Leland+ Content Library

How to Stand Out When So Many Use Claude / ChatGPT for Essays [5/27/2026] (Recording)

As AI tools become more widespread in the admissions process, differentiation matters more than ever. This session will explore how applicants can rise above increasingly polished but increasingly generic essays by developing sharper self-awareness, stronger personal narratives, and more nuanced positioning. Attendees will learn what admissions committees notice immediately in AI-assisted applications and how to ensure their story remains distinctive, memorable, and authentically their own.

MBA Self-Discovery Workbook: Unlock Your Narrative & Write Freely

This is a reflection-focused, 13-section workbook for MBA applicants to uncover and build your story before embarking on the complex, layered process of writing your essays. This resource is informed from my time in Stanford GSB's Interpersonal Dynamics (Touchy Feely), my time helping dozens of other GSB classmates find their voice as the Managing Editor for Stanford GSB's Paper (Nondisclosure), and in helping over 500 MBA applicants self-reflect in a way that feels genuine, personal and clarifying. I wrote this resource with just enough structure (but not too much), and with a practical eye towards covering the ground you'll need for your MBA apps. You'll go deep, but every question has a purpose. I also use this with everyone I work with, and it's something we'll cover at the very beginning of our process. My hope is that this resource, in addition to being a big help, feels like we're in conversation. The goal is just to get to know you a little better, one step at a time, in a way that feels natural, even enjoyable. Even if you're the only one who ever sees it, I've tried to write this in a way that I'd speak about this kind of thing with you. Because I think humans are the best way to help other humans see themselves a little deeper. And trust me, plenty of "coaches" could use more of that too ;) This workbook will cover your background, motivations, short and long-term goals, values, behavioral stories, and more. A PDF is attached here, but there's also a downloadable Word file I recommend using to make things much easier for you to fill out as you go. This took me about 20-30 hours of time to put together, and I suggest putting at least 5-10 into filling this out. Some go at it all at once, but most do it in a few sittings. Long walks are good to interperse between writing sessions, and I actually recommend you reflect and go back to this to update your answers several times throughout your MBA process. Save new versions as you go and you'll be able to see your application pixellate over this monthslong process. If you're reapplying, I'd push you to compare what you end up with here with what you submitted last time. The differences may be revealing. I hope ends up a real tool for you, and that it helps you find answers you might not have found otherwise. It also will give you a glimpse into what coaching together feels like. Don't hesitate to reach out if you feel like sharing this. Working on your writing and applications together is a natural byproduct of the kind of reflection you'll be doing here, and it's my favorite thing to help someone with. Happy writing :) -Ben

Level up your Product Fundamentals with AI [5/27/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know how to use AI tools to sharpen your product thinking, structure clearer PRDs and roadmaps, and identify where AI can accelerate your workflow without replacing the judgment that hiring managers actually evaluate. We will cover how to prompt AI effectively for competitive analysis, how to use it to stress-test feature prioritization, and where candidates consistently over-rely on it in ways that weaken their work. Attending live means you can describe your specific situation and get a direct response, hearing in real time how the coach thinks through cases like yours. This coach works with product candidates daily and will be sharing the patterns they see across the strongest applicants, which is a rare and concrete look at how this thinking actually develops in practice.

Don't Use an LSAT Wrong Answer Journal. Do This Instead. [5/27/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you'll know exactly how to identify why you're missing LSAT questions and what to do about it in your next study session. Instead of logging wrong answers in a journal that tells you what went wrong, you'll learn how to track the reasoning errors that actually repeat across question types, and how to build a correction habit that sticks. This session will also cover how to distinguish a knowledge gap from an execution error, because the fix for each is completely different. Attending live means you can describe your current study setup and get a direct response about whether your approach is working or working against you. The coach works with LSAT students at every score level and brings a clear sense of the patterns that separate candidates who plateau from those who break through.

