The 2026 Recommender Prep Packet
This is your all-in-one recommender prep packet. This process shouldn't be as complicated as it is, and this doc is meant to simplify things dramatically for you. Inside you'll find:
This is your all-in-one recommender prep packet. This process shouldn't be as complicated as it is, and this doc is meant to simplify things dramatically for you. Inside you'll find: 1. An outreach templates for beginning the dialogue with your MBA recommender 2. The most important context for recommenders when writing your letters 3. An overview on how the process works for submitting your letter, including timelines & process 4. Specific school-by-school questions your recommenders will need to answer 5. An example architecture to answer the main questions in the MBA recommendation letter (Stanford GSB serves as an example guide) Reach out if you need some guidance on the recommender process, but this is the #1 resource I wish I had when I was applying. Knowing who to select, how to broach those conversations, and how to prepare them the right way so you end up with top-quality letters.
What's included
Meet your expert
Ben L.
4x Top MBA Coach | 400+ M7 Admits | xSpeechwriter | GSB '21
• Stanford GSB Alum, Class of 2021 -- see relevant background & experience below: • Coaching | Advised 400+ admits into Stanford GSB, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, INSEAD, Haas, and more (230+ Leland reviews), while teaching multiple courses through Leland • What I'm Doing Now | Based in NYC, building a publication 'Staying Human', working on a stealth, marketplace startup, coaching and playing chess profssionally, and advising a slate of Seed to Series C startups through Elevate LLC • Public Policy | Prior to Stanford, worked on the Policy Team for the Chicago Mayor's Office under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, focusing on 5G infrastructure policy, criminal justice policy, and citywide corporate/economic development deals • McKinsey | Before policy, worked at McKinsey & Co , with casework focused on job training for the formerly incarcerated and workforce development for at-risk youth • PE / VC / Startup Advising | After Stanford, worked in Bain's Private Equity Group on various due diliegences, managed deals with several venture capital firms, and advised multiple startups on growth and go-to-market strategy • Professional Writing | Speechwriting in public policy & political environments, Lead Editor for Nondisclosure (Stanford GSB's magazine) and Managing Editor for the Stanford International Policy Review • Additional Writing | Crafting op-eds, ghostwriting for major publications, developing a fictional short story collection, policy deep dives, a book on chess applications to life, and application essays of all sorts • GMAT / Test-Taking | Scored in the highest percentile of GMAT test-takers, but more importantly I've honed my ability to help others extrapolate top test-testing strategies in the areas they're weakest • Additional Coaching Details | 5+ years experience working with >750 individuals on essay writing and resume professionalization for top consulting firms, MBA programs, execs, and the broader job market • Interview Training | I was interview-trained with McKinsey, helping me give high-quality mock interviews for MBBs and any MBA program; I've also held 10+ events through Leland on interview prep for McKinsey's PEI and GSB's interview process in particular
