Leland+ Content Library

Thinking Like a 100th Percentile Scorer: Gaming the GMAT

You’re already scoring well, but how do you break into that next percentile tier? This free workshop is for those ready to fine-tune their GMAT Focus performance with advanced, test-savvy strategies. We’ll unpack how the adaptive scoring algorithm really works, how to choose section order strategically, and how to avoid the traps that cost top scorers the most points. You’ll also dive deep into high-efficiency tactics for Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights. Plus learn how your mindset on test day can be the difference between a good score and a great one.

Personal Statement Jumpstart

Get a strong start on one of the most important parts of your dental school application. In this session, you’ll learn how to choose the right story, structure your personal statement, and clearly communicate your motivation for dentistry in a way that resonates with admissions committees. You’ll leave with proven frameworks, common pitfalls to avoid, and concrete next steps to begin drafting a compelling, authentic personal statement.

Gain Competitive Advantage as a Non-Traditional Applicant

Non-traditional applicants often bring unique strengths, but success depends on how clearly those experiences are framed and communicated. This session focuses on how to turn unconventional backgrounds into compelling signals of readiness, impact, and fit, whether you’re applying to school or recruiting for competitive roles. You’ll learn how to address perceived gaps, highlight transferable skills, and position your story with confidence and clarity.

docx Skill

This skill teaches AI how to create, read, edit, and manipulate Word documents (.docx files) with support for formatting, tables, comments, and tracked changes. To install, run this in your terminal after downloading the file: unzip ~/Downloads/docx-skill.zip -d ~/.agents/skills/

Positioning Yourself Strategically When Making a Transition

Career transitions into Business Operations require more than transferable skills, they demand clear positioning, strategic storytelling, and an understanding of how BizOps teams actually operate. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to reframe your experience for BizOps roles, identify the signals hiring managers look for, and build a narrative that shows strategic thinking, execution ability, and impact. You’ll leave with practical tools to position yourself confidently and competitively during a career transition.

The Comprehensive Guide to PE Secondaries Recruiting

Interested in recruiting for private equity secondaries? This PDF is a 25-page guide to private equity secondaries written by a former Blackstone Strategic Partners Associate who spent 4 years executing GP-led continuation funds and co-investments. Covers everything you need to land a secondaries role: what secondaries are and why the market exists, a deep dive into LP-led vs. GP-led transactions with walkthrough examples, the J-curve and how secondaries mitigate it, a ranked table of the top 25 secondaries firms by AUM, which major PE firms are launching secondaries practices (and why), 2024–2025 market data and trends ($226B+ in volume, the rise of single-asset CVs, credit and VC secondaries), 15+ technical interview questions with detailed answers, 10 behavioral questions with full sample answers, and a 'Why Secondaries' framework you can adapt to any firm. Updated March 2026.

Ask Me Anything: Behind the screening curtain at MBB

Step behind the screening curtain of MBB with Alison L., a seasoned expert in strategic talent acquisition. With 15 years of experience between MBB, Alison has scaled and led global talent teams at McKinsey and Bain and served as a knowledge expert in BCG's global health care practice. These experiences have provided her some unique insights into their cultures and what they seek in candidates. Whether you're exploring a career in management consulting or preparing for interviews, this AMA session is your chance to gain insider knowledge and guidance.

How To Step From Participation to Leadership in your Extracurriculars

A step by step framework for turning extracurricular involvement into leadership and impact.

The Non‑Traditional Applicant’s Storytelling Workbook

How to build an authentic, coherent MBA narrative (without obsessing over stats). Non‑traditional candidate stories can be coherent, but often candidates just don’t know how to translate them for what Adcom wants to hear. This guide helps you translate your niche experience into MBA language.

How to Get Started on Your PhD Application

Starting a PhD application can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to begin or how to position yourself for research-driven programs. This session breaks down the first steps that matter most, including identifying research interests, finding the right advisors, planning your timeline, and preparing key materials like statements of purpose and recommendations. You’ll learn how to build early momentum, avoid common missteps, and set yourself up for a strong application cycle.

How to Build a Successful Law School Application

A successful law school application takes more than strong numbers—it requires strategy, storytelling, and smart planning. This session is designed to help you understand how to build a complete, compelling law school application. In this event, you’ll learn how to strengthen each component of your application, from academics and test scores to personal statements and recommendations. We’ll also cover common mistakes to avoid and how to position yourself effectively in a competitive applicant pool. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your materials, you’ll leave with clear guidance and greater confidence.

