Leland+ Content Library

M7 Interview Series: Stanford

Stanford interviews are a pivotal step in the M7 admissions process, and thoughtful preparation can set you apart. This interview series is designed to help you approach your Stanford interview with confidence and clarity. You’ll learn how to structure strong answers, communicate your goals and values effectively, and handle common behavioral and fit questions. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or refining your approach, you’ll leave with practical strategies to stand out.

How Top MBA Applicants Nail “Why MBA” and “Why Now”

“Why MBA” and “Why now” are two of the most important—and most challenging—questions in any MBA application. This session is designed to help you craft clear, convincing answers that show purpose, timing, and fit. In this event, you’ll learn how top applicants connect past experiences to future goals, articulate strong motivations, and avoid common pitfalls that weaken these essays and interview responses. We’ll also cover what admissions committees look for and how to make your story stand out. Whether you’re just starting your application or refining your narrative, you’ll leave with practical frameworks and greater confidence.

Your Master’s Application Roadmap: What to Do Early and Why It Matters

A strong master’s application starts long before deadlines hit. This session is designed to help you understand what to do early—and why those early moves matter so much. You’ll learn how to plan your timeline, prioritize key components like testing, essays, and recommendations, and avoid last-minute mistakes that weaken applications. Whether you’re just beginning to explore programs or getting ready to apply, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap and confidence in your next steps.

The R2 Rejection Recovery Roadmap

You didn't get the R2 interview invite or you interviewed and got dinged. Now what? This workshop transforms your disappointment into strategic advantage. We'll reverse-engineer what went wrong, identify the exact gaps in your profile, and build your comeback plan: R3 application, reapplication timeline, or alternative pathways. You'll learn: - The 5 reasons R2 candidates get rejected (and how to diagnose which one was yours) - R3 application decision framework: When to pivot vs. when to wait - Building "new evidence" in 60 days for R3 applications - Reapplication timeline: What to fix between now and next R1 We'll discuss how I can best help: through a Ding Analysis, R3 strategic support, or something else.

AI in MBA Admissions: Opportunity, Risk, and Strategy [3/26/2026] (Recording)

AI is quickly changing how applicants research schools, refine essays, and prepare for interviews—but most candidates aren’t sure how to use it strategically without weakening their application. This session is for MBA applicants who want to understand where AI can genuinely strengthen their process and where it can quietly undermine authenticity. You’ll learn practical ways to use AI for brainstorming and feedback, how admissions readers may detect overly AI-generated materials, and how to maintain a strong personal voice while leveraging new tools. Join live to ask your questions about essays, school research, and interview prep in an AI-enabled world. The speaker is a Stanford instructor with experience in both MBA admissions and AI research, and regularly advises applicants navigating these decisions. They’ll share the kinds of frameworks and examples that typically come up in 1:1 strategy conversations with candidates.

Build Your Professional Portfolio Site with Claude + Lovable: Live Demo [4/28/2026] (Recording)

Most professionals have no digital home base — just a LinkedIn profile they update when they're desperate. In this demo, we're building a real, published professional portfolio site using Claude to craft your content and Lovable to build the site. No code or design skills needed, just your story and 60 minutes. Outcome for attendees: A live, published portfolio site with a professional bio and narrative built during the session and yours to keep, customize, and grow. Session pre-requisites: Claude account & Lovable account — free is fine 🙂 You might also want to read https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-managers-arent-reading-resumes-slop-2026-3! on why skills are more important than a resume now!

Tips for Success: Navigating MBA Letters of Recommendation

MBA letters of recommendation! Who do I ask for a letter of recommendation? How do I make a successful recommender packet? When is the right time to ask recommenders? How do I ask? How do I ensure my recommender writes a winning recommendation? ​If any of these questions have crossed your mind and you're applying to top MBA programs like Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, and Wharton, join this event to learn what it takes to obtain the best letters from your recommenders. Your host for this session is Angela C.! With extensive experience coaching applicants into top MBA and dual-degree MBA/MPP programs (including Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, Wharton, and MIT Sloan), Angela understands what it takes to stand out. Her clients have successfully pivoted careers, secured scholarships, and been admitted to highly competitive programs.

