Leland+ Content Library

Breaking into VC from a non-traditional background

There’s no single path into venture capital—and you don’t need the “perfect” pedigree to break in. What you do need is strategy, positioning, and a clear understanding of how funds actually think about talent. In this session, we’ll unpack how to translate non-traditional experiences into investor-ready strengths, build credibility in startup ecosystems, and network in ways that lead to real opportunities. If you’re ready to turn an unconventional background into a competitive advantage, this is where your VC journey begins.

What Admissions Committees Look For—And How to Prepare Strategically

Admissions decisions rarely come down to just grades or test scores. Committees are evaluating patterns—how your experiences, goals, and character come together to signal future impact. In What Admissions Committees Look For, you’ll learn how strong applicants position themselves across the entire application. Melissa works 1:1 with candidates navigating competitive admissions and will share the same frameworks used in coaching sessions to evaluate and strengthen an application. Who This Is For - Applicants preparing for competitive graduate or professional programs - Candidates planning to apply in the next 1–2 cycles - Students unsure how to position their experiences strategically - Re-applicants looking to strengthen their overall profile What You’ll Walk Away With - The key signals admissions committees look for across applications - How evaluators connect your academics, experience, and goals - The patterns I see across successful candidates - The common positioning mistakes I fix in 1:1 sessions - How to build a stronger application strategy months before applying

Grad Student Loan Paydown Schedule

Stop Guessing. Start Seeing Exactly When Your Loans End. Most people with student debt make their monthly payment and hope for the best. This template lets you run the actual math so you can see, month by month, exactly what happens when you pay more. Built in Excel. No subscriptions, no logins, no apps. Just a clean, professional model you'll actually use. What's inside: Three side-by-side paydown scenarios run simultaneously your base schedule, a flat monthly extra payment, and a fully flexible column where you can plug in one-time lump sums for any month. Salary bonus coming in March? Tax refund in April? Type it in and watch your payoff date move in real time. Built for people who just finished an expensive degree and are serious about what comes next. Whether you're in consulting, finance, tech, or any high-growth field, this tool helps you layer your paydown strategy around how you actually earn, raises, bonuses, tuition reimbursements, and surplus months, not just a flat monthly payment. What you'll know in five minutes: > Your exact payoff date under any scenario > How much interest you'll save with different payment levels > The true cost of waiting vs. paying aggressively now Fully editable. Works with any loan amount, rate, or term. One-time purchase, yours to keep.

Analytical Writing Section on the GRE

The GRE Analytical Writing section tests how clearly and logically you can build and defend an argument under time pressure. In this session, you’ll learn a simple structure for tackling both the Issue and Argument tasks, how essays are scored, and how to generate strong examples quickly. Whether you’re aiming to raise your score or refine your approach, you’ll leave with a repeatable framework to write with clarity and control on test day.

Starting Strong Without Burning Out: Thriving in Your New Role

Starting a new role can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. This session explores how to build momentum, navigate expectations, and establish a strong foundation for long-term success, without falling into patterns that lead to burnout. Audience Fit: • Professionals starting new roles, or plan to start a new role in the future • Early career talent, lateral hires, and leaders transitioning into new positions

AI Automation Tools 101: Zapier, Make, and n8n for Beginners

Automation tools are making it possible for anyone to connect apps, streamline workflows, and use AI to handle repetitive tasks. In this beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll get a practical introduction to three of the most widely used automation platforms: Zapier, Make, and n8n. In this workshop, you’ll learn how these tools work, when to use each one, and how they enable AI-powered workflows that connect your everyday apps. The session will include quick demos of real automations so you can see how triggers, actions, and AI steps come together to automate tasks like notifications, summaries, and data updates. This workshop is designed for beginners—no coding or prior automation experience required. By the end, you’ll understand the basic landscape of AI automation tools and how to start building simple workflows to save time in your work.

Why Getting Started Now Matters for College Applications

The strongest college applications are built over time, not rushed together senior year. In this panel, admissions experts will break down why starting early gives you a meaningful edge and what students should actually be doing now to stay ahead. You’ll learn how to think strategically about academics, extracurriculars, leadership, and narrative development long before applications open. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, or junior, this session will help you understand how small decisions today can shape stronger outcomes later.

How AI is Changing Software Engineering Recruiting

AI is transforming software engineering faster than most candidates realize. The hiring playbook that worked a few years ago is no longer enough. In this session, you’ll explore how AI is influencing the recruiting landscape and what that means for aspiring software engineers. We’ll discuss emerging trends, evolving expectations, and how to think strategically about preparing in a market that’s changing in real time. If you want to compete where hiring is headed, not where it used to be, this conversation will help you stay ahead.

