MBA Admissions

Welcome to my profile! As a Columbia Business School MBA graduate and former Senior Associate at McKinsey & Company, I bring a wealth of experience in strategic operations and business development. My diverse background, including roles at NBCUniversal and Frame.io, equips me with unique insights into the intersection of business and creativity. I have successfully coached numerous clients through the MBA admissions process, helping them craft compelling applications that stand out. Whether you need guidance on application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you achieve your MBA goals. Let's connect and start your journey to success!

I recently completed by MBA at Harvard Business School. I started my career in banking, and spent a few years prior to school at growth stage startups doing finance, strategy, and operations. During business school, I explored and worked with early stage startups, and now I work as an early stage health tech investor. Whether you need guidance on application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

Welcome! European, without a consulting or finance background, never been in the US, no Ivy League undergrad… I once thought joining Stanford GSB would be impossible. But by being strategic, resourceful, and persistent, I made it happen ! And now I want others to pursue the same path and made their dream happen ! That is why I am on Leland ! For over 12 years, I built a career in telecom across France, Spain, South Korea and Poland, leading large teams and managing multi-hundred-million-dollar businesses. On paper, I didn’t fit the “classic” MBA mold. Yet through careful storytelling, clear positioning, and a deep understanding of what schools truly value, I turned what seemed like weaknesses into my greatest strengths. My journey showed me that admissions success is about owning your story, showing your potential, and finding the right strategy to shine. Along the way, I’ve coached dozens of applicants, especially international students, helping them break through their doubts and land at the GSB. I know how transformative the right mentorship can be, because I’ve lived it. Now, I’m here to pay it forward. If you’re ready to pursue your dream, I’d be glad to guide you step by step.

Joe has worked in admissions consulting for 18 years, with over 80% of his clients getting admitted to M7 and top 20 programs including HBS, Kellogg, Stanford, Fuqua, and Yale SOM (to name but a few). Just since 2022, Joe’s clients have received over $6 million in scholarship offers. He has worked with clients around the globe in industries ranging from the standard (consulting, marketing, accounting, nonprofit, etc.) to the nonstandard (tourism, video games, television, and academia). He has also worked with clients applying to MBA programs in Canada and Europe. As a second-year student at SOM, he was an admissions interviewer and student ambassador.

With a rich academic background from Harvard Business School and a PhD in Innovation from the University of Hong Kong, I bring a unique blend of academic excellence and practical experience to MBA coaching. As a former MBA Career Advisor at HBS and a researcher at HBS's Asia-Pacific Research Center, where I co-authored case studies with HBS faculty, I have a deep understanding of the MBA journey and what it takes to succeed. My professional experience spans leadership roles in venture capital and investment banking, where I have honed my skills in strategic analysis and innovation. I am passionate about helping aspiring MBA candidates craft compelling applications and navigate the admissions process with confidence. Let's work together to unlock your potential and achieve your MBA dreams!

I'm a Harvard Business School MBA with a Northwestern undergrad degree in journalism. In my 10 years of MBA admissions work, I've coached clients who have been accepted at all M7 schools and they have earned more than $2 million in merit scholarships. I absolutely love helping applicants uncover their unique differentiators, which we all have but often people don't know how to identify them. I've worked with hundreds of applicants on every aspect of MBA applications from school selection to essays to interviews. My experience in journalism and public relations before my MBA and human capital consulting after HBS allows me to help my clients craft the most compelling and clear narratives for business school. I can also relate firsthand to those who have a more untraditional background (public relations certainly was not a popular entry point to HBS when I applied!) although I've worked with many clients from all industries, functions and geographies. I would love to meet you and be your guide on the path to your dream MBA program.

I'm Ryan, a former musician turned consultant turned Duke Fuqua MBA, now working in F200 corporate strategy. My journey to business school was driven by a mission to leave communities better than I found them—through work in climate/sustainability, impact investing, and international development. As the first in my family and network to pursue an MBA, I had to navigate the application process largely on my own. Now, I help others avoid the guesswork. Since graduating, I've worked with a dozen prospective students on every stage of the MBA journey—crafting applications, preparing for interviews, and choosing between top programs like Duke, Columbia, MIT, Cornell, and UVA. My insights have even been featured by Fuqua in their student blog: Read more here (https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/duke-mba/2024/03/21/ryan-vanslyke/knowing-fuqua-was-the-right-fit-for-my-mba). If you're looking for guidance from someone who's been in your shoes, let’s connect—I’d love to help you get into the school of your dreams!

-Coached 200+ paid clients (at professional, market rates) through the MBA admissions process -Have placed multiple clients at each of the Top 25 US schools (~75% M7; ~95% M7 + S7; ~99% Top 25), as well as European schools (INSEAD, LBS, IESE, Oxford, Cambridge) -Accepted as member of AIGAC (Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultations) - an international organization that monitors ethics in admissions consulting and collaborates with Admissions Directors to discuss ideas and trends -Attend annual AIGAC Conference to network, learn about schools, and discuss admissions trends. Attended by AdCom Directors at most top US / European Schools as well as the CEO and / or head consultant(s) at many of the large, well-known firms -Worked at mbaMission for five years -Experience consulting to a range of candidates both from traditional feeder fields (e.g. Investment Banking, Consulting) to non-traditional fields (e.g. fitness coach, independent film director) -Strong business acumen with strategy experience at multiple Fortune 500 companies -Strong informal network of the top solo MBA consultants globally

My educational experience includes a Harvard BA, Wharton MBA, Penn MSEd, and Oxford MPP. I've been coaching college applicants on-and-off for the past decade. Beyond my own successful experience applying to MBA programs, I conducted admissions interviews for the Wharton MBA program, evaluating 60+ Wharton applicants as an employee of the admissions office. I'm experienced in supporting applicants through every stage of the MBA application process -- from school selection to application to interview to waitlist strategies.

Welcome to my profile! As an experienced admissions professional with deep expertise in MBA and graduate program admissions, I specialize in guiding applicants through the rigorous MBA application journey. I hold a J.D./LL.M. from Duke University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and my admissions experience includes serving as Assistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions for the Chicago Booth Executive MBA program, Senior Admissions Counselor at AddedEducation, and Strategy Consultant at Crimson Education. I've successfully supported numerous professionals and aspiring leaders in crafting compelling MBA applications, leveraging my insight into admissions committee perspectives, strategic storytelling skills, and deep understanding of what top business schools seek in candidates. Whether you're targeting full-time, executive, or part-time MBA programs, I'm committed to helping you highlight your unique professional experiences, leadership potential, and career aspirations in a way that authentically resonates with admissions committees.