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.

MIT Sloan MBA Résumé Requirements

MIT Sloan has specific résumé requirements that MBA applicants must adhere to. This guide outlines those requirements.

Private Equity Interviews: The Deal Walkthrough

The deal walkthrough is often the most grueling part of the private equity interview process, serving as the ultimate test of a candidate’s investment logic and technical command. In this session, Derek O. leverages his experience at Audax Private Equity and Vista Equity Partners to deconstruct how to successfully pitch a deal from an institutional perspective. Attendees will learn how to articulate a compelling investment thesis, navigate rigorous technical questioning, and defend assumptions under pressure—essential skills for standing out in elite recruiting cycles. This workshop is designed for ambitious professionals looking to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and the high-stakes delivery required to secure an offer.

Recruiting Internationally: Land an IB Role

Breaking into investment banking as an international candidate comes with unique challenges—but with the right strategy, it’s absolutely achievable. In this session, top IB coach Hanie L. will break down how international recruiting really works. You’ll learn how to position your background, network strategically across borders, and avoid the common mistakes that derail otherwise strong applications.

Your Complete Law School Application Roadmap: From LSAT to Deposit

Applying to law school is a long, multi-step process, and success depends on having a clear plan from the very beginning. This session walks through the full roadmap, from LSAT strategy and timing to building a strong school list, crafting standout essays, securing recommendations, navigating interviews, managing waitlists, and making final deposit decisions. You’ll learn how each piece fits together, how to avoid costly missteps, and how to stay organized and confident throughout the cycle.

What is Customer Discovery?

Learn the core principles of customer discovery, why it's the foundation of successful startups, and how it differs from market research or user testing. Understand why founders must lead discovery themselves and common myths that lead entrepreneurs astray.

How Top Consulting Candidates Network

Join this session to learn how top consulting candidates approach networking strategically, not awkwardly or randomly. We’ll break down what effective outreach looks like, how to build genuine relationships with consultants, and how to turn conversations into real recruiting momentum. You’ll leave with a clear framework for networking that actually helps you stand out during the consulting recruiting process.

Shine in Your IB Behavioral Interviews

Behavioral interviews are just as critical as technicals in investment banking—and often the deciding factor. Join Shine in Your IB Behavioral Interviews, a focused session designed to help you deliver clear, confident, and compelling answers that resonate with interviewers. In this event, you’ll learn how to structure common IB behavioral questions, craft impactful stories, and communicate your motivations and experiences with authenticity. We’ll also cover how to handle curveball questions and maintain composure under pressure. Whether you’re preparing for your first IB interview or refining your narrative, you’ll leave with practical frameworks and the confidence to stand out.

How and When to Start a Company

Mapping out my founder journey--this is a guide to how I approached starting my own company!

Accounting Concepts That Get Tested in IB Interviews

Investment banking interviews move fast, and a strong grasp of core accounting concepts is essential. Join Accounting Concepts That Get Tested in IB Interviews, a focused session designed to help you master the accounting fundamentals interviewers expect you to know cold. In this event, we’ll cover the most commonly tested topics, including the three financial statements, how they connect, and how accounting decisions impact valuation. You’ll also learn how to structure clear, confident answers and avoid common interview pitfalls. Whether you’re preparing for your first IB interview or sharpening your technical edge, you’ll leave with greater clarity and confidence.

How to Ace Private Equity Recruiting [5/5/2026] (Recording)

Private equity recruiting moves quickly, and candidates who aren’t prepared often fall behind early. This session is for those looking to approach PE recruiting with a clearer, more effective strategy. You’ll learn how to navigate timelines, prepare for technical and behavioral interviews, and position your experience in a way that resonates with firms. Join live to hear from a panel of private equity professionals and ask your questions about the recruiting process. The panelists regularly work with candidates and will share the patterns they see across successful applicants and what stands out from the hiring side. Expect practical guidance and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 coaching conversations.

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.

Cracking the Private Equity Associate Interview: Inside Tips from the Other Side of the Table

​In this free session, Derek O., incoming Private Equity Investor at Vista Equity Partners (Ex-Audax PE, Ex-Goldman IB) and current MBA Candidate, will break down the skills and strategies needed to stand out in the Associate interview process. Drawing on experience across investment banking, middle-market buyouts, and large-cap software investing, Derek will share both the obvious and less obvious elements that top firms are screening for. ​We’ll aim to cover (i) the major “buckets” of PE interview evaluation, (ii) common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and (iii) real interview questions from real interview processes. ​This session will be tailored to the Private Equity Associate role; however, we welcome anyone interested in PE interviews to join (Summer Analyst, Analyst, MBA Associate, etc.).

Home for Ambition #8 — Weekly Live Show [5/6/2026] (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.

International Career Readiness Questionnaire

Assess your international career readiness through 25 questions measuring cultural competence, language skills, and global professional preparedness

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.

Breaking Into Private Equity

​Private equity is one of the most competitive—and rewarding—careers in finance, but understanding how to break in can be challenging. In this session, you’ll learn what top firms look for in candidates, how to position your background effectively, and what steps to take whether you’re recruiting from investment banking, consulting, or another path. ​Join Wendy P. (Tech PE @ Silver Lake), Pranav M. (4 years in MF/MM PE; 20+ offers), and Derek O. (Vista Equity Partners; ex-Audax Private Equity; ex-Goldman Sachs) as they share firsthand insights on the recruiting timeline, interview preparation, and networking strategies that actually work. Collectively, they’ve coached over 150 professionals into PE roles across top funds!

Key Tips for Your First 100 Days

Nail your onboarding with a tactical checklist for building essential relationships, setting expectations, and delivering early wins.

GSB Admit - Recommendation Letter Example

Example Direct Manager Recommendation from GSB Admit

What Good Looks Like -PMs and Sr. PMs

A clear, practical look at the skills and habits that make great PMs and Sr PMs — straight from a product leader.