Leland+ Content Library

HBS Example Essay: From Crisis to Leadership

Discover how to craft a powerful HBS essay by transforming personal experiences into leadership lessons.

Fuqua & Anderson Admit Resume - Tech Background

See how to build a powerful resume that showcases strong sales results, leadership in DEI, and unique personal achievements.

Example: Chicago Booth Admit Resume

See how to craft a powerful resume combining a career in private banking with unique experience as a professional soccer player.

Example Market Deep Dive: Next Gen Foods

Explore the booming Next Gen Foods market, from plant-based to cell-based meats, and uncover investment opportunities shaping the future of food.

Lauder MA Essay Example: Research Question

Explore a strong example of the Lauder MA essay, focusing on proposed research questions for the required academic thesis

Lauder MA Essay Example: Why This Program?

See a strong example of the Lauder MBA essay, discussing motivations for applying and chosen program of concentration.

Excel Shortcuts: Mini Crash Course [8/10/2026] (Recording)

In this mini crash-course, participants will be exposed to various keyboard shortcuts that will improve speed and productivity while using Excel. Additionally, advanced features and useful troubleshooting settings will also be introduced. After the live event, participants should feel more comfortable navigating Excel with little or no use of the mouse. This event is intended primarily for Windows users given the differences in keyboard shortcuts between different operating systems, but methods for Mac users to convert Windows shortcuts to Mac shortcuts will be discussed, so Mac users may still find the event useful.

Resume from HBS, GSB, & Kellogg Admit | Technology and Life Sciences Background

A polished resume from an applicant admitted to HBS, GSB, and Kellogg, demonstrating a strong track record in technology and life sciences.

McKinsey PEI Masterclass: Learnings from 80+ Clients [7/13/2026] (Recording)

Breaking into McKinsey is hard, but it’s not random. In this session, I’ll show you what top candidates do differently to get noticed, win interviews, and turn cases and PEI stories into offers. You’ll leave with a sharper strategy, a clearer prep plan, and the insider playbook I wish I had when I was applying.

Breaking into Growth Equity: The 4 Questions for Every Interview [7/29/2026] (Recording)

Growth equity interviews are more predictable than most candidates realize. If you can answer four core questions well, you’re 90% of the way to acing the interview.

Venture Recruiting Bootcamp - Landing A Role in Venture [10/12/2026] (Recording)

Are you eager to break into venture capital but unsure where to start? Venture is a notoriously opaque industry, and landing an Analyst or Associate role takes more than just a standard application. Join me, Kenny, for a tactical session on securing your first job in VC. Drawing on my background in corporate finance and strategy at Google, alongside hands-on experience at Google Ventures, CapitalG, and South Loop Ventures, I will break down the exact networking and interview blueprint to help you stand out. What We Will Cover: The VC Job Search & AI Automation: How to leverage AI to streamline your search, identify the right firms, and craft compelling resumes and cover letters that bypass the slush pile. Strategic Networking: Tactics to sidestep traditional job portals, find the right partners, and write cold emails that actually convert into coffee chats. Behavioral Prep & The Narrative: Frameworks to answer the dreaded "Why VC?" question and translate your unique background into a venture superpower. Technical Prep & Pitching: A breakdown of essential venture math, cap tables, and how to confidently pitch a startup on the spot while defending your investment thesis against pushback. Outcomes: By the end of our time together, you will have a concrete roadmap to build a proprietary network, crush your technical screens, and tackle interviews with the mindset of a seasoned investor. Spaces are limited, so be sure to RSVP and secure your spot. Let's get you on the path to success in venture capital!

Positioning Yourself Strategically in the First 90 Days [9/2/2026] (Recording)

As a high performer, you got promoted for being reliable, trustworthy, sharp, and getting things done. Once you're promoted to leadership, those same instincts can start working against you. “GTD” on its own is no longer enough. So what will it be for you at the next level? In this 30-minute session, I'll walk you through the 3-move framework I use with leaders in their first 90 days, so you're positioned to be seen as a leader, not just a reliable contributor. For leaders who are new to a role, mid-transition, or about to be. Bring your situation, we'll work it live.

How a Deferred MBA Changed My Life [9/17/2026] (Recording)

A deferred MBA can give college students and early-career professionals the opportunity to secure a future spot in business school while continuing to build their careers. This session is designed for students considering deferred MBA programs who want to understand what the process looks like and how the experience can shape their career path. You’ll hear how the speaker approached the application, made the most of the years before enrolling, and navigated the transition from college to business school. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about deferred MBA programs and hear firsthand how the experience played out beyond the application itself. The speaker will share practical lessons from their own journey, including what they would recommend to students considering the deferred route. If you’re weighing whether a deferred MBA is right for you, it’s worth joining live.

Ask Me Anything | Applying to STEM Grad Programs [9/16/2026] (Recording)

Applying to a STEM graduate program this cycle? Planning to apply to STEM graduate programs in the future? Want to learn what makes a strong application? Join me for an AMA and get actionable insights, regardless of where you are in your graduate school journey. Bring your questions about finding the right programs, strengthening your application, writing compelling statements, navigating admissions, preparing for interviews, or anything else on your mind. All questions are welcome!

Home for Ambition #28 — Weekly Live Show [10/28/2026] (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.

