HBS Mock Interview Package
The HBS interview is unique -- it's a 30-minute, ad-com-led investigation into your experiences to date and motivations for the future. I'll push you through live simulations and prepare specific questions derived from your resume and the latest in HBS's interview tactics. You'll definitely feel challenged, but the vast majority of candidates I work with often write back that: (a) the interview actually felt easier than what we practiced, (b) they were really glad we did the level of prep that we did to plug up any holes in their narrative, focus their answers, and refine how they communicate, and (c) they got the nod from Harvard. I'll take you through a best-in-class interview playbook and integrate it with your background to help you maximize your prep. This package includes The 2026 MBA Interview Guide, so you can prepare before our first mock. --- More on the guide below: The MBA Interview Guide is structured to capture the most important questions you’ll encounter, with second-order questions (where appropriate) to help you feel fully prepared come interview day. There are an infinite number of permutations that could be asked during an MBA interview (and this guide is not intended to capture every single question). When you can map your professional experiences confidently across the questions listed below, you’ll be more than prepared for any interview with any program. #1 Way to Prep with The Guide: To maximize this style of preparation, work on your answers aloud. You can do so alone, with a trained coach (or both) to workshop your answers as they’re spoken – not as you imagine they’d be spoken. Live practice and rehearsal will accelerate: (a) how quickly you identify gaps in your preparation, (b) your ability to accurately map experiences to answer the question at hand, and (c) get a feel for which of your “stories” or experiences can be flexibly applied to multiple questions or question categories. How This Document is Organized: this covers questions that: (a) set the stage, (b) “negative valance” questions – questions that lean negative / ask about a challenge, (c) “positive valence” questions – questions which refer to aspirations, leadership, and success (d) "whys" -- to understand your motivations and decision-making, such as “Why X School / Program”, “Why did you change jobs at this point in your career?” and so on. A larger question bank concludes this document for comprehensiveness, but the hope is that the way this document is organized helps you more easily develop your stories, prioritize your preparation, and develop your answers in a way that’s easy to remember on interview day
What's included
We can book hourly sessions as you see fit and work together to find time that works well for both of us prior to your interview. Note: in order to manage time and expectations, for all cancellations, I'll need 48 hours notice otherwise the session will count.
- Top-quality 1:1 mock interview simulations specifically for HBS that will stretch your preparation, and push you to be your best come interview day
- Targeted questions prepared from your resume, so your mocks are much closer to the questions your interviewer will be probing for
- Concrete feedback on not just the content of your answers, but your communication -- the "how" you interview, not just "what" you say
- Advice on how to stay focused, calm your nerves, and show up your best day-of
- Encouragement on where you're naturally strong in your interviews, and how to answer even the most unsettling questions directly, and with measured confidence
Meet your expert
Ben L.
• 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 (see ~100 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