Leland+ Content Library

8 Steps to a Complete MBA App: 4) Short & Long-Term Goals & Purpose

Applying to business school can feel overwhelming! You have dozens of moving pieces: essays, short answers, video content, resume, recommendations, outreach, research, and more. This workshop is the fourth of a structured 8-part MBA Identity Mapping series designed to take you from fragmented tasks to a clear plan of action. In this session, you will clarify your short- and long-term goals and build a credible, purpose-driven career narrative. These sessions walk you step by step through building one fully aligned MBA application. In every workshop, you will be assigned tasks to complete over the next two weeks, keeping you organized and accountable. By the end, you will have strong, authentic essays and a cohesive narrative that runs consistently through your resume, goals, recommendations, school strategy, and interviews. You are absolutely welcome to attend individual sessions if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. Event 4 shapes your identity into a credible, purpose-driven career plan: • Define clear short-term and long-term career goals. • Connect your past experiences and core values to your future direction. • Articulate your broader purpose and the impact you want to have. • Stress-test the realism and logic of your plan. • Ensure your goals align with your strengths and readiness for an MBA. This is the phase where your identity turns into direction. Instead of listing ambitions, you construct a thoughtful, believable path that admissions committees can understand and support. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international programs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Clients consistently describe it as transformative because it replaces scattered effort with forward momentum and strategic clarity. If you are ready to move from abstract aspirations to a grounded, compelling career plan, this is your next step.

Your Guide to the Columbia MBA Interview [5/7/2026] (Recording)

Strong candidates still get tripped up in the Columbia MBA interview because they underestimate how much clarity and fit matter in a short conversation. This session is for applicants who want a clearer understanding of how to navigate Columbia’s interview process with confidence. You’ll learn how to structure your answers, communicate your goals and fit for the program, and handle the types of questions that commonly come up. Join live to ask questions about your own interview preparation and get guidance tailored to your background. The speaker is an expert in the Columbia MBA interview process and regularly works with candidates preparing for this stage. They’ll share the patterns they see across successful applicants and the kinds of feedback typically given in 1:1 interview prep.

Land your Job or Study in ... Switzerland

Switzerland is not part of the EU. It does not have the largest job market in Europe. And it is, by most measures, one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in. None of that stops it from being one of the most attractive destinations on the continent for ambitious non-EU graduates and young professionals: it simply requires knowing what you are walking into. The country hosts the European or global headquarters of Nestlé, Novartis, Roche, ABB, UBS, Credit Suisse's successor operations, and dozens of precision engineering and medtech companies that most people outside Europe have never heard of. Salaries are the highest in Europe by a significant margin, which is the other side of the cost equation. ETH Zurich consistently ranks among the world's top ten universities. English is widely used in professional environments, particularly in Zurich and Geneva. This session covers the study path and the direct job path side by side: how the permit system works for non-EU nationals, what living in Zurich or Geneva actually costs, language realities across the four linguistic regions, and how to position yourself in a market that rewards precision, reliability, and depth over volume. Two real cases show how international candidates made it work. Switzerland is selective. It rewards those who come prepared. In this session, we lay out exactly what that means in practice. New episodes in this series cover a different European country every Thursday.

What a Career in Consulting Actually Looks Like [5/7/2026] (Recording)

GIVEAWAY FOR LIVE ATTENDEES. After this session, you'll have a clear picture of what consulting work actually demands day-to-day and what distinguishes candidates who break in from those who don't. We'll cover how Bain evaluates potential during the recruiting process, what the associate to partner trajectory looks like in practice, and where most candidates misread the role before they've even started. Attending live means you can bring your specific background or situation and get a direct read on how it maps to what firms are looking for right now. This coach comes from a background at Bain, and the patterns they share about what moves candidates forward reflect the kind of judgment that only comes from being on the other side of the table.

Vibe Coding For Beginners: What It Is and How to Start Today

Vibe coding is one of the most talked-about shifts in tech right now — and for good reason. Non-technical people are building real, functional software by describing what they want in plain language and letting AI do the rest In this 45-minute intro, we'll pull back the curtain on one of the most talked-about shifts in tech right now and show you exactly how non-technical people are using it to build real, functional software without writing a single line of code themselves. You'll walk away with a clear mental model, a live demo, and a concrete starting point. What we'll cover: *What vibe coding is (and why it's different from anything before it) *The three tools shaping the space right now: Loveable, Cursor, and Claude Code *A live demo so you can see it in action, not just hear about it *What you can realistically build, and where you'll still need support *Your actual next step to get started today Who this is for: Total beginners. No coding experience required, just curiosity and an idea you've been waiting to bring to life.

Intro to AI and Finance: Practical AI Finance Applications [5/8/2026] (Recording)

AI is rapidly reshaping finance, but many professionals aren’t sure how to apply it in ways that actually drive value. This session is for those looking to integrate AI into financial analysis, investing, or operations with a practical approach. You’ll learn how AI is being used across key finance workflows, how to identify high-impact use cases, and how to start building skills that translate directly to real-world applications. Join live to ask questions about your specific interests and see how an expert approaches AI in finance step by step. The speaker specializes in AI-driven financial applications and regularly works with professionals adopting these tools. They’ll share the patterns they see across successful use cases and the kinds of insights typically discussed in 1:1 working sessions.

