Leland+ Content Library
2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholars Recommender Guide
Comprehensive guide to preparing your recommenders for the Knight Hennessy Scholarship
2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholars Resume Guide
A comprehensive guide to revamping your resume for the Knight Hennessy Scholars program.
Interview Synthesis Guide: From Data to Decisions
Step-by-step synthesis guide covering the 5-step process (consolidate, identify patterns, prioritize, validate JTBD, decide what to build), pattern-finding questions to ask across interviews, priority framework matrix, common synthesis mistakes to avoid, signs you've done good synthesis, and an action plan.
How to Conduct Useful Customer Discovery Interviews
Learn the three-act interview structure (Context, Deep Dive, Future State), the golden rule of customer discovery (listen, don't pitch), and powerful JTBD questions that uncover real problems. Get specific guidance on what to ask and the five mistakes to avoid, from leading questions to interviewing only friends.
Synthesizing Interview Discoveries into Useful Insights
Learn how to consolidate interview data, identify patterns (problem, solution, pain point, language, and buyer patterns), prioritize insights using frequency × urgency framework, validate your JTBD statement with real customer language, and make three critical decisions: Is this worth solving? What's the MVP? Who do we build for first?
The Jobs to Be Done Framework
Learn what Jobs to Be Done means, how to write effective JTBD statements using the three-part formula, and see real examples from companies like Notion, Airbnb, and Spotify. Understand why knowing the "job" reveals your real competition and transforms how you think about your product.
Customer Discovery Interview Guide: Questions, Structure & Best Practices
Complete interview reference guide with all key questions organized by interview stage (context, jobs to be done, future state), red flags vs. green flags to watch for, and preparation checklist. Use this before every interview to stay focused on learning truth rather than seeking validation.
Writing Standout Application Essays
Led by Tim F. (Former Adcom at Chicago Booth), Laura N. (Former Adcom at Michigan Ross), and Angela C. (Stanford) this session will provide you with valuable insights, proven strategies, and expert guidance to help you create impactful essays that reflect your unique experiences and aspirations. Discover top tips for capturing the attention of admissions committees, structuring your essays effectively, and showcasing your authentic voice. Whether you are just starting your application or looking to refine your existing essays, this workshop will equip you with the tools and techniques necessary to make your application shine.
Founder Playbooks: Growth Strategies for Early-Stage Startups
Building an early-stage startup is an exciting but daunting journey, especially when it comes to driving sustainable growth. From finding product-market fit to scaling operations and building the right team, founders face countless decisions that can make or break their trajectory. In this session, Renato V. (Founder and CEO of Parallel), Angela C. (Founder of Stanford’s Education Entrepreneurship Hub and Founder of instructiv) and John K. (Founder and CEO of Leland) will share proven playbooks for navigating the critical growth stages. You’ll gain practical insights on refining your go-to-market strategy, attracting customers, raising capital, and avoiding common early pitfalls so you can build a strong foundation and accelerate your path to success.
8 Make or Break Founder Decisions
Every startup journey is filled with tough choices—but some matter more than others. In this session, expert coach and founder Angela C. will walk through the eight critical decisions that can determine whether your company scales successfully or stalls. Drawing on firsthand experience and lessons learned, she’ll share practical advice you won’t find in a textbook. Whether you’re still refining your idea or actively scaling your venture, you’ll leave this session with clarity on which decisions to prioritize, how to approach them, and how to avoid the pitfalls that trip up many founders.
How Might We Framework Summary Guide
Reference covering what HMW is, how to write HMW statements step-by-step, good vs. bad examples with explanations, common mistakes to avoid (prescribing solutions, being too vague, ignoring research), insights for creating your own HMWs, and validation checklist. Use this to turn each key insight into 2-3 different HMW framings and select the most inspiring ones.
Bootstrapping Versus Fundraising for Startup Founders
One of the biggest decisions every founder faces is how to fund their startup—should you bootstrap or raise capital? In this workshop, Angela C.—a Stanford entrepreneurship instructor and founder of Stanford’s Education Entrepreneurship Hub—will walk you through the pros and cons of each approach and how to determine what’s right for your business. Having bootstrapped her own SaaS startup to users in 80+ countries and coached hundreds of first-time founders, Angela will share frameworks for evaluating funding strategies, building sustainable business models, and pitching effectively when you’re ready to raise. Whether you’re launching your first MVP or scaling toward growth, this session will help you make smarter, more strategic funding decisions.
Didn’t Land an MBB Offer? Here’s What to Do Next
Not landing an MBB offer isn’t the end of your consulting journey—it’s the start of your next opportunity. In this workshop, Angela C.—a Stanford instructor, venture coach, and former Deloitte Senior Consultant—will share how to turn a setback into a launchpad for success. With experience coaching founders, high-achieving professionals, and aspiring consultants, Angela will walk you through practical next steps to strengthen your profile, explore adjacent roles, and strategically position yourself for future cycles or alternative paths in consulting, startups, or venture capital. You’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and an actionable plan to move forward.
M7 MBA Resume Differentiators - School by School Guide
A detailed school-by-school guide on refining your resume for competitive M7 MBA programs
GSB Admit - Recommendation Letter - Board Chair
Example Recommendation from GSB Admit, by Board Chair of the community service organization they founded
GSB & HBS Admit - Resume - Finance / VC - Climate
Resume of American admit to GSB and HBS - GS to VC - Climate Tech
GSB Admit - Rec Letter - Direct Manager VC
Example Direct Manager Recommendation from GSB Admit
GSB Admit - What Matters Most - Finance VC Climate
What Matters Most Essay Example - climate, career, and future ambitions
GSB Admit - What Matters Most Essay Example
What Matters Most Essay Example - exploring family history, career, and future ambitions at GSB
GSB Admit - Resume
Resume for an international student GSB admit - woman working in manufacturing
