Leland+ for MBA

Winning Essays from My HBS Admits [7/17/2026] (Recording)

Many applicants find a way to write at least one strong essay. But those who really maximize the essay-writing process develop clear narrative through-lines that connect the dots of their life, and articulate how they'll contributions to their target brand. Their two-dimensional writing brings out a three-dimensional personality. They have a “brand”. You know what they’re all about. This event will draw from example essays written by successful admits who I've personally coached, and helped land a spot at one or more top MBA programs. These essays were particularly strong in how they spoke to one another—how they created a holistic applicant who admissions committees could envision on campus. Their professional and judiciously placed personal experience offer evidence for why they’re the kind of person who will make a specific, meaningful difference in the world. During this session, we'll analyze these essays alongside you so you have a clear view into how you can apply what you've learned to your own writing, and put your best application forward for HBS.

5 Best Practices for Writing an Excellent MBA Essay [6/3/2026] (Recording)

Great MBA essays don’t just sound polished, they make admissions readers remember you long after they finish reading. This session is for applicants who want a clearer understanding of what separates average essays from truly compelling ones. You’ll learn five core best practices for building a strong narrative, writing with more clarity and specificity, and aligning your essays with what top MBA programs are actually looking for. Join live to ask questions about your own essays and hear practical guidance from an expert MBA coach with dual degrees from M7 programs. The speaker has worked closely with applicants on crafting standout applications and will share the patterns they see across successful essays and common mistakes. Expect actionable insights and feedback similar to what’s covered in 1:1 admissions coaching conversations.

Looking to apply to a MBA program? Join the Live Q+A! [8/12/2026] (Recording)

Choosing between MBA programs can be tough! Is the part time for you? Full time? Executive? Join this live Q+A, where I'll share more about my journey choosing the UCLA MBA Executive program, and how I landed a spot in the Class of 2025. Leave with tips, strategies and insight to make the best decision for yourself. This session is applicable to all looking to choose between MBA programs. Come join! Spots are limited.

MBA Submit & Speak Part 1: The Final Ten Days [8/27/2026] (Recording)

Ten days out from your Round 1 deadline, everything feels urgent, and much of it truly is. What you may not have is time to do it all. This session opens a new three-part series, MBA Submit & Speak. We start where you are right now, in the last stretch before Round 1 closes, and we make the decisions that are still genuinely open to you. Not another round of line edits, but the calls that change what an admissions committee receives. Across the three sessions, we move from the last days before you submit to the interviews that follow. Attend all three to go from deadline to interview with one continuous plan, or drop into the single session you need most. In this session, you will learn how to spend your final ten days: • Decide school by school which programs belong in Round 1, and which one you should move to Round 2 on purpose rather than by accident. • See why the online application form itself, the biographical, employment, education, and activities sections that feel like paperwork, is read as closely as anything you write. • Learn when an optional essay or addendum helps you, and when saying nothing is the stronger answer. • Handle a recommender who has gone quiet with days left, without damaging the relationship or the recommendation. • Rank what is worth fixing in the last seventy-two hours and give yourself permission to leave the rest alone. The hardest part of the final ten days is not effort, it is order. A dozen legitimate tasks compete for the same few evenings, and from where you are sitting they all look equally important. This session puts them in sequence, so you know what to do first, what can wait until the night before, and what to let go of entirely, and you submit an application you chose rather than one the clock chose for you. I have guided more than 100 applicants into every M7 program, across the top 20 in the U.S., and into leading international programs, including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Spend your last ten days on what actually changes the outcome. Register now to claim your spot.

Round 2 MBA Roadmap: Master Your 4-Month Strategy for Top Programs [9/19/2026] (Recording)

With Round 1 applications wrapped up, September marks the official launch of the Round 2 cycle. With January deadlines fast approaching, candidates targeting M7 and top programs have roughly 15 weeks to build a standout application. As a recent Harvard Business School graduate, I'd like to offer a tactical, step-by-step masterclass on navigating the Round 2 timeline. Drawing on my firsthand experience as an applicant, I will break down a realistic week-by-week execution plan. You will learn how to sequence test prep alongside essay drafts, brief recommenders effectively, and build compelling narratives that resonate with elite admissions committees. Leave with a concrete roadmap to carry you through to submission (without the last-minute holiday scramble) followed by a live Q&A - looking forward to meeting you!

