Leland+ Content Library

What BYU Admission Officers Actually Want to See From You [7/14/2026] (Recording)

Getting into Brigham Young University takes more than strong grades and test scores. The strongest applicants understand how to present a compelling story that shows character, potential, and alignment with what the university truly values. This session is for students applying to BYU who want a clearer understanding of what stands out in the admissions process. You’ll learn what admissions officers actually pay attention to, how to strengthen your overall application, and the subtle factors that can help you rise above other qualified candidates. Join live to hear from a BYU graduate with deep admissions expertise and firsthand experience earning full-tuition and full-ride scholarships. The speaker will share the patterns they see across standout applicants, common mistakes to avoid, and practical ways to position yourself more competitively. Expect actionable advice and insider insights you can immediately apply to your application.

Interview Insider: Decode the Hiring Manager [7/14/2026] (Recording)

You prepared for a Q&A session. The hiring manager is looking for a business solution. That gap is why great candidates get rejected without feedback, and it's the focus of Interview Insider: Decode the Hiring Manager. Here's what we'll cover: - The Feedback Void: Why great candidates get rejected, and what's actually happening behind the scenes. - The Hiring Manager Mindset: You're speaking to two audiences. The recruiter is the gatekeeper, focused on mitigating risk. The hiring manager is the decision maker, focused on solving a specific team pain point. Both need to see measurable impact. - Impactful Storytelling: The STAR method, but architected for impact. Keep the Situation to 10% of your answer. Use owner verbs like Architected, Engineered, Negotiated, Scaled. Every Result must include a number, because if there's no metric, there's no result. - Decoding "Hidden" Questions: What "Tell me about a time you failed" and "Why are you leaving your current role" are actually asking, and how to answer the question behind the question. - The Offer Call: The Triple Win negotiation strategy across financial, lifestyle, and growth. How to use market data instead of "I want," and the golden rule for handling any offer. - Q&A: Bring your specific interview hurdles. Come ready with your toughest interview questions for the Q&A.

Home for Ambition #14 — Weekly Live Show [7/1/2026] (Recording)

Home for Ambition is a weekly live show, hosted by Leland CEO, John Koelliker, 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.

Get Your MBA Questions Answered: Ask Admissions Experts [6/4/2026] (Recording)

GIVEAWAY DURING THE EVENT: Join live for the chance to win a free coaching session! MBA admissions can feel confusing when every applicant seems to be getting different advice about what actually matters. This session is for candidates who want direct answers to the most common and important questions about the MBA application process. You’ll learn how admissions teams evaluate applicants, what successful candidates tend to do differently, and how to approach key parts of the process like school selection, essays, and interviews. Join live to ask your own questions and hear directly from admissions experts with M7 admissions experience. The panelists have worked closely with applicants across top MBA programs and will share the patterns they see across strong applications and common mistakes. Expect candid, practical insights similar to what’s discussed in 1:1 admissions coaching conversations.

Using AI in Your Job Search: What Works, What Backfires [7/28/2026] (Recording)

Using AI in your job search can save time and uncover new opportunities, but it can also hurt your chances when it leads to generic applications or over-automated outreach. This session is designed for job seekers who want to use AI strategically while still standing out as thoughtful, credible candidates. You’ll learn where AI can meaningfully improve your resume, networking, and interview preparation, which common uses tend to backfire, and how to balance efficiency with authenticity throughout the hiring process. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own job search and get real-time guidance on how to use AI more effectively. The speaker works closely with candidates navigating competitive hiring processes and will share the patterns they see across successful job seekers, along with where AI adds value versus where it can create unintended risks. If you want a practical framework for using AI without undermining your candidacy, it’s worth joining live.

Elite LSAT Case Studies: 154 -> 180, 160 -> 178, and 168 -> 179 [7/23/2026] (Recording)

In this session, you will see exactly how three real test-takers diagnosed and closed significant score gaps on the LSAT, including how each identified their highest-leverage weaknesses, restructured their study approach mid-prep, and built the consistency needed to perform in the 170s. You will leave with a concrete framework for auditing your own prep the way a high-scoring candidate would. Attending live means you can ask how these case studies apply to your current score range and get a direct answer in context, not a general one. The coach works with LSAT students across score bands every day, and this session is a rare look at the diagnostic patterns and turning points that actually drive score transformation at the elite level.

MBA Application Teardown: Transform Your Short Answers [7/30/2026] (Recording)

Most applicants underestimate their MBA short answers. Admissions committees do not. This session is part of a three-part MBA Application Teardown series, where I take real, anonymized application materials, tear them down the way an admissions reader would, and rebuild them into something sharper and more memorable, live and in front of you. In this session we turn to the part of the application most people underestimate: the short answers and small boxes that applicants rush and admissions officers read closely. Across the three sessions, we rebuild the pieces that carry the most weight: your goals essay, your short answers, and your resume. Attend all three to see how a complete application comes together as one coherent story, or drop into the single session you need most. In this teardown, you will watch throwaway short answers become quietly powerful: • See why the answers you dash off at the end carry far more weight than their word count suggests. • Watch a generic, list-like answer become specific, intentional, and memorable. • Learn how short answers either reinforce your narrative or quietly contradict it. • Recognize the small tells that mark a rushed applicant, and how to remove them. These are the questions applicants treat as filler and admissions readers treat as evidence. A single weak short answer rarely sinks an application, but a pattern of them tells a reader you did not take the details seriously. Rebuilt with intention, the same boxes become some of the most efficient places in the entire application to prove who you are, and they are easy to miss in your own work precisely because they feel minor. I have guided more than 100 applicants into every M7 program, across the top 20 in the U.S., and into leading international programs, including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Make the shortest pieces of your application carry real weight. Register now to claim your spot in the live teardown.

