Leland+ Content Library

Networking and Building Professional Connections

Building strong professional connections is one of the most important skills for landing your first job, especially in a competitive market. In this session, you’ll learn practical strategies for networking effectively, building authentic relationships, and turning conversations into real opportunities. Hosted by Leland coach Fiona T., who has helped hundreds of students land their first roles out of college, this event will break down what actually works when it comes to outreach, informational interviews, and follow-ups. The session will also cover considerations for international students navigating the U.S. job market, so you can network with confidence and purpose.

Leveraging AI as Finance/Accounting Professionals [5/29/2026] (Recording)

AI is rapidly changing the way finance and accounting professionals work, but many people still aren’t sure how to apply it in ways that are actually useful day to day. This session is for those who want practical insight into how AI can improve workflows, decision-making, and efficiency across the industry. You’ll learn how experienced professionals first integrated AI into their work, the biggest challenges and breakthroughs they encountered, and real examples of AI-powered tools and automations they’ve built themselves. Join live to hear directly from finance and accounting professionals actively using AI in their roles and ask questions about your own workflows and goals. The panelists have spent time experimenting, building, and refining practical AI use cases and will share the patterns they’ve seen around what works and what doesn’t. Expect candid insights, live demos, and practical ideas you can start applying immediately.

Example: MIT Sloan Cover Letter

This is an example cover letter for the MIT Sloan MBA application

Ask Me Anything About Round 3 MBA Applications

Are you considering applying for an MBA in Round 3 and have questions about how to make your application stand out? Join me, Joy, for an "Ask Me Anything" session where I'll provide insights and answer your burning questions about the MBA application process. With over 20 years of experience as an MBA Admissions Consultant, I've helped over 500 clients gain admission to top programs like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. My background in marketing and creative writing allows me to help you craft compelling narratives that highlight your unique qualities. Whether you're applying to a full-time, executive, or any other MBA program, this session is your chance to get expert advice on editing, recommendations, interviews, networking strategy, school selection, and more. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot and take a step closer to achieving your MBA dreams!

Pivoting into Equity Research: Tips for Early- and Mid-Career Professionals

Breaking into equity research can feel opaque - especially if you are coming from a nontraditional or STEM background - but the transition is absolutely achievable with the right strategy. In this session, Diane K. will share practical guidance drawn from her experience covering SMID Biotech and Healthcare at Goldman Sachs and working in corporate development at a venture-backed startup with over $650M in funding. You’ll learn the top things to consider when making an entry or pivot into equity research, how to position your background for research roles, and the key to-dos for getting started with an equity research job search. Whether you are early in your career or making a mid-career pivot, this workshop will help you understand what matters most and how to stand out.

The Resilient Job Seeker

Keeping yourself sane and well during a stressful job search and transition

Essays (4): UVA Darden MBA Admitted R1 Class of 28

These are the 4 application essays of an applicant who secured R1 admission to UVA Darden full-time MBA.

INSEAD Personal and Leadership Reflection Essay

A candid overview of leadership strengths, weaknesses, and ongoing development in managing diverse, cross-functional teams.

Staying Organized During PhD Applications

​Staying organized can make all the difference during the demanding PhD application process. In this session, Jennifer D.—a first-generation college student who went on to earn a JD/PhD in History at Stanford University and was selected as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar—will share proven systems and strategies for managing deadlines, recommendation letters, research statements, and more. ​You’ll learn how to structure your application workflow, track submissions efficiently, and reduce stress while keeping your materials polished and cohesive. ​Whether you’re applying this cycle or planning ahead, this session will help you approach the process with clarity, confidence, and control.

How to Craft a Standout Resume for Investment Banking

After this session, you will know how to structure an investment banking resume that clears the initial screen and holds the attention of a recruiter who reviews hundreds in a single cycle. The coach will cover how to quantify deal exposure and financial skills without overstating your experience, how to tailor your bullets for bulge bracket versus boutique targets, and how to position non-traditional backgrounds so they read as assets rather than gaps.

