your Context [6/15/2026] (Recording)

Many people use AI tools like Claude every day without realizing how much output quality depends on the context they provide. This workshop is for professionals, students, and builders who want to use Claude more effectively by organizing information in a way that leads to stronger, more reliable results. You’ll learn how to structure context for better responses, avoid the common prompting mistakes that create weak outputs, and build workflows that make AI substantially more useful in real work. Join live to see how an experienced AI coach approaches context organization and the patterns they see across effective AI users. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions in real time and learn practical frameworks typically shared in hands-on coaching and workflow sessions.

The Interview Edge: Proven techniques for answering challenging questions. [6/12/2026] (Recording)

“Finally, an interview workshop that teaches you how to think not just what to say.” Strong interviews are not about memorizing perfect answers. They are about communicating judgment, leadership, and impact in a way that feels clear, structured, and authentic under pressure. In this workshop, I'll share practical frameworks and real-world strategies for answering behavioral, situational, and high-pressure interview questions with confidence and precision. Drawing from my experience as both a hiring manager and strategic operator across organizations including Samsung, Deloitte, eBay, Homejoy and Serviz, as well as years coaching working professionals and MBA candidates, the session bridges the gap between what candidates think interviewers want and how hiring decisions are actually made. Participants will learn how to: • Structure compelling behavioral answers using proven frameworks • Navigate hypothetical and situational questions without sounding scripted • Communicate leadership, ownership, and measurable impact effectively • Handle difficult follow-up questions and think clearly under pressure • Translate complex experiences into concise, persuasive interview stories • Improve executive presence, clarity, and confidence during interviews • Understand what hiring managers and interviewers are actually evaluating beneath the surface The workshop also explores common interview pitfalls that weaken otherwise strong candidates: over-explaining, weak framing, lack of specificity, and failing to communicate strategic thinking or decision-making process. Attendees consistently describe the workshop as one of the most practical and immediately actionable interview sessions they have attended. RSVP today. Space is limited.

Avoid Messy Algebra on the GMAT: Mixtures and Weighted Averages [6/4/2026] (Recording)

GIVEAWAY DURING THE EVENT: Join live for the chance to win a free GMAT Bootcamp seat! Mixture and weighted average questions on the GMAT often look calculation-heavy, but top scorers know how to solve them with far less algebra than most test takers use. This session is for MBA applicants who want faster, cleaner ways to approach these common quant problems. You’ll learn how to recognize efficient setups, avoid the messy calculations that waste time, and apply strategies that improve both speed and accuracy on test day. Join live to work through problems step by step and ask questions about your own GMAT prep. The speaker is an expert GMAT tutor who scored a 790 and regularly helps candidates simplify difficult quant concepts. They’ll share the patterns they see across high scorers and the kinds of shortcuts and frameworks typically covered in focused 1:1 prep sessions.

8 Steps to a Complete MBA App: 7) School Fit & Application Strategy [6/18/2026] (Recording)

Applying to business school can feel overwhelming! You have dozens of moving pieces: essays, short answers, video content, resume, recommendations, outreach, research, and more. This workshop is the seventh of a structured 8-part MBA Identity Mapping series designed to take you from fragmented tasks to a clear plan of action. In this session, you will map your story directly to each school’s application components and develop a clear strategy for how your application will come together. These sessions walk you step by step through building one fully aligned MBA application. In every workshop, you will be assigned tasks to complete over the next two weeks, keeping you organized and accountable. By the end, you will have strong, authentic essays and a cohesive narrative that runs consistently through your resume, goals, recommendations, school strategy, and interviews. You are absolutely welcome to attend individual sessions if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. This session moves your MBA application forward by translating your story, goals, and strengths into a clear strategy for each target school: • Map your themes and key stories to each school’s essay prompts. • Determine which experiences and examples will appear in each component of the application. • Integrate insights from your outreach conversations with students and alumni. • Identify any gaps or risks in your profile and plan how to address them. This is the phase where preparation turns into a clear application plan. Instead of staring at essay prompts and wondering where to start, you will have a structured outline of exactly what each part of your application will communicate. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international programs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Clients consistently describe it as transformative because it replaces scattered effort with forward momentum and strategic clarity. If you are ready to translate your story into a clear plan for each school on your list, this is your next step.

