Leland+ Content Library

GSB Admit & LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur - What Matters Most Example

Read a powerful Stanford GSB essay example focusing on an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur's journey and commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces.

MBB & More - A Behavioral Interview Guide

Master the unique behavioral interview style of top consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain with proven frameworks and examples.

Stanford GSB Essays: First-Gen Immigrant Profile

Explore a powerful Stanford GSB essay from a first-generation undocumented immigrant, highlighting resilience and a vision for social impact.

MIT Sloan MBA Interview: Behavioral Prep

Master the unique behavioral interview style for MIT Sloan MBA, with strategies for crafting compelling stories and answering tough questions.

GSB Admit - Why Stanford Essay Example

Why Stanford essay from international manufacturing candidate pivoting to startups

Stanford Grad Essay - Enriching Learning Community

Detailed guide with examples on how to answer the Stanford grad application prompt "enriching the learning community"

Your AI Resume Framework - 5 Tools to Stand out in an AI World

This guide walks you through 5 AI-powered tools designed for professionals who feel like their experience is strong but their resume isn't landing. If you've used AI to polish your resume and still aren't hearing back, this is for you. Each tool combines a thinking exercise you complete first with a precision AI prompt that executes on that thinking -- covering how to read a job description like a hiring manager, find where you disappeared from your own document, recover the specific details that make you irreplaceable, make your career trajectory feel intentional, and protect your voice after every AI pass.

Founder Playbooks: Growth Strategies for Early-Stage Startups

Building an early-stage startup is an exciting but daunting journey, especially when it comes to driving sustainable growth. From finding product-market fit to scaling operations and building the right team, founders face countless decisions that can make or break their trajectory. ​In this session, Renato V. (Founder and CEO of Parallel), Angela C. (Founder of Stanford’s Education Entrepreneurship Hub and Founder of instructiv) and John K. (Founder and CEO of Leland) will share proven playbooks for navigating the critical growth stages. You’ll gain practical insights on refining your go-to-market strategy, attracting customers, raising capital, and avoiding common early pitfalls so you can build a strong foundation and accelerate your path to success.

How to Land and Prep for McKinsey 2026 Interviews Slides

Thinking about applying to McKinsey in 2026? Get a head start by checking out these slides by Samantha G. and Angela C.

How to Land and Prep for McKinsey 2026 Interviews

Thinking about applying to McKinsey in 2026? Get a head start with this insider session featuring Angela C. and Samantha G., two experienced consultants who have successfully navigated the competitive recruiting process. They’ll walk you through what McKinsey looks for in candidates, how to strategically position yourself before applications open, and the best ways to prepare for both the personal experience and case interviews. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap, practical resources, and proven tips to maximize your chances of landing an offer.

Map and Activate Your LinkedIn Network with Claude [5/13/2026] (Recording)

You have hundreds of LinkedIn connections you've never done anything with. In this hands-on session, we'll turn your exported LinkedIn data into a working professional CRM in Notion — no automation tools, code, or technical setup required. Using a Claude prompt, we'll categorize your top contacts by relationship tier, industry, and relevance, then drop everything into a pre-built Notion template so you know exactly who to reach out to, when, and what to say. You'll also get a read on what content resonates with your specific network, which feeds directly into what we build in the next session. Pre-work: Request your LinkedIn connections export at least 24 hours before the session (Settings → Data Privacy → Get a copy of your data). LinkedIn emails it within 24 hours and it only takes 2 minutes to request. Outcome for attendees: A populated Notion CRM with their top LinkedIn contacts categorized into tiers, a suggested next action for each, and a content resonance analysis showing what topics will actually land with their network. Session pre-requisites: Claude account & Notion account — free is fine 🙂

Build Your Professional Portfolio Site with Claude + Lovable: Live Demo [4/28/2026] (Recording)

Most professionals have no digital home base — just a LinkedIn profile they update when they're desperate. In this demo, we're building a real, published professional portfolio site using Claude to craft your content and Lovable to build the site. No code or design skills needed, just your story and 60 minutes. Outcome for attendees: A live, published portfolio site with a professional bio and narrative built during the session and yours to keep, customize, and grow. Session pre-requisites: Claude account & Lovable account — free is fine 🙂 You might also want to read https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-managers-arent-reading-resumes-slop-2026-3! on why skills are more important than a resume now!

AI in MBA Admissions: Opportunity, Risk, and Strategy [3/26/2026] (Recording)

AI is quickly changing how applicants research schools, refine essays, and prepare for interviews—but most candidates aren’t sure how to use it strategically without weakening their application. This session is for MBA applicants who want to understand where AI can genuinely strengthen their process and where it can quietly undermine authenticity. You’ll learn practical ways to use AI for brainstorming and feedback, how admissions readers may detect overly AI-generated materials, and how to maintain a strong personal voice while leveraging new tools. Join live to ask your questions about essays, school research, and interview prep in an AI-enabled world. The speaker is a Stanford instructor with experience in both MBA admissions and AI research, and regularly advises applicants navigating these decisions. They’ll share the kinds of frameworks and examples that typically come up in 1:1 strategy conversations with candidates.

The R2 Rejection Recovery Roadmap

You didn't get the R2 interview invite or you interviewed and got dinged. Now what? This workshop transforms your disappointment into strategic advantage. We'll reverse-engineer what went wrong, identify the exact gaps in your profile, and build your comeback plan: R3 application, reapplication timeline, or alternative pathways. You'll learn: - The 5 reasons R2 candidates get rejected (and how to diagnose which one was yours) - R3 application decision framework: When to pivot vs. when to wait - Building "new evidence" in 60 days for R3 applications - Reapplication timeline: What to fix between now and next R1 We'll discuss how I can best help: through a Ding Analysis, R3 strategic support, or something else.

Term Sheets 101 - For First Time Founders

Are you a first-time founder navigating the complex world of venture capital and fundraising? Join me for "Term Sheets 101" where we'll demystify the essentials of term sheets and equip you with the knowledge to confidently engage with investors - decoding the term sheet so you don't get burned on your first raise. By the end of the event, you'll understand valuation, dilution, liquidation preferences, and protective provisions - which are all critical terms that affect your company for years. With a background as a Stanford entrepreneurship instructor and founder of Stanford’s Education Entrepreneurship Hub, I've guided numerous entrepreneurs in securing their first term sheets and then scaling their ventures nationally >> globally. My experience spans founding, operating, investing, and ecosystem building, providing a comprehensive perspective on entrepreneurship.

What Top Deferred MBA Admits Do Differently

Top deferred MBA admits don’t just have strong resumes, they position themselves with clarity, maturity, and long-term vision that stands out in a crowded applicant pool. In this session, we’ll break down the specific behaviors, strategic choices, and storytelling techniques that differentiate successful deferred candidates, from how they articulate career goals to how they demonstrate leadership and impact early on. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what admissions committees are truly looking for and how to elevate your own candidacy.

Your Master’s Application Roadmap: What to Do Early and Why It Matters

A strong master’s application starts long before deadlines hit. This session is designed to help you understand what to do early—and why those early moves matter so much. You’ll learn how to plan your timeline, prioritize key components like testing, essays, and recommendations, and avoid last-minute mistakes that weaken applications. Whether you’re just beginning to explore programs or getting ready to apply, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap and confidence in your next steps.