Fix Your Essay Before It's Read and Forgotten [8/18/2026] (Recording)

Most MBA essay drafts are competent and entirely forgettable. Learn what separates a safe essay from one that gets remembered by an admissions committee reading hundreds of applications a week.

Is Your MBA Application Actually Ready for Round 1? [8/27/2026] (Recording)

Round 1 deadlines for top MBA programs land are fast approaching . If you're applying this cycle, you're weeks away from submitting, and it's easy to lose perspective on whether your application is actually strong or just feels done because you're tired of looking at it. I'm a former McKinsey consultant and HBS MBA. In this session, I'll walk through what actually separates a strong Round 1 application from one that gets rejected, focusing on the parts most applicants underestimate: story, positioning, and how your essays hold together as a coherent narrative, not just a collection of good individual answers. This isn't a test prep session. It's for people who've done the work and want a clear-eyed check before they hit submit, or who are close to done and want to know what's still missing. What we'll cover: - The difference between an application that's "finished" and one that's actually ready - How to spot a weak or disjointed narrative in your own essays - Common positioning mistakes that even strong candidates make - What admissions readers are actually looking for beyond the resume line items Come with questions. If you have a draft essay or two, even better, we'll use real examples where we can.

Last Minute Office Hours Before R1 Deadlines [9/1/2026] (Recording)

With Round 1 MBA deadlines approaching, it’s easy to wonder whether your application is truly ready or if there are still important details you should address before submitting. These office hours are designed for MBA applicants who want a final opportunity to ask questions, troubleshoot specific parts of their application, and make thoughtful last-minute decisions before the deadline. Bring questions about your essays, recommendations, school selection, application strategy, or anything else you’re still working through. Attending live means you can get direct answers to your specific questions and hear how an experienced MBA admissions coach would approach your situation in real time. Rather than covering a set topic, this session gives you the flexibility to focus on the areas where you need the most guidance before submitting. If you have questions you want answered before R1, it’s worth joining live.

How to Make a Big International Career Move Without Wrecking Your Momentum [7/11/2026] (Recording)

Most international moves are planned as logistical exercises of visas, postcodes, and shipping boxes. But for high-performing professionals, the real risk isn't the paperwork; it’s the loss of career momentum. Whether you are choosing between staying where you are, applying for a degree abroad, or making a direct leap into a new market, the stakes are high. In this session, we move beyond the "backpacking expat" advice. We will look at how to evaluate international opportunities through a strategic lens, ensuring your next move compounds your future rather than interrupting it. We’ll discuss the exact frameworks used with mid-career professionals and high-achieving students to choose between cities like Copenhagen, Vienna, or Sydney, and how to know when a degree is a bridge, and when it’s just expensive avoidance. By the end of this livestream, you will be able to: 1. Apply the 4-Part Decision Lens: Evaluate any move based on career upside, visa/work-right reality, ROI/financial runway, and emotional sustainability. 2. Audit Your Path: Determine whether a direct job search, a Master’s/MBA bridge, or a hybrid strategy is the most viable route for your specific career stage. 3. Identify Momentum Killers: Recognize the common mistakes (like over-researching or under-translating experience) that cause high-performers to stall during relocation. 4. Draft a Post-Move Narrative: Begin framing your move so it fits into a coherent professional story that international recruiters actually trust. Outcomes 1. A Clearer Go/No-Go Framework: A structured way to stop second-guessing your choice between staying or going. 2. A Bridge Audit: Clarity on whether that degree you're considering is actually necessary for your target market's visa and hiring rules. 3. The Translation Checklist: A list of what in your current background needs to be pruned or massaged to make sense to an employer in a different system.