Top 5 AI Prompts Every MBA Applicant Should Master [7/11/2026] (Recording)

While you cannot use AI to write your essays (the adcom can tell!), in this session we will look at how to use AI as a smart diagnostic tool to strengthen your application materials. You will walk away with five specific prompts that help you audit your own work, strip out generic phrasing, and highlight the true impact of your achievements. While AI is excellent for identifying gaps and pressure testing your narrative consistency, it cannot replace the nuanced positioning that comes from human strategy. This session will show you how to use technology to clean up the baseline copy so you can then focus your energy on the deep personalization required for top tier programs.

Self-Learning Agents: What PMs Should Actually Worry About [7/23/2026] (Recording)

Self-learning agents are rapidly shifting what’s possible in product development, and product managers who understand this shift will be far better positioned to lead what comes next. This session is for PMs and aspiring PMs who want to understand what self-learning agents actually mean for product strategy, execution, and long-term career relevance. You’ll learn where these systems are creating real disruption, what risks and opportunities product leaders should pay attention to, and how the PM role may evolve as AI becomes more autonomous. Join live to hear from an expert in AI and product management, a former Senior PM and Head of AI Services at Google. The speaker will share firsthand perspectives on how leading product teams are thinking about AI, what PMs should prioritize today, and which mindset shifts will matter most in the years ahead. Expect strategic insights and practical takeaways you can apply immediately to your product thinking.

From the Experts: What Wins in M7 MBA Applications [7/15/2026] (Recording)

Applying to M7 MBA programs can feel overwhelming when you're trying to understand what separates admitted candidates from the many other highly qualified applicants in the pool. This session is designed for prospective MBA applicants who want a clearer understanding of what top programs value and how to position their candidacy effectively. You’ll learn how admissions committees evaluate applicants, the common traits that appear across successful applications, and how to strengthen your story across essays, recommendations, and interviews. Attending live gives you the opportunity to hear directly from experts who have spent years helping candidates navigate the MBA admissions process and ask questions about your own application strategy. The speakers will share the patterns they see across successful applicants, along with what they look for when evaluating overall candidacy and fit. If you want a better understanding of what wins in M7 MBA admissions, it’s worth joining live.

Top GRE Tips: Arithmetic and Sentence Equivalence Problems [7/9/2026] (Recording)

Some of the fastest score gains on the GRE come from mastering the question types that appear again and again. This session is for test takers who want to strengthen both their quantitative and verbal performance by improving their approach to arithmetic and sentence equivalence problems. You’ll learn proven strategies for solving common question types efficiently, avoiding costly mistakes, and building the skills needed to perform consistently on test day. Join live to hear from a GRE expert who has helped more than 50 students score 325+. The speaker will break down the patterns behind challenging arithmetic and sentence equivalence questions, share practical shortcuts, and demonstrate the techniques that top scorers use to maximize accuracy and speed. Expect actionable tips you can immediately apply to your GRE preparation.

Ace Investment Banking Interviews [7/16/2026] (Recording)

Investment Banking interviews start soon! Some candidates will be interviewing at the end of the summer or early fall. You have to be ready if you want to succeed. Competition is fierce, and expectations are high. Join me to understand how to Ace Investment Banking Interviews. Extensive Q&A opportunity.

The International Applicant’s MBA Blueprint [7/21/2026] (Recording)

Applying to a U.S. MBA program as an international candidate presents both unique opportunities and unique challenges. While international applicants bring valuable global perspectives, cross-cultural experiences, and diverse professional backgrounds, they also face a highly competitive admissions environment and must effectively translate their experiences to a U.S.-based audience. The most successful international applicants do more than present impressive credentials. They demonstrate leadership, articulate a compelling career vision, and clearly communicate how their experiences, goals, and perspectives will contribute to the MBA community. This workshop explores how international candidates can navigate the admissions process strategically, build a compelling application narrative, and identify programs that align with their professional ambitions. By the end of this session, you will be able to: * Understand how U.S. MBA admissions committees evaluate international candidates. * Identify the key factors that distinguish successful international applicants. * Translate your professional accomplishments into language and examples that resonate with U.S. admissions readers. * Craft a career vision that connects your pre-MBA experience, MBA goals, and long-term aspirations. * Understand how academic performance, test scores, and professional experience are evaluated in an international context. * Avoid common mistakes international applicants make in essays, resumes, interviews, and recommendations. * Leave with a practical roadmap for strengthening your candidacy and maximizing your chances of admission.

Starting Your GMAT Journey: An Introduction to the GMAT Focus Edition [6/30/2026] (Recording)

Starting GMAT prep can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure how the Focus Edition works or where to begin. This session is for anyone looking for a clear introduction to the GMAT and the strategies that lead to strong performance over time. You’ll learn how the exam is structured, what each section is designed to test, and how to build a study plan that sets you up for steady improvement. Join live to ask questions about your own starting point and get guidance from a GMAT expert with over 25,000 hours of tutoring experience. The speaker has worked with students across a wide range of score goals and will share the patterns they see across successful test takers and the foundational strategies that consistently make the biggest difference.

Navigating Dual/Concurrent Degrees: MBA + Policy, Education, and STEM [6/11/2026] (Recording)

For some applicants, a traditional MBA is not the only path. Joint and concurrent degree programs can offer powerful ways to build interdisciplinary expertise, but they require careful strategic consideration. This session will explore when pairing an MBA with another graduate degree makes sense, how to evaluate program structures and tradeoffs, and how to determine whether a dual-degree path aligns with your long-term goals. Attendees will also learn how admissions committees assess dual-degree applicants and what makes for a compelling rationale.