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.

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.

Software Engineering Recruiting Week Kickoff

Kick off Software Engineering Recruiting Week with a high-level panel covering everything you need to know to successfully navigate the recruiting process. This session will break down what matters most at each stage, including resumes, networking strategies, interview preparation, and how to position yourself as a strong candidate. You’ll gain insider perspective on what hiring managers actually look for, where candidates tend to waste time, and how to prioritize your efforts for maximum impact. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your strategy, this session will give you a clear roadmap for the recruiting journey ahead.

Networking: The Secret to Landing a Software Engineering Role

Strong technical skills are essential for software engineering roles, but networking often determines who gets the interview. In this session, you’ll learn how to build authentic connections, reach out strategically to recruiters and engineers, and turn conversations into referrals and opportunities. We’ll cover practical outreach tactics, common mistakes to avoid, and how to position yourself effectively in a competitive hiring market.

Find Your Fit: Where to Apply to Thrive

Where you apply can shape your growth as an engineer as much as the offer itself. In this session, you’ll learn how to evaluate companies by stage, team structure, tech stack, and culture to identify where you’re most likely to thrive. We’ll cover how to align your strengths and goals with the right environments and build a focused, intentional application strategy.

Law School: Apps & Their Bits and Pieces

A law school application is made up of many moving parts, and understanding how they fit together is key. This session is designed to break down each component of the law school application and how they work together to tell a cohesive story. In this event, you’ll learn the role of LSAT scores, transcripts, personal statements, resumes, and recommendations, along with common mistakes to avoid. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your materials, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of how to build a strong application.

MBA Application Master Checklist

Staying organized is half the battle in MBA admissions. This master checklist walks you through every step of the process, from locking your school list and preparing your recommenders to final essay polish and interview prep, so nothing falls through the cracks. Designed for applicants targeting top programs who want a proven structure to keep their application on track and their momentum going all the way through decision day.

Build Your Software Engineering Resume

A strong software engineering resume does more than list languages and tools, it demonstrates impact, ownership, and technical depth in a way that quickly signals readiness to hiring managers. In this session, you’ll learn how to structure your resume, quantify your contributions, highlight meaningful projects, and tailor your experience for internships or full-time roles. Whether you’re a student, career switcher, or early-career engineer, you’ll leave with a clear framework to turn your resume into a powerful interview magnet. Space is limited, so RSVP to secure your spot. We’re excited to be on the software engineering journey with you!

How to Crush your Finance Behavioral Interviews

In finance interviews, technical skills get you in the room—but behavioral answers often decide who gets the offer. Your ability to tell clear, confident stories about leadership, resilience, and impact can make all the difference. In this session, you’ll learn how to structure powerful answers, anticipate the questions firms consistently ask, and turn your experiences into memorable, results-driven narratives. We’ll break down what interviewers are truly assessing and how to respond with clarity, confidence, and credibility. If you want to walk into your next finance interview prepared to stand out, this is where to start.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in "Tell Me About a Time..."

For anyone about to recruit for management consulting, you know behaviorals are integral to every round of the process. It should be easy to talk about yourself and your own experiences, right? With the right prep it certainly can be! These are often some of the most telling questions for an interviewer, so making sure you have sharp answers ready to go while avoiding these common pitfalls will set you up for success!