Haasome (ie. Awesome Haas) Essays

These winning Haas essays show a clear vision of the applicant's career, a plan for how to make the most of her time at Haas, and the self-awareness and personal growth that Haas values. Talking points for the "What Makes You Feel Alive When You're Doing It" video essay are also included.

8 Steps to an MBA app: 1) Life Story, Timeline, & MBA Resume

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 starting point 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 build your foundational Life Timeline of all your key stories and begin transforming your resume into MBA format. 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 1 identifies your significant experiences and reshapes your resume into MBA format: • Understand the full trajectory of the 8-phase MBA Identity Mapping process and how each piece connects. • Build a comprehensive Life Timeline that captures the raw material of your life. • Begin transforming your professional resume into MBA format. 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 stop juggling tasks and start building an organized, cohesive MBA application, this is where you begin. (Please message me if you would like a copy of the super helpful free resource mentioned in the video: MBA Resume Transformation Guide.)

What McKinsey, BCG, and Bain Look For [5/19/2026] (Recording)

FREE COACHING SESSION GIVEAWAY FOR LIVE ATTENDEES. Breaking into McKinsey, BCG, or Bain is highly competitive, and many candidates aren’t sure what actually sets top applicants apart. This session is for those targeting MBB who want a clearer understanding of how these firms evaluate candidates. You’ll learn what interviewers look for across resumes, case interviews, and behavioral assessments, how to demonstrate structured thinking and impact, and the patterns that consistently show up in successful candidates. Join live to hear from a panel of experts with backgrounds at MBB firms and ask your questions about the recruiting process. The panelists regularly work with candidates and will share what stood out to them when evaluating applicants. Expect practical insights and guidance similar to what’s covered in 1:1 coaching conversations.

The 2026 AI Strategy Playbook

A strategy session for ambitious professionals who want to stand out so clearly in the AI era that leadership can’t ignore them.

How to Answer Stanford’s “What Matters Most to You and Why?”

Stanford’s “What matters most to you and why?” is one of the most challenging MBA essay prompts, and many applicants struggle to answer it with real depth and clarity. This session is for candidates applying to Stanford who want to approach this essay with a more thoughtful and effective strategy. You’ll learn how to identify a meaningful central theme, avoid common pitfalls that make essays feel surface-level, and structure a response that feels both personal and compelling to admissions readers.

Management Consulting Week 2026 Kickoff

Kick off Leland’s Management Consulting Week with a high-level panel focused on what actually matters in consulting recruiting. This session will cover the key do’s and don’ts throughout the process, how strong candidates differentiate themselves, and the most common mistakes that derail otherwise competitive applicants. Panelists will break down where to focus your time, what not to miss at each stage, and how to approach consulting recruiting strategically from start to finish. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your approach, this kickoff will help you prioritize effectively and set a strong foundation for the rest of the week.

Build Your GRE Game Plan: Timing, Pacing, and Recovery

​This session will help you build a smart, personalized GRE strategy that maximizes your score without burning out. We’ll cover how to pace your prep, structure your study timeline, manage test-day timing, and recover effectively from practice tests or setbacks. You’ll leave with a clear game plan for studying efficiently and performing your best on exam day.

Common Communication Mistakes

Over-formality, vague leadership claims, jargon

Secrets of the Admissions Office: A Former Admissions Officer and Stanford Graduate Break Down Elite College Admissions

Elite college admissions hinge on how applications are read behind closed doors, not just on grades and test scores. In this session, a former admissions officer and Stanford graduate will reveal how files are evaluated, what makes an applicant memorable, and how admissions committees interpret essays, activities, recommendations, and context together. You’ll learn how to avoid common missteps, highlight authentic impact, and build a cohesive narrative that resonates with highly selective schools.

5 Mistakes That Tank Deferred MBA Applications

Deferred MBA applications are evaluated with a different lens, and small missteps can have an outsized impact on outcomes. This session breaks down the most common mistakes that weaken deferred MBA candidacies, from unclear career narratives to misaligned school fit and timing errors. You’ll learn how to avoid these pitfalls and strengthen your application by presenting a clear, credible, and forward-looking story.