Why MBA & Why Here: How to Answer the Most Important Interview Questions [9/10/2026] (Recording)

Nearly every MBA interview starts the same way. "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you want an MBA?" "Why this school?" Three questions every candidate knows are coming — and yet these are the answers interviewers remember most, because they reveal whether you actually know your own story. As a Ross admissions interviewer, I've heard every version of these answers. The ones that work aren't the most polished. They're the most specific, the most connected, and the clearest about what the candidate actually wants. This session breaks down how to answer each one in a way that holds up under follow-up. Tell Me About Yourself: This isn't an invitation to recite your resume. It's the first signal of whether you can communicate with clarity under pressure. -What interviewers are actually listening for in your self-introduction — and it's not a timeline of your career -How to build a two-minute answer that orients the interviewer, sets up your story, and makes them want to ask more -The most common version of this answer and why it doesn't work Why MBA: The oral version of this answer is different from the written one — and most candidates don't adjust. -Why reading your goals essay out loud is not an answer to this question -How to make your Why MBA feel like a natural conclusion rather than a rehearsed pitch -How to explain Why Now? in a compelling way -What interviewers are listening for that your essay already addressed (and what they're listening for that it didn't) Why This School: Most answers to this question sound like the school's own brochure. Here's how to not be that candidate. -What "Why This School" is really asking — it's a fit and preparation question as much as an enthusiasm question -How to build a specific answer that can't be copy-pasted to a different program -What interviewers think when they hear a generic "Why" answer and what it signals about your application overall Holding Up Under Follow-Up: The three-question opener is just the beginning. Here's how to prepare for what comes next. -How interviewers probe the answers you just gave and how to stay consistent -What it looks like when a candidate's story doesn't hold together — and how to make sure yours does -How to practice these answers so they sound natural rather than rehearsed

AMA: M7 MBA Admissions and MBB Recruiting [6/16/2026] (Recording)

Want to break into an M7 MBA program and land an offer from MBB? Join Alec Emmert, a Wharton MBA, former McKinsey consultant, and former McKinsey interviewer, for an open, judgment-free coaching session on MBA admissions, consulting recruiting, and career reinvention. Alec was admitted to Wharton at 35 with a 2.85 undergraduate GPA and later joined McKinsey after being rejected in a previous application cycle. In this session, he’ll share the lessons, strategies, and hard-earned insights that helped him overcome nontraditional odds and answer your questions directly. Bring anything you want to ask about MBA applications, M7 positioning, consulting interviews, networking, overcoming weak spots, or building a compelling story.

GMAT Jedi Math Tricks [8/18/2026] (Recording)

Struggling with GMAT math because you're used to relying on a calculator? This session is designed for GMAT test-takers who want to solve quantitative problems more quickly and confidently using mental math and strategic shortcuts. You’ll learn practical techniques for faster estimation, efficient arithmetic, and recognizing patterns that simplify complex calculations without sacrificing accuracy. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about the types of problems you find most challenging and see these strategies applied in real time. The speaker works closely with GMAT students and will share the patterns they see across high scorers, along with the mental approaches they use to solve problems efficiently under timed conditions. If you want to feel more confident tackling GMAT quant without a calculator, it’s worth joining live.

MBA Strategy Session: Pick the Right Schools, Tell the Right Story, Apply at the [8/27/2026] (Recording)

In this free 45-minute strategy session, I’ll help you understand how to approach the MBA decision before jumping into applications. We’ll cover how to choose the right MBA format, build a smart school list, assess timing, and start shaping a compelling admissions narrative. What we’ll cover: How to decide whether now is the right time for your MBA Full-time vs Executive vs one-year MBA options How to choose schools beyond rankings What admissions committees look for in strong candidates How to connect your career goals, story, and school selection Common mistakes candidates make when starting too late or applying too broadly This session is especially useful for applicants targeting European and global MBA programs such as IESE, INSEAD, LBS, HEC, Oxford, Cambridge, IE, ESADE, and top US schools. I’ll also share practical insights from my experience as an IESE MBA alumnus, admissions collaborator, professor, and MBA coach.

