One-Year Admissions Experts

I’m a Wharton MBA, former Wharton Admissions Fellow, and Founder of The Ivy Journey (theivyjourney.com/mba), where I’ve spent 15+ years helping ambitious applicants earn admission to top MBA programs. My clients have earned admits to HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Columbia, Kellogg, Booth, Haas, Yale SOM, LBS, INSEAD, and other top US, UK & EU programs. I’m especially strong at helping applicants turn complex, nonlinear, or highly competitive backgrounds into clear, differentiated MBA stories. I’ve worked with candidates from consulting, banking/finance, tech, product, healthcare, entrepreneurship, family business, nonprofit, government, and international backgrounds, including many applicants navigating U.S. MBA admissions from Asian, European, and other global markets. My edge is the combination of admissions judgment and career strategy. As a former Wharton admissions fellow, I understand how admissions readers evaluate leadership, career logic, school fit, recommendations, interviews, and personal differentiation. As a career coach and former consultant/hiring manager, I also help clients build MBA narratives that make sense beyond admission: why this degree, why now, why this school, and why your goals are credible. I work best with applicants who want thoughtful, strategic, high-touch coaching. I’ll help you pressure-test your school list, sharpen your positioning, build a compelling resume, craft authentic essays that tell your unique story, prepare recommenders, and walk into interviews with clarity and confidence.

Welcome to my profile! As a Wharton MBA graduate and Palmer Scholar, I bring a wealth of experience from top-tier firms like Goldman Sachs and Boston Consulting Group. My background in investment banking and consulting has equipped me with deep insights into strategic growth and market expansion, which I leverage to help aspiring MBA candidates craft standout applications. I have successfully coached numerous clients, guiding them through the intricacies of application strategy, essay writing, and interview preparation. Whether you're aiming for a top business school or need strategic advice on your application, I'm here to help you succeed. Let's connect and make your MBA dreams a reality!

Standing out in competitive business school applications is all about how you tell your story. As a former strategic communications consultant at the Brunswick Group, an experienced Yale alumni admissions interviewer, and a successful pivoter, I can help you craft a narrative that resonates with admissions committees while staying true to who you are. I was admitted to 6 MBA programs with over $700K in total merit-based scholarships offered, so I've navigated this process myself — and I know what works. Whether it's sharpening your essays, refining your resume, or preparing you for interviews, I bring the same skills I used to media prep C-suite executives to help you approach admissions with clarity and confidence. I also believe the admissions process is bigger than admissions - it's a time to reflect on your personal and professional goals. Learning how to tell your story so far can help you write the next chapter. Here's how I can help: -Identifying target programs -Comprehensive resume review -Essay brainstorming and "story mining" -Crafting clear and compelling essays -Recommender selection advice -Elevator pitch -Mock interviews and tough Q&A

Drawing on 20 years of MBA admissions advisory experience and my work partnering with C-suite and executive leaders at corporate and private equity-backed companies to build their teams, I have a rare perspective on how elite institutions and senior decision-makers assess talent. Since 2006, I've advised 750+ clients across 45 countries, including professionals from PE/VC, tech, consulting, social impact, the arts, the military, and entrepreneurship. My work is rooted in the belief that the strongest candidates are not simply applying to business school. They are preparing for the next stage of leadership. Through Helium Coaching, I help clients articulate the experiences, judgment, values, and ambitions that distinguish them while building the clarity and confidence to pursue top-tier MBA programs and long-term executive or entrepreneurial careers.

