Leland+ Content Library

GSB Admit & LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur - What Matters Most Example

Read a powerful Stanford GSB essay example focusing on an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur's journey and commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces.

MBB & More - A Behavioral Interview Guide

Master the unique behavioral interview style of top consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain with proven frameworks and examples.

MIT Sloan MBA Interview: Behavioral Prep

Master the unique behavioral interview style for MIT Sloan MBA, with strategies for crafting compelling stories and answering tough questions.

Stanford GSB Essays: First-Gen Immigrant Profile

Explore a powerful Stanford GSB essay from a first-generation undocumented immigrant, highlighting resilience and a vision for social impact.

GSB Admit - Why Stanford Essay Example

Why Stanford essay from international manufacturing candidate pivoting to startups

Stanford Grad Essay - Enriching Learning Community

Detailed guide with examples on how to answer the Stanford grad application prompt "enriching the learning community"

Founder Playbooks: Growth Strategies for Early-Stage Startups

Building an early-stage startup is an exciting but daunting journey, especially when it comes to driving sustainable growth. From finding product-market fit to scaling operations and building the right team, founders face countless decisions that can make or break their trajectory. ​In this session, Renato V. (Founder and CEO of Parallel), Angela C. (Founder of Stanford’s Education Entrepreneurship Hub and Founder of instructiv) and John K. (Founder and CEO of Leland) will share proven playbooks for navigating the critical growth stages. You’ll gain practical insights on refining your go-to-market strategy, attracting customers, raising capital, and avoiding common early pitfalls so you can build a strong foundation and accelerate your path to success.

How to Land and Prep for McKinsey 2026 Interviews

Thinking about applying to McKinsey in 2026? Get a head start with this insider session featuring Angela C. and Samantha G., two experienced consultants who have successfully navigated the competitive recruiting process. They’ll walk you through what McKinsey looks for in candidates, how to strategically position yourself before applications open, and the best ways to prepare for both the personal experience and case interviews. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap, practical resources, and proven tips to maximize your chances of landing an offer.

How to Land and Prep for McKinsey 2026 Interviews Slides

Thinking about applying to McKinsey in 2026? Get a head start by checking out these slides by Samantha G. and Angela C.

Term Sheets 101 - For First Time Founders

Are you a first-time founder navigating the complex world of venture capital and fundraising? Join me for "Term Sheets 101" where we'll demystify the essentials of term sheets and equip you with the knowledge to confidently engage with investors - decoding the term sheet so you don't get burned on your first raise. By the end of the event, you'll understand valuation, dilution, liquidation preferences, and protective provisions - which are all critical terms that affect your company for years. With a background as a Stanford entrepreneurship instructor and founder of Stanford’s Education Entrepreneurship Hub, I've guided numerous entrepreneurs in securing their first term sheets and then scaling their ventures nationally >> globally. My experience spans founding, operating, investing, and ecosystem building, providing a comprehensive perspective on entrepreneurship.

What is Customer Discovery?

Learn the core principles of customer discovery, why it's the foundation of successful startups, and how it differs from market research or user testing. Understand why founders must lead discovery themselves and common myths that lead entrepreneurs astray.

How to Conduct Useful Customer Discovery Interviews

Learn the three-act interview structure (Context, Deep Dive, Future State), the golden rule of customer discovery (listen, don't pitch), and powerful JTBD questions that uncover real problems. Get specific guidance on what to ask and the five mistakes to avoid, from leading questions to interviewing only friends.

Interview Synthesis Guide: From Data to Decisions

Step-by-step synthesis guide covering the 5-step process (consolidate, identify patterns, prioritize, validate JTBD, decide what to build), pattern-finding questions to ask across interviews, priority framework matrix, common synthesis mistakes to avoid, signs you've done good synthesis, and an action plan.

Synthesizing Interview Discoveries into Useful Insights

Learn how to consolidate interview data, identify patterns (problem, solution, pain point, language, and buyer patterns), prioritize insights using frequency × urgency framework, validate your JTBD statement with real customer language, and make three critical decisions: Is this worth solving? What's the MVP? Who do we build for first?

The Jobs to Be Done Framework

Learn what Jobs to Be Done means, how to write effective JTBD statements using the three-part formula, and see real examples from companies like Notion, Airbnb, and Spotify. Understand why knowing the "job" reveals your real competition and transforms how you think about your product.

Customer Discovery Interview Guide: Questions, Structure & Best Practices

Complete interview reference guide with all key questions organized by interview stage (context, jobs to be done, future state), red flags vs. green flags to watch for, and preparation checklist. Use this before every interview to stay focused on learning truth rather than seeking validation.

GSB Admit - Recommendation Letter - Board Chair

Example Recommendation from GSB Admit, by Board Chair of the community service organization they founded