MBA Essay Bootcamp: How to tell a story no other applicant can [6/18/2026] (Recording)

Unlock the secrets to crafting an unforgettable MBA essay with our MBA Essay Bootcamp! Join me, Hanie, as we dive into the art of storytelling that sets you apart from the competition. With my background as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University and an MBA graduate from Columbia Business School, I bring a wealth of experience in admissions and essay crafting. In this session, we'll explore how to weave your unique experiences into a compelling narrative that resonates with admissions committees. Whether you're just starting your application journey or looking to refine your essays, this bootcamp is designed to elevate your application strategy. Spaces are limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot and take the first step towards your dream MBA program!

Core Values: Your College Essay Superpower [6/19/2026] (Recording)

What makes a college essay truly unforgettable? More often than not, it comes down to one thing: a clear sense of the applicant's core values. As someone who has coached 150+ college applicants—with clients admitted to all 8 Ivy League schools, Stanford, UChicago, and more—I know that students who understand their core values write stronger essays, build more cohesive applications, and approach the process with greater confidence. In this webinar, I'll show you what core values actually are (and what they're not). We'll explore why they matter across your entire application (not just your personal statement), and how to identify and use yours to write college essays that only you could have written. Whether you're working on your personal statement, UC PIQs, or supplemental essays, this webinar will give you the tools to make every essay feel unmistakably yours.

How to Tell If You’re Ready to Apply to Medical School [6/19/2026] (Recording)

**How to Tell If You’re Ready to Apply to Medical School** Many students focus on GPA and MCAT scores when deciding whether they are ready to apply to medical school. However, successful applications are built on much more than academic metrics alone. In this presentation, we'll explore the questions that many pre-med students, gap year applicants, and reapplicants find themselves asking before submitting their applications: * Is my GPA strong enough? * Is my MCAT score competitive? * Do I have enough clinical experience? * Are my extracurriculars meaningful and impactful? * What hidden weaknesses might I be missing? * Should I apply this cycle or wait? * Would a gap year help me? * Am I emotionally ready for the application process? Through a holistic admissions lens, we'll discuss what medical schools are truly looking for beyond numbers, including academic readiness, clinical and service experiences, personal narrative development, application strategy, and emotional preparedness. Whether you're preparing for your first application cycle, considering a gap year, or planning a reapplication, this session will help you evaluate your strengths, identify areas for growth, and make informed decisions about your timeline. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what makes an application feel genuinely competitive, cohesive, and ready for submission. **Hosted by Dr. Vicki**, a board-certified physician advisor with more than 17 years of medical admissions advising experience helping applicants across the United States and internationally navigate the path to medical school.

Ten things you can do today to launch your MBA application journey. [6/10/2026] (Recording)

The MBA application journey can feel overwhelming—but it doesn't have to start that way. The secret isn't finding a shortcut; it's knowing exactly where to begin. Whether you're 6 months out or just starting to explore your options, there are concrete, high-impact actions you can take right now to build momentum and set yourself up for success. This workshop breaks down ten practical steps you can take today to launch your MBA application journey with clarity and confidence. From strengthening your academic and test profile to crafting your narrative, identifying the right schools, and preparing the people in your corner, you'll leave with a clear action plan—not just inspiration. By the end of this session, you will be able to: * Identify the immediate steps that will have the greatest impact on your candidacy, no matter where you are in the process. * Strengthen your academic and test profile by addressing gaps proactively and positioning yourself for success. * Showcase career progression and leadership through an accomplishment-based resume and targeted professional achievements. * Begin crafting your story by clarifying your motivations, values, and post-MBA goals. * Secure powerful recommendations by selecting and preparing the right advocates early. * Demonstrate authentic school fit through research-driven insights that align your goals with each program's unique offerings.