How to Nail Your Stock Pitch [5/8/2026] (Recording)

A strong stock pitch can be the difference between breaking into hedge funds and getting passed over, but many candidates struggle to make their ideas both clear and convincing. This session is for those preparing for hedge fund interviews who want to refine how they present an investment thesis. You’ll learn how to structure a compelling long or short pitch, communicate your edge and assumptions, and handle the kinds of pushback investors use to test your thinking. Join live to ask questions about your own pitch ideas and see how experienced investors evaluate them in real time. The speaker brings deep hedge fund experience and regularly coaches candidates on pitching and interview prep. They’ll share the patterns they see across successful pitches and the kinds of feedback typically given in 1:1 coaching sessions.

AI-Powered Lead Gen: More Leads, Less Work

Tired of spending hours prospecting, researching, and qualifying leads manually? In this session, Robin V., a Leland coach and AI automation expert, will show you how to harness AI to streamline your lead generation process and scale your outreach effortlessly. ​You’ll discover practical tools and tactics for finding high-quality leads, personalizing outreach at scale, and automating key parts of your sales funnel—without sacrificing authenticity or results. Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or sales professional, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to generate more leads in less time using AI.

October Series - Creating a Career Plan (Session 2)

Jumping into the job search without a plan is like heading into battle without any armor or strategy. The most successful job seekers treat this step as building their strategy. It’s not just about knowing what you want, but also want you don't want. And how you’re going to avoid it. This means identifying what you’re looking for, what you’re not looking for, and assembling the tools and resources you’ll need along the way. The job search plan is the foundation for everything that follows. Without it, you’re likely to waste time on the wrong opportunities or get stuck in endless cycles of busywork. By taking the time to create a strategy and assemble your repertoire you give yourself the best chance of career success.

S&T Terms Glossary

Master the 20 most critical Sales & Trading terms used on the trading floor every day.

Navigating International IB Recruiting: US & Beyond

Breaking into Investment Banking as an international MBA isn’t just about technical prep—it’s about strategy. Visa hurdles, shifting timelines, and uncertainty in the US market often force candidates to explore global options. This session is designed for international MBAs who want a structured roadmap to maximize their odds in the US—and build a contingency plan across London, Paris, Zurich, Singapore, and other major hubs. ​Drawing from firsthand experience and lessons from clients who’ve successfully made the jump, join Yudhajit D. as he covers what works, what doesn’t, and how to de-risk your recruiting journey.

Addenda Final Editing Checklist

Surely editing my addenda should be simple? Think again! Editing is critical to showing your attention to detail, a critical lawyerly trait. Use this checklist to reach perfection.

Sample Redlined Personal Statement

Not sure how much editing you need? Here is an example of one (of many) rounds of editing with a client.

Stanford University Admit: Distinctive Contribution Example

Read a short essay that got me into Stanford based on this 2024 prompt: Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

Exercise: Automate a Team Workflow with AI

Redesign a repetitive team process—from trigger to action to outcome—using AI-driven automation.

How to Structure a Deal Walkthrough for PE Interviews

Deal walkthroughs in Private Equity interviews are among the toughest hurdles candidates face—interviewers expect you to walk through the logic, assumptions, and risks of an entire investment, often on the spot. To excel, you need a repeatable structure, sharp instincts, and clarity under pressure. ​Join Max M., a former tech investor turned Wharton MBA and one of Leland’s Top 50 Coaches, who has worked on deals at Thomas H. Lee Partners and Goldman Sachs. Max has coached hundreds of candidates across PE, IB, and hedge funds, helping them land offers at top firms. ​In this session, Max will break down a clear framework you can apply during deal walkthroughs: how to decompose the investment thesis, model growth and margins, identify key value levers, and address deal risks. He’ll also walk through common “curve ball” questions and teach you how to think on your feet.

The GRE Is a Game You Can Win: Building Verbal Mastery Through Depth, Strategy, and Control

​Cracking the GRE Verbal section isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary—it’s about mastering the game. In this session, expert Leland GRE coach Ralph L. will break down how top scorers approach verbal questions with strategy, precision, and confidence. ​You’ll learn how to build true verbal depth through smarter study methods, approach Reading Comprehension and Text Completion questions strategically, and maintain control under timed conditions. By the end, you’ll have a practical framework to study efficiently, avoid common traps, and play the GRE verbal game to win.

GraphQL

This resource introduces GraphQL, explaining how it differs from REST APIs and how it enables more efficient, flexible data querying for modern products.

Research & Information Gathering (Using Perplexity)

Discover how to efficiently find reliable, structured information using AI-powered research tools.

Don’t ask "Can you refer me?" - Ask this instead

Earn referrals naturally by building trust first. Learn what questions to ask and how to make consultants actually want to help you.