Ranked 6th out of 500+ MBA coaches on Leland's Top Coaches 2026 list! As a professional MBA Consultant, I deep dive into who you are to craft a first-rate application for acceptance to an M7 or global top 20 MBA program. From typical applicants who need to stand out to unconventional applicants who need to fit in, we succeed together. I have helped 100% of my full-service clients gain acceptance to the top 30 MBA programs, with an impressive 95% acceptance rate to the top 20 programs (this is based on comprehensive-package clients applying to a minimum of 3 schools). This does not mean I only work with applicants with high test scores, great academic records, and exceptional resumes. I have assisted many people with below-average GMAT/GREs, subpar GPAs, and hard-to-quantify work experience to get into top MBA programs. In addition to M7 and other top American programs, I have extensive experience and success in helping applicants gain admission to all top European schools. I also welcome international applicants, and was ranked as a Top 10 Leland International Coach (no individual rankings within the top 10) having guided many to successful admissions at both American and European institutions. The key to this success lies in getting to the heart of who you are. It’s a simple sentence but not a simple process. We both need to invest time and energy to objectively explore your past, core beliefs, current position, and future aspirations. We then use this life theme to create a profile that enhances your personal and professional narratives, ensuring you effectively showcase your distinctive strengths and experiences. Many clients have remarked that after this journey of self-discovery, they feel they know themselves far better, bringing a fresh sense of enthusiasm and inspiration into their lives. I have developed with my wife and business partner, M, a highly organized, 8-phase process we call Identity Mapping that we use to guide the entire application process from deep introspection to the final applications. When you book a free intro call, I will show you exactly how it works and why our clients always rave about it and call it a game changer. BONUS: M (https://www.joinleland.com/coach/m-g/mba), is also a professional MBA admissions coach, and we regularly review each other’s clients’ applications. This means you’ll benefit from a second expert perspective at no extra cost. We may work on a case-by-case basis or cover all of the following in my all-inclusive package. • Profile optimization as described in the paragraph before the last. • Tailor your school selection, application timeline, round strategy, and more to your profile and goals, ensuring a targeted approach to your MBA journey. • Craft compelling and impactful MBA essays that truly resonate with admissions committees. From initial outlines to multiple draft revisions and a meticulous final edit, we will ensure that your story is memorable for all the right reasons. • Structure and refine various MBA application components, such as work experience descriptions, affiliations, achievements, certifications, research, publications, and awards. My systematic approach results in a cohesive and compelling application package. • Elevate your resume to meet the rigorous standards of MBA applications. Constructive critiques and expert edits will help you present your accomplishments and qualifications successfully. • Secure strong letters of recommendation that amplify your strengths and potential. I can guide you in selecting the right recommenders and obtaining compelling endorsements. • Evaluate every component of your MBA application in a meticulous final review to guarantee coherence, accuracy, and impact. This last layer of polish is crucial to submitting an application that not only meets but significantly exceeds admissions standards. • Ace your MBA interviews with confidence. Realistic school-specific mock interview sessions, tailored feedback, and personalized coaching will help you refine your presentation, responses, and overall interview strategy, guaranteeing you make a lasting impression. • Navigate the critical decisions after your MBA interviews with expert guidance. Whether you're weighing multiple offers, seeking to move up from a waitlist, or deciding on the best school for your goals, I provide strategic advice to make sure you enroll in the perfect MBA program for you. I limit my full-time clients to five per application round (this number may increase or decrease slightly depending on the round and the amount of assistance my clients need), ensuring dedicated and personalized service. My expertise lies in working with international applicants and helping them navigate the challenges of applying in a second language and to a different educational system. This ‘About Jesse’ section may seem as if it’s more about you than me, but that’s the point. You are the star; I am here to help you shine. Let's work together to create the best application possible and secure your spot in a top MBA program.

I know how overwhelming the graduate school process can feel — because I've spent years on the inside watching talented people struggle to tell their story in a way that truly lands. Having worked in admissions at Georgetown University, the University of Cincinnati, and George Washington University, I've sat across from hundreds of applicants and reviewed thousands of applications. That experience gave me a deep understanding of what committees are genuinely looking for, and more importantly, how to help you present your best self with confidence. My goal has always been to make this process feel less intimidating and more empowering for each student I meet with What drives me is seeing people get into programs they once thought were out of reach. As a current MBA student myself, I haven't forgotten what it's like to be on your side of the process — the self-doubt, the late nights, the endless second-guessing. I've helped students navigate tight deadlines, sharpen their personal statements, and build strategies that resulted in students enrolling in their dream programs. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all advice, because your story is unique and deserves to be told that way. When you work with me, you're getting someone who genuinely cares about where you're headed and will be with you every step of the way.