Applying for an MBA in 2026? 6 Things You Could be Doing Now to Get Ahead

Planning to apply for an MBA in 2026? Join me, Meghna (HBS '28), for a high-impact session to help you get ahead in your MBA application journey. With acceptances and scholarship offers from multiple M7 and T15 programs, I’m excited to share the strategies, lessons learned, and insider insights that helped me navigate the process successfully, and that can help you do the same. In this session, we’ll cover practical, actionable strategies you can start implementing now - from refining your target school list and clarifying your “Why MBA,” to a structured framework for brainstorming essays and building a personalized application timeline. I’ll also share candid advice on where to invest (and where not to invest) your time and money when it comes to test prep, networking, and other application resources. Space is limited, so RSVP today to secure your spot and take the first step toward a standout application. Attendees will also receive an exclusive discount code for 1:1 coaching for the 2026 cycle.

How to Ace the GRE Essay

Are you unsure how to approach the essay section of the GRE? In this event, I'll share proven strategies to enhance your AWA score, offer insights that you may have never heard before, and tackle the essay prompts together so you can do them on your own with confidence. Whether you're just starting your GRE prep or looking your test is next week, this session will help you prepare for the AWA section of the GRE.

How to Avoid Hard Algebra on the GMAT

The GMAT doesn’t have to feel like a battle with algebra. In this session, you’ll learn strategies to simplify or bypass complex algebra problems, spot patterns, and use shortcuts that save time and reduce errors. Whether you’re aiming to boost your score or build confidence under pressure, you’ll leave with practical tools to tackle GMAT quant more efficiently.

How to Network Your Way Into Private Equity

After this session, you will know how to build a PE network that actually generates referrals, not just connections. We will cover how to identify and approach associates and principals at target firms, what to say in outreach emails that get responses, and how to turn informational calls into relationships that move your candidacy forward.

The MBA Narrative Lab: Where Story Meets Strategy

Most MBA applicants have strong resumes. Far fewer know how to turn their experiences into a cohesive, compelling narrative that actually drives admissions decisions. In The MBA Narrative Lab: Where Story Meets Strategy, you’ll learn how to connect your career moves, leadership moments, and future goals into a clear story that resonates. The speaker regularly works 1:1 with MBA candidates, and this session offers rare access to the same narrative frameworks used in coaching sessions to shape standout applications. Who This Is For - Applicants planning to apply in the next 1–2 cycles - Reapplicants who need a stronger, clearer positioning - Candidates struggling to connect “why MBA” to long-term goals - High achievers whose story feels scattered on paper What You’ll Walk Away With - A practical framework to define your core narrative arc - How to align past experience with future goals convincingly - The patterns I see across successful candidates at top programs - The kinds of story gaps and positioning mistakes I fix in 1:1 sessions - A simple exercise to pressure-test your narrative before writing essays

Case Studies of Winning M7 MBA Essays

Top M7 MBA essays stand out because they combine clear goals, self-awareness, and strong storytelling. In this session, you’ll break down real examples of successful essays to understand what made them compelling, how they aligned with each school’s values, and how to apply those lessons to your own writing. Whether you’re drafting or revising, you’ll leave with a sharper framework for crafting essays that resonate with admissions committees.

Mock McKinsey Interview - March 2026

A McKinsey interview isn’t just about getting the right answer—it’s about how you think. This mock interview session gives you a front-row seat to what a real McKinsey-style case looks and feels like under pressure. Watch a live case unfold in real time, see how structure and communication can elevate (or derail) performance, and hear direct feedback on what separates solid responses from truly exceptional ones. If you want to understand what excellence actually looks like in the room—and how to replicate it—this is a session you won’t want to miss.

Session 2 - Your Application's "Supporting Actors"

Session 2 from Mar26 Medical School bootcamp

Start With Why: How to Build an MBA Strategy That Will Work

A strong MBA application starts long before you write your essays, it begins with clarity on your “why.” In this session, you’ll learn how to define your career goals, connect them to the right programs, and build a cohesive strategy that guides every part of your application, from school selection to storytelling. Whether you’re early in the process or refining your plan, you’ll leave with a structured approach to crafting an MBA strategy that feels authentic, focused, and compelling.

SWE Recruiting Quick Start

A practical companion to “How Engineers Avoid Burnout During Recruiting Cycles,” this quick start guide helps you turn insights into action—structuring your search, preparing impactful examples, and managing your time and energy throughout the recruiting process.

Stanford GSB Essay: ‘What Matters Most to You, and Why’ (Admitted)

The essay that got me into Stanford GSB. A clear, introspective response to “What matters most to you, and why,” centered on reflection about leadership under pressure, initiative, and building trust in uncertain environments.

Analyzing your LinkedIn Network with Claude Code

Your LinkedIn network holds more data—and opportunity—than you think. The question is: are you using it strategically? In this session, we’ll explore how to leverage Claude Code to analyze your connections, uncover patterns, and identify hidden pathways to internships, jobs, and industry insights. You’ll learn how to map influence, spot high-value clusters, and turn a passive network into an active career asset. If you’re ready to combine AI tools with intentional networking to unlock smarter outreach and real results, this is where you start.