Start Write Now: MBA Essay Panel

MBA essays are where you move beyond stats and show who you are, what you want, and why a program should bet on you. In this panel, experienced coaches will break down what actually differentiates strong essays, common mistakes they see every cycle, and how to get started without overthinking. Whether you’re staring at a blank page or revising drafts, you’ll leave with practical insights to write with more clarity and direction.

Deferred MBA Planning — Preparing for a Successful Application [3/5/2026] (Recording)

Are you gearing up for the deferred MBA application process sometime in the next couple of years? Join me for a session dedicated to making sure you are well prepared when application season rolls around. I'm John, CEO of Leland, and I'll be your host for this session. Prior to Leland, I was admitted to HBS 2+2 and Stanford GSB deferred, and then founded Deferred MBA Consulting. In the past 8 years I have helped thousands of people with their deferred applications. Space is limited, so make sure to RSVP and secure your spot today!

Top 5 Tips for Your Law School Application [3/5/2026] (Recording)

Join Indrani as she goes over her top 5 tips to help you put your best foot forward as you apply to law school! A great law school application requires research, authenticity and hard work, and Indrani will help you strategize. She will go over the importance of the LSAT, putting together a thoughtful school list, who should submit letters of recommendation, how to go about writing your essays and the optimal timeline for getting it all done! The session will end with ample time for questions and answers.

The Interview Narrative Toolkit

Interviews aren't a memory test. They're a communication test. The Interview Narrative Toolkit gives you a repeatable method for answering behavioral questions in a way that's specific, credible, and actually interesting to listen to. It's built around the CARL framework — not because frameworks are magic, but because most people ramble without one. What's inside: You'll learn how to isolate your actual contribution from the team's work, which is the thing most candidates blur and most interviewers notice. You'll get a breakdown of the phrases that feel safe but quietly tank your signal — the "we wore many hats" answers, the "great learning experience" deflections — and what to say instead interview-narra...it (1).pdf . And you'll walk away with a method you can apply to any story, not just the ones you prepped. The goal isn't a perfect answer. It's a demo-able one. Concrete. Under two minutes. Yours. One story rewritten using this method is enough to see the difference. Most people find they've been underselling themselves for years — not because their work wasn't good, but because they never learned how to make it visible.

What Really Happens After You Submit: How MBA Applications Are Read, Sorted, and Remembered

What actually happens once you hit submit on your MBA application? In this session, Bianca Keys, CEO of Admit.me Access, pulls back the curtain on how applications are reviewed, evaluated, and discussed behind closed doors. You’ll learn how files are read, what admissions committees prioritize, how candidates are compared, and what makes certain applicants memorable. This conversation will give you a clearer understanding of how to position your materials so they stand out long after the first read.

Craft Your Narrative, Tell Your Story: Winning Personal Statement Strategies

A strong personal statement isn’t about listing achievements, it’s about telling a clear, intentional story that helps readers understand who you are, what drives you, and where you’re headed. In this session, you’ll learn how to identify the throughline in your experiences, structure your narrative for impact, and avoid common pitfalls that dilute otherwise strong applications. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining a draft, you’ll leave with practical strategies to craft a personal statement that feels authentic, focused, and memorable.

Crafting a Winning Narrative: Harvard and Stanford Graduate Break Down Elite College Admissions

Elite college admissions are driven by how clearly and authentically you tell your story, not just by grades and test scores. In this session, graduates of Harvard and Stanford will explain how top schools evaluate applications and what makes a narrative resonate with admissions committees. You’ll learn how to connect your experiences, values, and goals into a cohesive story across essays, activities, and recommendations, while avoiding common pitfalls that weaken otherwise strong profiles.

Breaking Into Growth Equity: How Funds Think, Hire, and Invest

Growth equity is where high-growth companies scale—and breaking in starts with understanding how funds operate. This session offers an inside look at how growth equity firms think, hire, and invest. You’ll learn how funds evaluate opportunities, what they look for in candidates, and how recruiting differs from PE or VC. Whether you’re exploring the space or preparing to recruit, you’ll leave with clear insight and momentum to pursue growth equity with confidence.

The Elements of a Successful Case

What separates an average case from a memorable one? This session focuses on the specific elements interviewers look for when evaluating consulting cases—and how to consistently demonstrate them. You’ll break down how to drive the case forward, ask sharper questions, synthesize insights, and communicate recommendations with confidence. We’ll also highlight where candidates often lose points and how to course-correct in real time. Whether you’re building case fundamentals or aiming to refine your performance, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how strong cases are actually judged—and how to deliver one.