Applying to College in 2026? Here’s What You Should Be Doing Each Month [5/27/2026] (Recording)

In this session, former admissions director, Loubna Bouamane, will walk students and parents through the real college admissions timeline from May through December — including what actually matters each month if you're aiming for competitive U.S. universities. We’ll cover: How to build a balanced college list strategically When students should start essays (and why waiting until September is risky) How extracurriculars and summer activities should be positioned What admissions officers notice early in the review process Common mistakes students make over the summer Testing timelines, recommendation strategy, and application planning How to avoid creating an application that feels overly polished or AI-generated This session is especially helpful for: Rising seniors applying in Fall 2026 International students navigating the U.S. admissions process Families targeting selective colleges and universities Students feeling overwhelmed or behind

GMAT Quant Short-Cuts Used by Top-Scorers [5/26/2026] (Recording)

In this session, you will learn how top GMAT scorers approach quantitative problems faster and more accurately by recognizing pattern types before choosing a method. The focus will be on number properties shortcuts that eliminate answer choices early, strategic back-solving for algebra-heavy problems, and how to identify when estimation beats exact calculation on data sufficiency questions. The coach works with GMAT candidates regularly and will be sharing the reasoning process they actually teach, the kind of situational thinking that is hard to absorb from a recording alone.

Where AI Improves Sales Performance - And Where It Doesn’t [5/26/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know exactly where AI tools accelerate sales performance and where they tend to create a false sense of productivity. Specifically, you will walk away with a clear framework for evaluating AI in your pipeline, an honest look at which sales tasks AI handles well versus where human judgment still wins, and practical guidance on integrating AI into outreach without losing the personal signals that actually close deals. Attending live means you can bring your specific workflow or stack and hear a direct response to your situation, not a generic answer recorded months ago. The coach works inside sales organizations daily and will share the patterns and failure modes they observe firsthand, giving you a slice of how a practitioner actually thinks through these decisions.

Break Into Tech: Networking & Coffee Chat Playbook

Breaking into tech or product management isn’t just about your résumé — it’s about getting in front of the right people before the job ever hits LinkedIn and having the insight to convert interviews into offers. After coaching 100+ candidates into roles at Google, Meta, Adobe, and other top companies, I can tell you the biggest lever you control is simple: effective coffee chats. Most candidates send the same cold emails and LinkedIn messages that get ignored. In this session, we’ll walk through how to actually stand out when people are busy, how to pick the right targets, and how to turn a single conversation into a warm path toward interviews at companies you want. You’ll learn: • How to identify the right people to reach out to (and who not to waste time on) • What to say in your first message so it gets opened and answered • How to run a coffee chat that leaves a memorable impression • How to uncover roles before they’re posted • How to build a networking system that compounds over time If you’re an MBA student or career switcher aiming for tech or PM roles, this session will give you the exact playbook that’s helped dozens of candidates break in.

MBA Scorecard: Rank Every Program to Find Your Fit

A personalized Excel scorecard for ranking every top MBA program that autopopulates based on key criteria you should evaluate in narrowing down your list to your top-choice programs. Weight only the factors that matter to you (e.g., specific career funnels, geography, cost, culture, academics), and score each program out of 100, and see your rankings update live. This includes a filled-out example as well so you can see what a final product looks like. Delete anything that isn't useful, and keep the rest so this search is custom-tailored to you.

Professional CV - two Masters and three Doctorates + work experience!

For anyone looking for a clean, simple, thorough CV template! Includes my background of multiple undergraduate degrees, two Master's degrees, and three Doctorate degrees, along with research bibliography and work experience. Translatable for those entering MBA, Masters, PhD, medical school, dental school, physician's assistant and more.

How to Get 520+ on the MCAT

Are you aiming to achieve a top score on the MCAT? Then listen to this session on how to score a 520+ on this crucial exam. As an MCAT expert who scored in the 99th percentile with a 522, and a current M.D. candidate at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, I am passionate about helping students excel. With a background in research, healthcare consulting, and as the Co-Founder and CEO of an orthopedic device startup, I bring a wealth of experience to guide you through effective test-prep strategies. Together, we'll identify your strengths and weaknesses, develop a personalized study plan, and enhance your test-taking skills to ensure your MCAT score reflects your true potential.

