Leland+ Content Library

Networking Strategy for Startups and Tech: Structured Outreach

A simple, repeatable framework for networking that actually gets you hired in startups and big tech.

Networking Strategy for Startups and Tech: Forwardable Emails

Learn how to write the perfect email that gets forwarded to key decision-makers and lands you the job at top startups and tech companies.

Why Stanford For You - Mental Health Focus

Check out a top-flight Why GSB essay from a successful 2024 MBA applicant with a vision for mental health

Offer Selection: Making Your Decision

Learn how to evaluate your consulting offers, including factors beyond compensation like firm culture, career development, and work-life balance, to make the best decision for your future.

Guide to the McKinsey Personal Experience Interview (PEI)

This guide breaks down the McKinsey Personal Experience Interview (PEI) and provides a framework for structuring your stories. Learn how to prepare for the five key leadership dimensions and ace your interview.

Darden MBA Application Guide

Learn about deadlines, essays, and other elements of the Darden MBA application.

Strategies to Upskill in Your Career

Learn why upskilling matters and how you can build a plan to learn new skills in a way that works for you.

Conducting Successful One on Ones

Learn how to conduct one-on-one meetings that drive performance and build strong relationships with your team. This is a must for any leader.

Introduction to Leadership Styles

Discover different leadership styles and learn how to adapt your approach to fit any team or situation. Find the leader in you!

How to Land a PM offer at Google

​Landing a product management role at Google is one of the toughest challenges in tech—but with the right strategy, preparation, and mindset, it’s absolutely achievable. In this workshop, Rachel T.—a former Senior Product Manager at Google who has conducted 380+ PM interviews and mentored through Google’s G-Mentors Program—will share insider insights on how to stand out throughout the hiring process. ​Drawing on her experience receiving offers from multiple FAANG companies and coaching candidates to land roles at Google, OpenAI, Meta, and Amazon, Rachel will walk you through how to craft your story, master product and behavioral interviews, and demonstrate the leadership and problem-solving skills Google values most. Whether you’re applying for your first PM role or aiming for a senior-level position, this session will give you the frameworks and confidence to succeed.

Round 2 Ready: MBA Action Plan, Timeline & Checklist for Success

Applying to business school can feel like juggling too many balls at once: endless information, countless to-dos, and constant second-guessing about what really matters. In this session, MBA admissions coach M will share the structured system she uses to help applicants cut through the noise, stay motivated, and make steady progress toward their goals. Bonus: You’ll also hear directly from Vandit, an Indian applicant currently in the middle of his own journey, who will share an international perspective and what it feels like to apply these tools in real-time. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international options like INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, and HEC Paris. Clients consistently say it’s transformative, not only does it uncover the deeper patterns, values, and defining experiences that set you apart, it also organizes your journey into manageable steps that reduce stress and build confidence. By the end of this workshop, you’ll walk away with a clear action plan, a realistic timeline/schedule, and a practical checklist to keep you organized and on track from start to finish.

GSB Admit - Why Stanford Essay Example

Why Stanford essay from international manufacturing candidate pivoting to startups

GRE Overview

This is an overview of the GRE and what to know for the exam. It includes time management strategies and a high level look at some of the sections.

Manage Your MBA Application Stress

As someone who works closely with dozens of MBA applicants every year, one of the biggest differentiators among successful candidates is their ability to manage anxiety from multiple angles. Recommender hasn't gotten back in two weeks? Not sure where to begin on essays? Have to take the GRE or GMAT again after a tough score? Read something on Reddit that made you feel you're destined for rejection? It's a lot. Tons of moving parts, some not entirely within your control. From start to finish, I've seen candidates struggle with everything from sleep to self-worth. But that doesn't have to be you. Taking on the part-time job of MBA applications doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your well-being. This is where functional research and getting a grip on our health can make a world of a difference. Partnering with Rachel—a Certified Health Coach and nutrition expert—to tackle my own health has given me a deeper understanding of how my body works, and how to make good choices. After we speak to the sources of our stress, Rachel will walk us through some key physical and behavioral signs we should be aware of, and targeted strategies to keeping you healthy during (and likely long after) your MBA apps are in. We're hoping to build this event into a long-term series, so this should be the first of many. Look forward to de-stressing with you, and hopefully having some fun too.

Cool, Calm, and Laser-Focused: Tame GMAT Test Anxiety

Join Leland coach Jennifer P. D. for a session packed with actionable tips and strategies for developing the calm, confident, laser-focused mindset that powers your best performance. ​If you've ever been frustrated at the way you lose your cool when the clock starts ticking, you're not alone! In Jennifer's 12 years of GMAT, GRE, and SAT coaching experience, she's encountered dozens of smart, utterly competent individuals who struggled to demonstrate their capabilities during these high-stakes exams. This fueled her drive to read research in neuroscience and performance psychology, to train in mindfulness meditation techniques, and to speak with candidates directly about what's playing out in their minds. Now she incorporates these concepts into all of her group classes and coaching - and it makes a difference! ​What's going on in your mind? Why is that normal? How can you shape it to work for you? Let's discuss. ​One of Jennifer's recent students wrote, "Working with Jennifer has been nothing but amazing and did wonders not only for my GMAT Focus score but also my general 'mindset' when it comes to high-pressure situations (as you experience during the exam). My GMAT Focus score jumped 110 points."

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.

What Parts of the MBA Application Are the Most Important?

MBA admissions are holistic, but some elements carry more weight than others. Learn what to focus on to stand out and get into your dream school.

The GMAT and GRE: A Comprehensive Overview

Deciding between the GMAT and GRE? This comprehensive guide breaks down each exam to help you choose the right test for you.