How to Choose the Right International Career Move [6/10/2026] (Recording)

If you're considering a move abroad, a degree in another country, or a pivot into a more international career, the hardest part is often not ambition: it's choosing well. A lot of smart professionals get stuck between several “good” options: stay where you are and keep building, go abroad for a master's, switch markets, accept a less obvious opportunity that may open bigger doors later, or wait for a clearer path. This webinar is designed to help you think through those decisions more strategically. In this session, we'll look at how to evaluate an international move in a way that goes beyond excitement, fear, or generic expat advice. We’ll cover how to weigh career upside against cost, visa realities, employability, timing, and quality of life, and how to identify which option actually fits your long-term goals. In this webinar, you'll learn: - how to evaluate whether an international move is strategically worth it - when a degree abroad makes sense and when it probably doesn’t - how to compare countries, cities, and career markets more realistically - what people often underestimate about visas, employability, and timing - how to choose between a safer path and a more ambitious one - how to make a move that is not just exciting, but coherent By the end of the session, you’ll leave with: - a clearer framework for evaluating your next international career step - better questions to ask before committing time, money, or energy - a more realistic understanding of what makes a move viable - more clarity on whether your best next step is to relocate, study, stay put, or reposition first This webinar is for professionals who are: - considering relocating for work - debating whether to pursue a master’s or MBA abroad - trying to break into a new international market - weighing multiple career paths across countries - looking for a more strategic way to plan a global career move Whether you're early in the process or already deciding between specific options, this session will help you think more clearly and move forward with a stronger strategy.

Law School Personal Statements: Making the Case for Law School [8/12/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you will know how to evaluate whether law school is the right move for your goals and how to build an application that reflects that reasoning clearly. We will cover how to frame your personal statement around a coherent narrative, how to position your academic record and LSAT alongside your story, and what admissions readers are actually looking for when they assess fit and purpose. Attending live means you can ask how this thinking applies to your specific background and hear the coach reason through cases in real time, which a recording cannot replicate. The coach works with law school applicants regularly and will share the patterns that consistently distinguish competitive applications from ones that fall flat.

How to break into Product Management [10/30/2026] (Recording)

Breaking into product management can feel like a catch-22: companies want PM experience, but you need a PM job to get it. In this live session, I’ll show you how I made the move using my own background in [your field, e.g. engineering / marketing / operations / design], and how you can do the same with the experience you already have. We’ll cover what PMs actually do day to day, how to find the PM skills hidden in your current role, and how to build a portfolio and story that hiring managers take seriously. I’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and the mistakes to avoid. There will be plenty of time for live Q&A, so bring your questions and your background. Who it’s for: Students, early-career professionals, and career switchers who are curious about PM or actively trying to land their first role. No prior PM experience needed. Livestream outcomes By the end of the session, you will: Have a clear picture of what the PM role involves and whether it fits you Know which of your current skills and experiences transfer to product management Leave with a practical, step-by-step plan for your first 90 days of the transition Know how to position your resume, LinkedIn, and personal story for PM roles Learning objectives Attendees will be able to: Explain what product managers do, and how the role differs across startups, big tech, and service companies. Identify the PM-relevant skills in their own background (prioritization, stakeholder management, data-driven decisions, customer empathy). Choose the best entry route for their situation: internal transfer, APM/associate roles, a startup, or a side project. Build proof of PM skills without the title, through case studies, small projects, and product teardowns. Prepare for the PM hiring process, including common interview types such as product sense, execution, and behavioral rounds. Avoid the common mistakes that keep first-time applicants from getting interviews.

Mastering the Self-Assessment: Insider Strategies from a Banking Industry Leader [10/2/2026] (Recording)

Your performance review shouldn't be an afterthought — it should be a strategic career document. As a senior leader in banking with years of experience sitting on both sides of the calibration table, I've seen firsthand what separates a forgettable self-assessment from one that lands an associate at the top of their class. In this expert-level session, I'll pull back the curtain on how calibration decisions are really made — and teach you how to write with the clarity, evidence, and strategic framing that gets noticed. You'll learn how to translate your accomplishments into the language leadership responds to, avoid the common pitfalls that undersell strong performers, and craft a narrative that positions you as a top contributor, not just a solid one. This isn't generic advice. It's a playbook built from real calibration rooms, real advocacy, and real results.

MBA Recommendation Letters: How to Write the Brief for a Strong LOR [10/15/2026] (Recording)

Leave this session with a clear plan for your recommenders and a ready-to-use brief template you can send them this week. Your recommendation letters are the one part of your application written by someone else, and they carry real weight with admissions committees. Most recommenders want to help but do not know what schools are looking for, which examples to use, or how their letter fits with the rest of your application. A strong brief, sometimes called a recommender packet, gives them exactly that. For Round 2, now is the time to prepare it, while your recommenders still have weeks rather than days. In this session, you will: • Learn how to choose between a senior title and someone who truly knows your work, and what to do if your manager cannot know you are applying • See what schools actually ask recommenders, including leadership competency grids and school-specific questions • Learn how to make the ask clearly and lock in a completion date • Compare weak and strong briefs side by side, and see what to include so your recommenders can write with specific examples • Prepare your recommenders for the constructive feedback question, where many otherwise strong letters fall short • Understand how to handle recommenders who ask you to write the letter yourself, and what international applicants should consider when a recommender writes in a second language Most applicants send their recommenders a resume and hope for the best. The result is often two letters that repeat the same achievements in general terms. A strong brief assigns each recommender different examples based on what they personally saw you do, so each letter adds something new to your application instead of repeating the other. I have guided 100+ applicants into every M7, across the top 20 in the U.S., and leading international programs (INSEAD, LBS, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more). Give your recommenders everything they need to write specific, credible letters. Register now to claim your spot.