Leland+ Content Library

Sample Columbia Business School Essays

Stuck staring at the Columbia essay prompts? See exactly how admitted applicants pulled it off. This collection includes more than twenty complete essay sets covering every recent CBS question. Read across industries, geographies, and career stages to find approaches that resonate with your own story.

GMAT Quant Short-Cuts Used by Top-Scorers [5/26/2026] (Recording)

In this session, you will learn how top GMAT scorers approach quantitative problems faster and more accurately by recognizing pattern types before choosing a method. The focus will be on number properties shortcuts that eliminate answer choices early, strategic back-solving for algebra-heavy problems, and how to identify when estimation beats exact calculation on data sufficiency questions. The coach works with GMAT candidates regularly and will be sharing the reasoning process they actually teach, the kind of situational thinking that is hard to absorb from a recording alone.

Where AI Improves Sales Performance - And Where It Doesn’t [5/26/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know exactly where AI tools accelerate sales performance and where they tend to create a false sense of productivity. Specifically, you will walk away with a clear framework for evaluating AI in your pipeline, an honest look at which sales tasks AI handles well versus where human judgment still wins, and practical guidance on integrating AI into outreach without losing the personal signals that actually close deals. Attending live means you can bring your specific workflow or stack and hear a direct response to your situation, not a generic answer recorded months ago. The coach works inside sales organizations daily and will share the patterns and failure modes they observe firsthand, giving you a slice of how a practitioner actually thinks through these decisions.

The Perfect Tech Resume

Most tech resumes don't get rejected — they get ignored. They read like job descriptions instead of proof of impact, and they disappear into the ATS before a human ever sees them. Join me for a hands-on session where we'll break down what actually makes a resume land interviews — from bullet structure to formatting to the cuts most candidates are afraid to make. With experience at Microsoft, Slack, Salesforce, Ramp, and Atlassian — and having helped clients land 100+ offers at Google, Meta, Adobe, and more — I've reviewed hundreds of resumes and seen the same fixable mistakes over and over. Every bullet should pass one test: does it show what you did and what changed because of it? If not, it goes. We'll cover the formula that works, rewrite weak bullets live, and walk through real before-and-after examples. Whether you're actively job searching or building your materials for the next move, you'll leave with a clear framework for turning your resume into a one-page highlight reel that gets replies.

Break Into Tech: Networking & Coffee Chat Playbook

Breaking into tech or product management isn’t just about your résumé — it’s about getting in front of the right people before the job ever hits LinkedIn and having the insight to convert interviews into offers. After coaching 100+ candidates into roles at Google, Meta, Adobe, and other top companies, I can tell you the biggest lever you control is simple: effective coffee chats. Most candidates send the same cold emails and LinkedIn messages that get ignored. In this session, we’ll walk through how to actually stand out when people are busy, how to pick the right targets, and how to turn a single conversation into a warm path toward interviews at companies you want. You’ll learn: • How to identify the right people to reach out to (and who not to waste time on) • What to say in your first message so it gets opened and answered • How to run a coffee chat that leaves a memorable impression • How to uncover roles before they’re posted • How to build a networking system that compounds over time If you’re an MBA student or career switcher aiming for tech or PM roles, this session will give you the exact playbook that’s helped dozens of candidates break in.

Guide to Negotiating MBA Scholarships

Everything is negotiable, including your MBA scholarship. This guide walks you through the full strategy for increasing your award, from leveraging competing offers to highlighting recent achievements to following up effectively, plus four plug-and-play email templates covering the most common scenarios so you can negotiate with confidence.

Sample MBA Interview Answers

A comprehensive library of sample MBA interview responses across every major question category: leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, self-awareness, resilience, ethics, and adaptability. Each example uses the STAR method to show you exactly how to structure compelling, quantified answers you can adapt with your own experiences.

Preparing for PE Case Study Interviews [5/25/2026] (Recording)

Case study interviews in private equity can feel open-ended, and many candidates struggle to know how to approach them with structure and clarity. This session is for candidates preparing for private equity interviews who want a clearer approach to tackling case studies. You’ll learn how to break down an investment prompt, evaluate risks and returns, and communicate your recommendations in a way that reflects how investors think. Join live to ask questions about specific case formats and get guidance on how to improve your approach. The speaker is a private equity expert who regularly coaches candidates through case study prep. They’ll share the patterns they see across strong performances and the kinds of feedback typically given in 1:1 interview prep sessions.

2026-2027 Columbia Essay Brainstorm

The complete brainstorming workbook for Columbia's 2026-2027 essays. Inside: step-by-step exercises for every prompt, from short answers to Essay 1 goals to Essay 2 collaboration stories to Essay 3 "co-create" arguments, with structured charts to help you organize your stories, research, and outlines before you start drafting.

HBS Post-Interview Reflection Letter | 2027 Admit Example

Attached is an example of somebody I worked with who got in last cycle and I think did a great job with their HBS interview reflection letter. My core guidance: - Right after your interview, take a few minutes and write everything down. It's going to be helpful for later so that you don't have to rely exclusively on your memory. Then take an hour or two, decompress and get writing. - Short and sweet — grateful-professional is your tone - Directly reference your convo. Nothing generic whatsoever. If it sounds impersonal, delete it. - Don't brag or flex, but do mention a highlight/detail/nuance or two you would've gotten to with 5 more minutes of time. - About two-thirds of a page is right length-wise.  - Make sure if they don't offer, that you get your interviewer's names anyway. That's important. They probably will but just in case. You'll feel silly writing a letter to someone whose name you don't know.