Differentiate your MBA Application: School Research & Networking Part 1 of 2

⚡School research and networking are the secret weapons that separate good MBA applicants from the ones admissions committees can’t forget. They shape every part of your application, from essays and interviews to your ability to turn a waitlist into an admit. Yet most applicants never learn how to do them at the level that truly changes the game. This is Part 1 of a two-part workshop series. In this session, you will learn the research and networking strategy and methods. You will then have two weeks to complete your own school research and networking as guided homework. In Part 2, I will demonstrate how to put this work into action through a live walkthrough, including discussion of participant progress and real questions that arise during the process. ⚠️Register for Part 2 in the event calendar on March 13th Part 1 has been my most popular event, run multiple times each year, and consistently rated by attendees as one of the most helpful and actionable MBA preparation sessions they’ve experienced. This is the first time I am introducing the Part 2 execution workshop. In this session, you’ll discover how to: 🔷 Conduct deep-dive school research that goes far beyond websites and brochures 🔷 Strategically network with the right people, turning what may be the greatest networking opportunity of your life into a clear advantage for admission and beyond 🔷 Create an MBA Journey document that becomes your central reference for aligning fit, goals, and contributions across the application 🔷 Integrate your findings seamlessly into essays, interviews, networking conversations, and campus interactions You’ll learn how to pinpoint the exact courses, professors, centers, career services, experiential programs, internships, clubs, culture elements, current students, and alumni connections that will help you achieve your goals, and how to clearly show the value you will bring in return. By the end of this session, you will know how to demonstrate, with clarity and credibility, that you and your target MBA program are the right fit for each other. Bonus Offer ✅1 attendee will receive a free 1-hour coaching session. ✅All attendees may request a free copy of the MBA Research & Networking Template. ⚡Spots are limited. Register now to gain the advantage that can set your MBA application apart.

Grad School and Fellowships Applications--Steps to Success!

This high level overview of the grad school and fellowships application process helps potential applicants understand how to get started, differences between graduate program and fellowships applications, how to organize the process, what to know about personal statements and essays, how to identify recommenders, and financial considerations.

GRE Quant Workshop: Exponents & Roots - Foundational Theory

Exponent and root questions on the GRE Quant section can feel simple at first glance but often test whether you truly understand the underlying rules. This session is designed for students who want to build a strong foundation before tackling harder problems or timed practice. You’ll learn the core exponent and radical rules, how to simplify expressions step by step, and how to avoid the common conceptual mistakes that lead to lost points.

Consulting Recruiting Is Earlier Than Ever: How to Crush Your Interviews

Consulting recruiting timelines keep moving earlier—and candidates who wait until interview invites arrive are often already behind. In Consulting Recruiting Is Earlier Than Ever: How to Crush Your Interviews, you’ll hear directly from experienced consultants who regularly work 1:1 with candidates preparing for MBB and other top firms. This panel offers rare access to the interview preparation frameworks, evaluation patterns, and common mistakes coaches see when helping candidates get consulting-ready.

Experienced Applicant Resume Guide and Template

A sample generic resume format and guide for those with existing work experience targeting business related roles.

Cold Emails That Land Warm

Most cold partnership emails fail before the second sentence and it's not because the sender lacks a good product, but because they lead with themselves instead of the person they're writing to. This guide is built from real outreach across nearly two decades of building companies in food, wellness, experiential events, and matchmaking. It covers six partnership types: brand-to-brand, venue and experiential, distribution and retail, media and press, investor introductions, and sponsors and collaborators with two copy-paste templates per section and a bonus section of real emails from actual deals, with breakdowns of exactly why each one landed. Built for early-stage founders sending their first partnership emails. No theory. No generic advice. Just the structure that works.

MBA Essays with AI the Right Way

AI tools are changing how applicants approach MBA essays—but using them effectively (and ethically) is the real challenge. In this session, expert Leland coach Eric L. will show you how to leverage AI to brainstorm, structure, and refine your essays while keeping your unique voice front and center. ​By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make AI your ally in the application process and walk away with actionable strategies to craft essays that stand out to admissions committees.

Inside the Waitlist: How Admissions Really Uses It

• Define what a waitlist decision actually means • Explain why schools use the waitlist (class balancing, yield management, diversity mix) • Common misconceptions (e.g., “It’s a soft reject” vs. “It’s still active consideration”) • How timing, round, and school culture affect outcomes • Typical timelines • High-level do’s and don’ts immediately after being waitlisted

Overview of the Waitlist Process

• Visual timeline from decision release → movement → final outcomes • Key decision points: R2 admit shifts, summer yield management • Typical volume of waitlisted candidates and admit conversion rates • School-specific examples (generalized, not data-heavy) • Summary: What you can and can’t control at each stage

Waitlist 101 Guide

• Mindset shift: from “waiting” to “strategic repositioning” • Common emotional pitfalls (panic, over-updating, disengagement) • How to maintain professionalism and perspective • Setting intentions for the next 4–8 weeks • Quick self-checklist: “Am I reacting or responding?”