Harvard GSD MRE — Comprehensive Application Coaching

Benjamin P.

Harvard, MIT, Wharton, Stanford Alum | Strategy, Essays, Selection

My path to Harvard, MIT, Wharton/Lauder, and Stanford wasn’t linear—and it certainly wasn’t perfect. A native Texan, I arrived at Harvard planning to play football—until a serious knee injury ended that path almost immediately. Overnight, the identity I had built for years disappeared, and I had to reinvent myself—academically, professionally, and personally. What changed my trajectory wasn’t raw intelligence. It was learning how to think critically, research rigorously, and communicate ideas in ways that command attention. I learned how to compete in rooms filled with extraordinary people—not by trying to be the smartest, but by being clear, disciplined, and intentional. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve built and led companies across private equity, venture capital, family offices, and digital health. I’ve raised and deployed capital, executed cross-border acquisitions across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and served as both a C-suite executive and board member. I’ve lived and worked in Brazil, Mexico, Israel, France, and the UK, and now call Oregon home. I understand what it means to navigate elite institutions, global markets, and high-stakes environments—and to do so without following a conventional script.