[Currently, we are offering special discounted pricing in celebration of my company’s 25th year and my 30+ years of work as a coach. Enjoy the discounted pricing!] For over 30 years, I have served as a coach and consultant, helping over 1100 MBA and Executive MBA applicants develop their skills, accelerate their careers, and gain admission to top business schools to bring their admirable career visions to fruition. People often ask why I price much lower than other coaches. The answer: access. I strive to ensure that a broad range of applicants can benefit from outstanding consulting, and my company's motto is "Excellence at an Affordable Price." This approach has brought amazing fruit. It has been my honor over the years to help leaders equip themselves to impact the world--from a penniless doctor who attended Harvard Business School, became a billionaire, and is now disrupting the pharma industry, to the entrepreneurs who have scaled their microfinance companies and expanded their private equity firms to support high-impact projects globally. My clients have been admitted to top business schools, which include all the best schools in the United States and Europe/Britain--Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Columbia, Kellogg, Booth, Yale, Cornell, Tuck, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Duke, Darden, NYU, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD, LBS, HEC, IESE, and the list goes on! Very importantly, I strive to help make applications "scholarship-worthy," and many of my clients have earned substantial scholarships, including full-ride scholarships to Stanford Business School, Fulbright Scholarships, Rhodes Scholarships, top EMBA scholarships, the MIT President's Scholarship, Forte Scholarships, and full-ride Consortium scholarships. My clients have come from over 83 countries on six continents—from the USA to India, China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Spain, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa, among many others. My clients have also hailed from varied entities—from multi-billion-dollar market-leading companies to unicorns, scaling entrepreneurial ventures, and pre-revenue organizations. I worked in a Harvard admissions office, in Stanford's Office of the President, as a Harvard alumni recruiter, and as Co-Leader of the Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Council. I graduated from Harvard College and Oxford University (master's and doctoral degrees). Throughout my academic journey, I earned awards for academic excellence, including the John Harvard Scholarship, and over $400,000 in other scholarships, including the Fulbright Scholarship. I leverage all this expertise to empower people to achieve their dreams. I am excellent at helping candidates with flaws in their profiles overcome their weaknesses and gain admission to schools where they otherwise may not have been accepted. If you want personalized guidance and proven strategies for submitting an outstanding application, I'm here to aid you. Please reach out to discuss how I can support you in achieving your goals.

With an MBA from the prestigious Haas School of Business and over 10 years of experience as a Senior Admissions Counselor at Stratus Admissions Counseling, I have guided 100+ applicants to success in their MBA journeys. My expertise lies in helping clients develop a personal brand strategy, identify the best programs for their goals, and navigate the entire application process, including mock interviews and waitlist strategy. As a former Alumni Admissions Interviewer at Haas and active AIGAC member, I bring insider knowledge of what top programs are looking for. Let's work together to craft a compelling application that stands out. Reach out to start your path to a top MBA program today!

Welcome to my profile! With extensive experience in MBA admissions, I have served as a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where I oversaw recruitment and admissions for early career pipelines, including the Deferred MBA Program. My role involved application review, interviewing, and making final determinations on admittance. Additionally, I have been an Admissions Ambassador at Emory University and a Student Recruiter at Baylor University, where I helped recruit hundreds of students annually. My insider knowledge from serving on admissions committees at UChicago, Emory and Baylor equips me with a unique perspective on what top business schools are looking for in applicants. Whether you need help with application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to guide you through the process. Reach out to start crafting a standout application!

I've spent the last 16+ years helping ambitious applicants get into the world's most competitive MBA programs, including Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Yale SOM, and Booth. Across 200+ MBA clients, 95% have been admitted to at least one of their top-choice programs, and over half have received scholarship money. I graduated from NYU Summa Cum Laude with a double major in Economics and English, and earned my MBA from Columbia Business School in 2020, where I focused on Strategy and Entrepreneurship. That gives me a current, first-hand perspective on what M7 adcoms are actually looking for. My career in this work started in Singapore, at a test prep and admissions firm I helped expand into Shanghai, running tutoring and admissions consulting in both markets before coming back to New York to found my own practice. That international background means I'm equally comfortable working with US candidates and applicants from Asia, Europe, and beyond, particularly the kinds of candidates who often have the strongest stories but the hardest time articulating them: finance professionals reinventing themselves, engineers making a pivot, non-traditional career switchers. My work focuses on coherence. Most applicants arrive with strong but scattered material: a real career, real accomplishments, but no through-line. My job is to help you find the narrative that ties it all together, build a school list that's strategic (not aspirational), and turn essays into the strongest part of your application instead of the most stressful. If you want a structured, results-focused partner, let's talk.