How to Build an MBA Application That's Actually Ready for Round 1 [8/3/2026] (Recording)

Preparing for Round 1 can feel overwhelming when you're trying to balance essays, recommendations, test scores, and school research all at once. This session is designed for MBA applicants who want to make sure every part of their application is truly ready before they hit submit. You’ll learn how to assess your application for gaps, prioritize the highest-impact improvements, and build a realistic plan for submitting a polished, competitive Round 1 application. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own application timeline and get real-time guidance on what deserves your attention before deadlines arrive. The speaker works closely with MBA applicants and will share the patterns they see across successful candidates, along with how they evaluate whether an application is genuinely ready for submission. If you want to approach Round 1 with more confidence and a clear plan, it’s worth joining live.

How to Write Standout MBA Essays [7/6/2026] (Recording)

The strongest MBA essays don’t just answer the prompt—they make admissions readers remember the person behind the application. This session is for applicants who want to write essays that stand out in a competitive admissions landscape. You’ll learn how to develop compelling stories, communicate your goals with clarity, and avoid the common pitfalls that cause otherwise strong candidates to blend into the crowd. Join live to hear from a panel of expert MBA coaches and ask questions about your own essays and application strategy. The panelists have helped applicants gain admission to top programs and will share the patterns they see across standout essays, common mistakes, and what admissions committees are truly looking for. Expect practical guidance and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 admissions coaching conversations.

Why MBA, Why Now, Why [X] Program: Answers that Define Your App [6/11/2026] (Recording)

Few questions matter more in MBA admissions than why you want an MBA, why this is the right moment, and why a particular program is the right fit. Yet many applicants answer them superficially. This session will explore how to develop thoughtful, credible, and differentiated responses to these foundational questions, and why the quality of those answers often determines the strength of the entire application. Attendees will leave with a framework for articulating a sharper and more persuasive admissions narrative.

Developing Your MBA Story [6/24/2026] (Recording)

**GIVEAWAY FOR LIVE ATTENDEES: ONE FREE YEAR OF LELAND+ ($120 value)** A strong MBA application starts with a clear story, yet many applicants struggle to connect their experiences into a narrative that feels focused and compelling. This session is for candidates who want to strengthen how they present their goals, leadership, and personal journey throughout the admissions process. You’ll learn how to identify the themes that make your background distinctive, connect your experiences into a cohesive narrative, and communicate your “why MBA” with greater clarity. Join live to hear from a panel of MBA admissions experts and ask questions about your own application story. The panelists regularly work with applicants on positioning and essay strategy and will share the patterns they see across successful candidates. Expect practical guidance and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 admissions coaching conversations.

How to Structure an MBA Application Essay: The Classical Arrangement [7/25/2026] (Recording)

As a former AP English teacher and college essay tutor now pursuing an MBA, I want to share how I used certain classical writing and rhetorical strategies to write cogent and compelling MBA application essays.

HBS Deadline Clinic: Sharpening Your Story Before You Submit [9/2/2026] (Recording)

HBS's open-ended essay format is a gift and a trap — plenty of room to say the wrong thing well. This live session is for applicants with a near-final draft who want a sharper, more distinctive final version. We'll break down how readers evaluate narrative coherence across your essay, resume, and recommendations, why "impressive" often loses to "specific," and how to catch the generic phrasing that quietly weakens strong applications. Expect a practical session aimed at adjustments that move the needle in your last few days before submission.

Drop in Q&A Rnd 1 MBA- Know your story and uniqueness. Not cookie cutter advice [7/21/2026] (Recording)

Round 1 deadlines are coming. Your essay is probably a mess. Your story probably doesn't make sense yet. That's fine — that's exactly what we're going to fix. I'm Bryan, Wharton undergrad, MIT Sloan MBA, and I've spent 12 years helping people turn complicated, non-linear careers into applications that actually get read. I've seen the cookie-cutter essays. I've seen the AI-written ones. Adcoms have too. We're not doing that. In this session we'll talk about what Round 1 actually means for your chances, how to find the thread that connects your story, what schools are really asking when they say "why MBA, why now," and how to stop writing essays that sound like everyone else's. No fluff. No templates. Just the stuff that actually moves the needle. Bring your messy draft. Bring your confused career pivot. Bring your "I don't know how to explain what I do" problem. We'll figure it out together.