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Introduction to Capital Markets & Trading
Interested in a career in capital markets and trading but not sure where to start? This session will walk you through the fundamentals of the industry, what different roles entail, and the skills firms look for in strong candidates. You’ll learn how to stand out in recruiting, prepare for interviews, and position yourself for success in a highly competitive field. The session will be led by Mariana A., a Leland coach with extensive experience in sales & trading, who will share insider insights to help you understand the landscape and take actionable steps toward landing a role in capital markets.
Behavioral Interviews: Failure Story Example
An example of a story about failure for behavioral interviews.
Defining a Good Mindset & Perspective
Learn how to cultivate a strong, positive mindset and perspective to tackle challenges and achieve your goals in both your career and personal life.
Landing FAANG PM Roles in 2025: Lessons from My Own Journey
Breaking into product management at FAANG companies is one of the most competitive career moves out there—and the path isn’t always straightforward. In this session, you’ll hear directly from expert coach Jay L., who will share candid lessons from their own journey—what worked, what didn’t, and how they positioned themselves to stand out in a crowded applicant pool. Whether you’re just starting to explore product management or actively preparing for FAANG interviews, this session will give you a realistic look at the process and concrete steps to set yourself up for success in 2025 and beyond.
The Informative Essay
An in-depth guide to writing an informative essay, with strategies for providing essential context, highlighting unique experiences, and showcasing your authentic self to admissions committees.
Inside the Admissions Process: Featuring Directors from Yale, NYU, and Duke
What really happens behind the scenes when you hit “submit” on your MBA application? In Part 1 of this session, admissions directors from Yale SOM, NYU Stern, and Duke Fuqua will pull back the curtain on how applications are evaluated, what committees prioritize, and the signals that separate strong applicants from the rest. Panelists include Bruce DelMonico (Assistant Dean for Admissions @ Yale), Matthew Moll (Director of MBA Admissions @ Stern), and Allison Jamison (Assistant Dean of Admissions @ Duke). You’ll hear directly from decision-makers about how they assess essays, recommendations, test scores, and interviews—plus the common mistakes they see every year. Whether you’re finalizing your application or just getting started, this panel will give you rare, insider insight into the admissions process at top programs and practical strategies to improve your chances of success.
Building AI Products by Bridging Product and Tech Gaps
Building AI products isn’t just about clever models. It’s about running smarter experiments. In this lightning talk, coach Avinash M. (Ex-Amazon PM leader , Ex-RBC AI PM Leader) shares hard-earned lessons from the product experimentation lifecycle. From structuring experiments to choosing the right metrics, they’ll show how cross-functional teams can avoid common traps and drive real outcomes. Apply proven frameworks to design experiments that produce measurable results Spot and fix experimentation pitfalls using proven frameworks while leveraging prototypes of dashboards to effectively communicate metrics for visualization Balance deep analysis with bias for action, knowing when to dig in or move fast Whether you’re working on AI products or not, mastering experimentation is the path to building market-leading products. This session gives you the playbook to align product and engineering and deliver outcomes that matter.
Introduction to MBA Narrative Brainstorming
Learn to uncover and articulate your personal and professional story—clarifying what drives you, what you’ve done, and where you want to go—to form the foundation for your MBA applications.
Inside the Admissions Process: Featuring Directors from Booth, Ross, and SMU
What really happens behind the scenes when you hit “submit” on your MBA application? In Part 2 this session, admissions directors from Chicago Booth, SMU Cox, and Michigan Ross will pull back the curtain on how applications are evaluated, what committees prioritize, and the signals that separate strong applicants from the rest. Panelists include Nicole Chen (Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions @ Booth), Lindsay DiAngelo (Associate Director of MBA Admissions @ Ross), and Shelly Heinrich (Assistant Dean of Admissions @ SMU). You’ll hear directly from decision-makers about how they assess essays, recommendations, test scores, and interviews—plus the common mistakes they see every year. Whether you’re finalizing your application or just getting started, this panel will give you rare, insider insight into the admissions process at top programs and practical strategies to improve your chances of success.
Graduate Admissions Committee Structure & Roles
Stop guessing how your application is reviewed. Understand the structure, hierarchy, and roles of the graduate admissions committee to strategically frame your candidacy.