The Resume Edge: Craft a resume that stands out and lands you more interviews. [6/19/2026] (Recording)

Strong resumes are not about listing responsibilities. They are about communicating impact, progression, leadership, and value in a way that immediately resonates with recruiters, hiring managers, and admissions committees. In this workshop, I'll share practical frameworks and real-world strategies for building resumes that are clear, differentiated, and results-oriented. Drawing on my experience as both a hiring manager and strategic operator across organizations including Samsung, Deloitte, eBay, Homejoy and Serviz, and coaching professionals and MBA candidates, the session bridges the gap between how candidates describe their work and how decision-makers actually evaluate talent. Participants will learn how to: • Transform task-focused bullets into accomplishment-driven narratives • Communicate leadership, ownership, and measurable impact effectively • Highlight career progression and differentiate themselves from peers • Tailor resumes for specific industries, functions, and recruiting objectives • Avoid common resume mistakes that weaken otherwise strong candidates • Understand how recruiters and hiring managers actually scan and evaluate resumes The workshop also explores the hidden factors that elevate top resumes — including clarity of positioning, narrative cohesion, prioritization of information, and demonstrating strategic thinking rather than simply operational execution. Attendees consistently describe the workshop as one of the most practical and immediately actionable resume sessions they have attended — particularly because the frameworks continue to be useful throughout their careers, not just for a single application cycle. RSVP today. Space is limited.

DWY: Lead Gen Hotseat [6/6/2026] (Recording)

In this live session, we'll show you how to build an AI-powered intake and follow-up system that captures leads and nurtures them automatically. Agenda: - Welcome & Quick Win (5 min) - Mini-Framework: AI Lead Gen for Law Firms (10 min) - Live Hot Seats: Real intake and follow-up system teardowns (20 min) - Recap & Resource Drop (5 min) - CTA: Book a System Builder Sprint for your law firm (5 min) What you'll walk away with: - A blueprint for an AI intake system tailored to sourcing practices - Examples of automated follow-up sequences that convert - A step-by-step action plan you can start building this week Ready to build your system? Book a System Builder Sprint after the session.

Funding Your Future: Fellowships & Scholarships for Masters Programs [6/18/2026] (Recording)

The cost of graduate school can feel daunting, but many applicants overlook funding opportunities that can dramatically reduce the financial burden. This session is for prospective MBA and master’s students who want to better understand the world of fellowships, scholarships, and competitive funding programs. You’ll learn where to find high-impact opportunities, how successful applicants position themselves, and what scholarship committees are often looking for beyond academics alone. Join live to ask questions about your own funding goals and hear directly from a Gates Cambridge Scholar with deep expertise in competitive programs and scholarships. The speaker has firsthand experience navigating highly selective funding processes and will share the strategies, patterns, and application insights that can help you maximize your chances of securing support for graduate study.

Secondary Applications: Writing Excellent Essays [6/9/2026] (Recording)

Secondary applications can quickly become overwhelming, and many strong applicants lose momentum when it comes time to write dozens of school-specific essays. This session is for medical school applicants who want a clearer strategy for writing compelling secondary responses efficiently and effectively. You’ll learn how to approach common prompts, maintain quality across multiple applications, and craft essays that feel personal without becoming repetitive. Join live to ask questions about your own secondary essays and hear guidance from a coach who completed over 40 secondaries and earned 13 medical school acceptances. The speaker has firsthand experience navigating the volume and pressure of the process and now helps applicants strengthen their writing and application strategy. Expect practical advice and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 coaching conversations.

Breaking Into Investment Banking from Non-Traditional Backgrounds [6/16/2026] (Recording)

If your resume doesn't follow the traditional finance recruiting path, this session will show you how to position your background so it reads as an asset, not a gap. We'll cover how to reframe non-traditional experience for banking roles, which transferable skills actually resonate with hiring managers, and how to approach networking when you don't have built-in alumni pipelines. Attending live means you can describe your specific background and get a direct read on how a recruiter or banker would interpret it, which a recording simply cannot replicate. The coach works with non-traditional candidates regularly and will share the patterns that tend to separate the ones who break in from the ones who stall out.