Leland+ Content Library

Ace MBA Interviews & Essays: Strategies for Why an MBA/Now/This School

Are you struggling to clearly answer “Why an MBA?”, “Why now?”, and “Why this school?” in both interviews and written applications? These three questions are the backbone of every strong MBA candidacy. In this focused 60-minute session, you’ll learn exactly how to approach them with clarity, specificity, and confidence. We’ll break down what admissions committees are really looking for, why these questions matter, and the most common mistakes applicants make. You’ll see detailed examples drawn directly from successful applicant materials, along with in-depth analysis of what makes each example strong or weak. We’ll cover how to link your background, needs, and goals to the right program features, how to avoid generic phrasing, and how to bring authenticity and structure into your responses. Throughout the session, I’ll highlight specific dos and don’ts and walk you through the progression from vague answers to compelling, school-ready responses. You’ll also see how your approach should differ between essays and interviews so your answers feel natural and appropriate in each format. We will close with a Q&A where you can ask about these three questions, your approach, or anything that wasn’t fully clear in the presentation. By the end, you’ll have a sharper understanding of what makes a strong response, how to integrate school-specific research, and how to communicate your story in a way that resonates in both interviews and written applications.

NYU Stern Interview Question Bank

List of questions applicable to Stern Interview to help a candidate prepare for an interview.

The "American Style" Application

Directness, reflection, vulnerability—all without oversharing

Essay Edit: Watch Me Transform an Underwhelming Master Essay Draft

Ever wonder what turns a decent essay into an admit-worthy one? In this live session, expert Leland coach and former AdComs at Harvard Karla M. will walk you through the process of transforming a real, underwhelming master’s essay into a compelling, polished narrative. You’ll see how to refine structure, elevate storytelling, and bring clarity and personality to your writing. By the end, you’ll have a clear framework and practical editing techniques to strengthen your own essays and stand out in the admissions process.

AI Readiness Checklist

Use this checklist to evaluate your organization’s readiness across people, data, and leadership.

Technical Interview Guide (40 Questions)

This guide provides 40 questions from topics such as LBO modeling and returns, valuations, accounting, and fundamental business and diligence.

Pros and Cons of a Sales & Trading Career

Get the unvarnished truth on the compensation, exit opportunities, and intense demands before you commit to S&T.

Assess Your Organization’s AI Maturity

Score your organization’s current AI maturity and identify next steps for improvement.

Pivot to Product: Different Paths to Land Your First PM Role

Breaking into product management doesn’t follow one predictable path—and understanding the variety of ways people get in can massively increase your chances of success. In this session, you’ll learn the most common entry points into product, how to leverage your current skills, and what companies actually look for when hiring first-time PMs. Your coach, Kritika, who has worked at Microsoft, Amgen, and Amazon, will share lessons learned from her own journey of pivoting into top PM roles. She’ll unpack the strategies that work (and the ones that don’t), the tradeoffs of different pathways, and how to position your experience based on your background—whether you're coming from engineering, design, operations, consulting, or something totally different. You’ll leave with a clearer map of potential routes into PM, tactical steps to strengthen your candidacy, and a smarter strategy for choosing roles, companies, and timing that align with your goals.

r/AMA: Building products people love from Slack to Discord to Reddit

What does it take to build products that millions of people use every day—and genuinely love? In this AMA, Sri V., a product manager at Reddit who has also worked on community and communication products at Discord, Slack, and Microsoft, will share candid insights from years spent shaping how people connect online. With a background in computer science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a career built on solving meaningful problems rather than just writing code, Sri brings a uniquely human-centered perspective to product development. Come with questions about breaking into PM, building social and community products, navigating big tech careers, or even national parks—Sri has nomaded through nearly all of them.

AI ROI Case Studies (Quick Wins)

Review short case studies showing how small AI pilots can generate measurable results.

Resume: Army Veteran Admitted to Duke Fuqua MBA

This resume showcases an Army veteran from a non-traditional background who earned Early Action admission to Duke Fuqua MBA.

Breaking into Venture Capital - Ask Me Anything

Venture capital is one of the most competitive and relationship-driven industries to break into—but this AMA will give you rare, unfiltered access to someone who’s done it. Jason C. has spent the last decade building and investing in companies, from founding two startups to becoming a partner at Contrary shortly after graduating from Wharton/Lauder. He’s led investments in standout companies like Orchard Robotics, Nomic, and Endeavor AI, and his angel portfolio includes high-growth names such as Warp, Ramp, Clara, and Slingshot AI.

New SAT: Angles Question

A review of alternate-interior angles for the SAT.

Creating a Competitive Truman Scholar Application

The Truman Scholarship is one of the most competitive awards for students pursuing public service careers. In this session, top Leland coach and Truman Scholar Yaseen E. will break down what makes a Truman application stand out, from crafting a compelling policy-focused narrative to securing strong recommendations. You’ll learn how to position your leadership, service, and academic goals with clarity and intention.

Stripe PM Take-Home Assignment Sample

Prompt: Analyze 8 months of churn data, identify key drivers, and propose a roadmap to improve retention.

AdCom Insider Tip #1

Why International Applicants Get Misread in the U.S. MBA Process

Finance to MBA: Showing Impact and Proving Passion

Breaking into an MBA program from a finance background takes more than strong credentials—it's about showing real impact and authentic passion. In this session, Leland coaches John N. (Kellogg MBA), Faisal K. (Booth adcom), and Kelsey K. (CBS adcom) will share how to differentiate yourself, connect your experience to your goals, and stand out in essays and interviews. Perfect for finance professionals aiming to make a powerful impression in Round 2.

Deferred MBA M7 Series: Stanford

Get an inside look at what Stanford GSB seeks in Deferred MBA candidates and how to bring your unique story to life. Expert Leland coach and GSB alum Ben L. will break down the qualities Stanford cares about most—impact, curiosity, and personal growth. You’ll leave with concrete strategies to articulate your values, achievements, and ambitions in a way that resonates with the GSB admissions committee.