How to Write an MBA Goals Essay

A complete framework for writing the goals essay that nearly every MBA program requires. Learn the winning formula, then use fillable tables to map your goals, select supporting past experiences, and connect to opportunities at up to four target schools. At the end, you'll have everything you need to draft a focused goals essay.

MBA Optional Essays - Your Complete Guide

The optional essay is one of the easiest places to hurt your MBA application. This guide shows you when to write one and when to skip it, with a real successful example explaining a low GMAT quant score and a clear framework for addressing extenuating circumstances without overexplaining.

Office Hours with a Senior Software Engineer [5/24/2026] (Recording)

We're going to help you get clarity around these questions: 1. Is software a good fit for the life I want? 2. What does it take to become a software engineer? This will also be an open session to ask a question about software from someone who has been living and breathing it for the last decade. People of all experience levels are welcome!

Nailing the McKinsey PEI [5/22/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know how to structure a Personal Experience Interview response that resonates with McKinsey evaluators, including how to select the right stories, frame leadership moments with the right level of specificity, and avoid the pacing mistakes that consistently undermine otherwise strong candidates. The focus will be on how McKinsey interviewers actually probe PEI stories and what they are listening for beneath the surface of your answer. Attending live means you can ask about your specific story or background and hear how I respond to the details of your situation, which a recording cannot replicate. I work with consulting candidates on PEI preparation regularly, and what I share here reflects the patterns I see across candidates who successfully navigate this round.

Personal Statement Coaching Session (Stanford Law Student) [5/22/2026] (Recording)

Are you gearing up for law school applications and looking for guidance on crafting a standout personal statement? Join me, Matthew, a current Stanford Law student, for an insightful coaching session focused on application strategy and essay writing. With a background in Cognitive Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis and diverse experiences ranging from legal internships to public speaking at the United Nations and TEDx, I bring a unique perspective to the table. My journey has equipped me with the insight to help students — especially those with diverse or unconventional backgrounds — craft their stories compellingly and cohesively. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your personal statement and strengthen your application. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot!

Starting Your GMAT Journey: An Introduction to the GMAT Focus Edition [5/21/2026] (Recording)

Starting GMAT prep can feel confusing when you’re not sure what’s changed in the Focus Edition or how to begin effectively. This session is for anyone looking for a clear introduction to the GMAT Focus Edition and what it takes to succeed. You’ll learn how the exam is structured, what each section tests, and how to build a study plan that aligns with your strengths and target score. Join live to ask questions about your starting point and get guidance on how to approach your prep with confidence. The speaker is an expert GMAT coach who regularly helps candidates navigate the early stages of studying. They’ll share the patterns they see across successful test takers and the foundational strategies typically covered in 1:1 prep sessions.

Empowering Your Team / Organization with AI [5/21/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know how to build a practical AI adoption strategy for your team, identify where AI creates real leverage in your workflows, and avoid the implementation mistakes that stall most organizations before they see results. We will cover how to assess your team's readiness, choose the right tools for your specific context, and create internal buy-in that actually holds. Attending live means you can bring your specific situation, whether you are leading a small team or a large organization, and get a direct answer grounded in your context rather than a general one. The coach works on AI transformation strategy with organizations regularly, and this session reflects how they actually think through these decisions with clients.

ACE the ACT: Tips from 8+ years as an ACT tutor [5/21/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know how to approach the ACT with a clear, structured strategy built from eight years of working with real students. The coach will cover how to manage pacing across each section, which question types trip up even well-prepared students, and how to use process of elimination effectively on the Science and English sections. Attending live means you can ask about your specific score range, your weakest section, or the test date you are working toward, and hear a direct answer shaped by your situation. This coach has spent years identifying the patterns that separate students who plateau from those who break through, and that perspective is worth experiencing firsthand.

How to Use AI to Break Into Investment Banking & Private Equity [5/21/2026] (Recording)

In this session, you will learn how to use AI tools to research firms, personalize cold outreach, and prep for technical interviews in investment banking and private equity recruiting. You will also walk away with a framework for identifying which parts of your application process AI can accelerate versus where it tends to create generic, forgettable work. Attending live means you can ask how these approaches apply to your specific background, whether that is a non-target school, a career pivot, or a gap in your deal experience, and hear the answer in real time rather than guessing from a recording. The coach works directly with candidates breaking into finance and will share the patterns that consistently separate the ones who get interviews from the ones who do not.

How to Succeed in the MBA Admissions Process as a Consultant

Are you a consultant aiming to navigate the MBA admissions process with confidence and clarity? Join me, Bri, for an insightful session on how to succeed in the MBA admissions journey, tailored specifically for consultants. With my background as a Harvard and MIT admit, and experience at Deloitte, I understand the unique challenges and opportunities consultants face when applying to top MBA programs. During this event, we'll go over helping you articulate a clear and authentic story that stands out, even if your path feels non-traditional. Whether you're considering a traditional full-time MBA, a part-time program, or any other MBA path, this session will equip you with the tools to make your application shine.