Soft Skills as Designers
Master the essential soft skills—from communication to collaboration—that will help you become a more effective designer and a stronger team player.
Transitioning from a Manager to a Leader — Strategies to Help You Inspire, Lead, and Support People From All Backgrounds
Making the leap from manager to leader is one of the most pivotal—and challenging—career transitions you can make. It requires shifting from overseeing tasks to inspiring, empowering, and supporting people from all backgrounds. In this event, coaches Debonné N., Dana L., and Caroline K. will share actionable strategies to help you strengthen your presence, build trust, and lead with empathy and accountability. Whether you’re stepping into a leadership role for the first time or refining your approach, you’ll walk away with practical insights to motivate diverse teams and avoid the common pitfalls new leaders face.
Anatomy of an Investment Pitch
Crafting a compelling investment pitch is one of the most important skills for breaking into hedge funds and succeeding once you’re there. In this session, we’ll break down the structure of a strong pitch—how to identify the right idea, frame the thesis, assess business value drivers, and anticipate investor questions. You’ll leave with a clearer framework for building your own pitches and standing out in interviews. This session will be led by Diyang Y., a Leland coach with years of experience in hedge funds and banking, where he has evaluated investments across industries and geographies. He’ll share insights from the buy-side, common mistakes candidates make, and what interviewers really look for when you present a stock idea.
What Not to Include in the Additional Info Essay
Avoid the most common mistakes on the "additional information" essay, including using it as a third personal statement, making excuses for poor grades, or simply repeating information found elsewhere in your application.
How to Ace the Wharton TBD (From an Ex-Admissions Fellow)
The Wharton Team-Based Discussion (TBD) is unlike any other MBA interview—a fast-paced, collaborative exercise designed to test how you think, communicate, and lead in a group setting. In this session, Brian B., a Wharton MBA graduate (with honors) and former Admissions Fellow who helped run Wharton’s TBDs, will share insider insight into what the admissions team is really looking for. Having coached dozens of MBA candidates, Brian will walk you through how to prepare effectively, contribute with confidence, and stand out as both a strong teammate and leader.
MBA Interviews Series: Stanford GSB
Jumpstart your Stanford GSB MBA interview prep with up-to-date insights and stage-specific strategies. As application deadlines approach, join expert coach and GSB Grad Claire R. who will help you understand what’s expected, how to prepare, and how to stand out. You’ll learn about the format of the GSB interview (alumni-led, behavioral, highly structured), the key evaluation criteria, and how to craft strong stories using frameworks while balancing polish and authenticity. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear action plan for your interviews—what to practice, how to outline your answers, and how to present your best self when your invitation arrives.
Introduction: The Three Whys
Overview of "Why Me," "Why the Role," and "Why the Company" for behavioral interview questions.
Breaking Into Private Equity Panel
Curious about what it takes to succeed in private equity? Join this session for an insightful panel where we’ll break down what the job really entails and how to position yourself for success. Our expert coaches Kenny J., Landon F., and Sereena T. will answer your burning questions and share key tips and strategies to help you break into PE and thrive. Whether you're an investment banker, consultant, or looking to break into private equity from another background, this session will provide a candid look at the day-to-day life of a PE Associate —and what sets successful Associates apart.
Strategies for Crushing the New HBS Essays
The Harvard Business School essays have changed—and so has the strategy you’ll need to stand out. In this workshop, Leland coach Andy P. will walk you through proven approaches for tackling the new prompts with clarity and impact. You’ll learn how to identify the stories that best showcase your leadership, values, and potential, while avoiding common pitfalls that weaken otherwise strong applications. Andy will also share practical tips for structuring your essays, weaving a cohesive narrative across your application, and highlighting the qualities HBS is really looking for. Whether you’re just getting started or refining a draft, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to make your essays rise to the top.
Develop Your Plan of Attack: Breaking 705 on the GMAT
Develop Your GMAT Plan of Attack: How to Break 705 with Precision, Stamina, and Strategy Crushing the GMAT isn’t about memorizing facts—it’s about sharpening logic, mastering time pressure, and building test-day readiness. In this session, we’ll walk through how to practice effectively, which prep resources to trust, how to simulate the real exam environment, and how to craft a weekly study plan that builds stamina and precision. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap to cross the 705 threshold with confidence.