How to Get into a Top 10 Medical School

Are you aspiring to secure a spot in a top 10 medical school? This event is your chance to gain insider tips and strategies to make your application shine. Join me as we discuss crafting a standout application that captures the attention of admissions committees. As a current M.D. candidate at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and a Yale graduate, I bring a wealth of experience in research, healthcare consulting, and entrepreneurship. I have a passion for helping students from diverse backgrounds including non-traditional and international students. I am eager to guide you through the intricacies of the activities section and personal statement, school selection, secondary essays, and overall application strategy.

What BYU Admission Officers Actually Want to See From You [5/26/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you'll know exactly how BYU admission officers evaluate applications and where most candidates unknowingly lose ground. We'll cover how to frame your personal statement around BYU's specific values, what the activity and leadership sections actually signal to reviewers, and how to approach the honor code essay in a way that feels authentic rather than performative. Attending live means you can ask how these principles apply to your specific background, grades, or extracurricular history, and hear how the coach thinks through cases that don't fit a clean template. The coach works with BYU applicants regularly and will share the patterns that separate the candidates who get in from those who look similar on paper but don't.

HBS Post-Interview Reflection Letter | 2027 Admit Example

Attached is an example of somebody I worked with who got in last cycle and I think did a great job with their HBS interview reflection letter. My core guidance: - Right after your interview, take a few minutes and write everything down. It's going to be helpful for later so that you don't have to rely exclusively on your memory. Then take an hour or two, decompress and get writing. - Short and sweet — grateful-professional is your tone - Directly reference your convo. Nothing generic whatsoever. If it sounds impersonal, delete it. - Don't brag or flex, but do mention a highlight/detail/nuance or two you would've gotten to with 5 more minutes of time. - About two-thirds of a page is right length-wise.  - Make sure if they don't offer, that you get your interviewer's names anyway. That's important. They probably will but just in case. You'll feel silly writing a letter to someone whose name you don't know.

Guide to Negotiating MBA Scholarships

Everything is negotiable, including your MBA scholarship. This guide walks you through the full strategy for increasing your award, from leveraging competing offers to highlighting recent achievements to following up effectively, plus four plug-and-play email templates covering the most common scenarios so you can negotiate with confidence.

Sample Columbia Business School Essays

Stuck staring at the Columbia essay prompts? See exactly how admitted applicants pulled it off. This collection includes more than twenty complete essay sets covering every recent CBS question. Read across industries, geographies, and career stages to find approaches that resonate with your own story.

2026-2027 Columbia Essay Brainstorm

The complete brainstorming workbook for Columbia's 2026-2027 essays. Inside: step-by-step exercises for every prompt, from short answers to Essay 1 goals to Essay 2 collaboration stories to Essay 3 "co-create" arguments, with structured charts to help you organize your stories, research, and outlines before you start drafting.

How to choose the right Firm, Office, and Role in Consulting

Your consulting experience (and chances of getting in) are heavily influenced by the Firm, Office, and Role you choose. And nobody is talking about this. McKinsey NY is very different from McKinsey DC. A practice-affiliated consultant has a very different experience than a generalist. This course helps you understand what Firm, Office, and Role you should apply to based on your profile to have the highest chances of getting in.

Preparing for PE Case Study Interviews [5/25/2026] (Recording)

Case study interviews in private equity can feel open-ended, and many candidates struggle to know how to approach them with structure and clarity. This session is for candidates preparing for private equity interviews who want a clearer approach to tackling case studies. You’ll learn how to break down an investment prompt, evaluate risks and returns, and communicate your recommendations in a way that reflects how investors think. Join live to ask questions about specific case formats and get guidance on how to improve your approach. The speaker is a private equity expert who regularly coaches candidates through case study prep. They’ll share the patterns they see across strong performances and the kinds of feedback typically given in 1:1 interview prep sessions.

Sample MBA Interview Answers

A comprehensive library of sample MBA interview responses across every major question category: leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, self-awareness, resilience, ethics, and adaptability. Each example uses the STAR method to show you exactly how to structure compelling, quantified answers you can adapt with your own experiences.