Map and Activate Your LinkedIn Network with Claude [5/13/2026] (Recording)

You have hundreds of LinkedIn connections you've never done anything with. In this hands-on session, we'll turn your exported LinkedIn data into a working professional CRM in Notion — no automation tools, code, or technical setup required. Using a Claude prompt, we'll categorize your top contacts by relationship tier, industry, and relevance, then drop everything into a pre-built Notion template so you know exactly who to reach out to, when, and what to say. You'll also get a read on what content resonates with your specific network, which feeds directly into what we build in the next session. Pre-work: Request your LinkedIn connections export at least 24 hours before the session (Settings → Data Privacy → Get a copy of your data). LinkedIn emails it within 24 hours and it only takes 2 minutes to request. Outcome for attendees: A populated Notion CRM with their top LinkedIn contacts categorized into tiers, a suggested next action for each, and a content resonance analysis showing what topics will actually land with their network. Session pre-requisites: Claude account & Notion account — free is fine 🙂

Stand Out: R3 MBA Admissions

Are you gearing up for Round 3 MBA applications and wondering how to make your application stand out? Join me for an insightful session - we'll focus on 5 key insights to help you stand out in the most competitive round of MBA admissions! With extensive experience helping applicants gain admission to top MBA programs like Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, and Wharton, I specialize in guiding you through every step of the application process. Whether you're looking to pivot careers, secure scholarships, or simply present your best self, this session will provide you with the strategies and insights you need.

Live Mock MBA Interview

​In this workshop, you’ll experience what it’s really like to be in the MBA hot seat through a mock interview led by top Leland coaches Angela C. and Ben L. With years of experience coaching applicants into programs like Stanford GSB, HBS, and Wharton, they know exactly what admissions committees are looking for. ​You’ll practice tackling the toughest questions, get real-time feedback on your answers, and learn strategies to communicate with confidence and authenticity. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or refining your approach for final rounds, this session will help you sharpen your skills and stand out in the competitive MBA admissions process.

Picking the Right MBA Programs - 2025

This interactive workbook will guide you through researching and picking the right schools for your profile

Is a U.S. Degree Still Worth It? Hear from Recent F-1 Grads & BigTech Hiring Managers

​With a turbulent U.S. political climate, difficult economic conditions, and the rise of global multipolarity, many applicants are asking: Is a U.S. degree still worth it? ​Recent U.S. visa policy updates have added new layers of complexity to the decision, leaving international students and early-career professionals weighing the risks and rewards of moving to the US more carefully than ever. ​In this panel moderated by Soundarya (Author of Unshackled, O-1 recipient, Columbia MS'19), you’ll hear from Angela C. (recent O-1 recipient, Stanford MIP '23), David H. (Former Recruiter @ Meta, Intuit & A16Z), and Madhuri M. (recent green card recipient, former Product Hiring Manager @ Adobe) who have hired, coached, and worked with with dozens of international applicants. They’ll share candid perspectives on how U.S. employers view international candidates, what still pays off, what may be shifting, and how to think about long-term career security in light of today’s environment. ​You’ll leave with a grounded understanding of both the opportunities and the risks of studying in order to work in the U.S., so you can make an informed decision about whether pursuing a U.S. degree aligns with your future goals.

How Might We Examples: 12 Companies Across B2B & B2C Industries

Comprehensive examples guide showing Meh → Better → Best HMW progression for 12 real companies across diverse industries: EdTech (Udemy), Personal Finance (Mint), Wellness (Headspace), Food Delivery (DoorDash), Fitness (Peloton), Collaboration (Slack), Sales (HubSpot), Recruiting (Lever), Analytics (Mixpanel), Customer Success (Zendesk), DevOps (GitHub), and Finance (Brex). Each example includes the customer insight, three HMW versions with explanations of why each works or doesn't, and industry-specific patterns.

The How Might We Framework for Reframing Problems

Learn what makes a great "How Might We" statement (broad enough for creativity, narrow enough to be actionable, outcome-focused), see examples from Notion and Loom showing insight-to-HMW transformation, and get tips for writing HMWs that inspire your team.

Score Your Shot - M7 MBA Candidate Profile Evaluation

Evaluate your M7 MBA competitiveness with this comprehensive scoring rubric. Discover your true standing across 6 dimensions.

GSB Admit - Why Stanford Essay - Climate VC

Why Stanford essay from finance > climate VC candidate

GSB Admit - Recommendation Letter Example

Example Direct Manager Recommendation from GSB Admit

Early Stage Startup Fundraising Panel

​Raising capital is one of the biggest challenges early-stage founders face—and one of the most misunderstood. In this panel, you'll hear about the experience of Alaina H., Angela C., and Nick V., all of whom have gained wisdom and insight through their own entrepreneurial endeavors. ​We’ll cover what makes a compelling pitch, how to build relationships with investors before you need funding, what terms to watch out for, and how to decide whether fundraising is the right path for your startup. Whether you're preparing for your first round or just curious about how the process works, this session will give you real-world insight and actionable advice to navigate the fundraising journey with more clarity and confidence.

2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholars - Rec Template

Downloadable template to prepare your Knight Hennessy Scholars Recommenders - see associated PDF Guide for instructions!

2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholars - How to Answer the Short Answer Questions

This insider guide reveals what KHS really wants beyond stated criteria, offering specific frameworks for the three critical short answer questions