Leland+ Content Library

No one owes you a referral. Earn it

Learn the biggest networking mistakes and how to build trust with MBB consultants without seeming fake or desperate.

Don’t ask "Can you refer me?" - Ask this instead

Earn referrals naturally by building trust first. Learn what questions to ask and how to make consultants actually want to help you.

Still no referral? Here’s your final play

Learn when to make your move, how much notice to give, and how to turn a good relationship into an actual referral.

Here’s what really works in networking

Understand when location matters for referrals and when it doesn't. Learn to stay flexible and build connections across different offices.

Referrals win when resumes look the same

Learn why you need to start networking early. Discover how it helps you understand the firm and stand out when everyone's resume looks identical.

Are you worth that referral?

Understand what consultants risk when they refer you. Learn how to build relationships that make them confident in putting their name behind yours.

Why does one referral change everything?

See what happens behind the scenes after someone refers you. Learn how to communicate with your referrer to help push your application forward.

Not sure who to network with? Start here

Learn who to contact first, how to use your existing connections, and when to reach out for the best results.

Crafting Your Brand - Deck

This guide details a 6-part framework for your professional story, including your background, strengths, and vision.

The Career Accelerator: A Playbook for Your Job Search

This playbook is for job seekers looking to replace scattered applications with a structured, step-by-step system to find their next role. Students will learn to define their career direction, create a strategic search plan, organize their applications, and negotiate a higher salary to secure the offer they deserve.

Negotiating Confidently - Deck

This guide provides a 4-step plan and proven scripts for stating your salary target, receiving an offer, and making a counter-offer.

Walk through of AI Company Landscape with Live Examples

In this live guided walkthrough, we'll walk through Bessemer's AI market map to understand the entire landscape of how these AI companies operate together, and talk about different considerations in taking jobs in different parts of the AI stack.

Introduction to Roles in AI — How It Differs from Traditional Tech

This reading introduces you to key roles like research engineer, forward deployed engineers, and different GTM jobs at AI companies. It includes an assignment designed to teach you how to better understand these roles.

Walk through to Roles in AI — How It Differs from Traditional Tech

This guided session introduces you to key roles like research engineer, forward deployed engineers, and different GTM jobs at AI companies and how to think about them.

Understanding AI Compensation Data 2025

Provides updated, accurate AI salary ranges across roles such as AI researcher, MLE, and FDE, based on Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and recent industry reports including the NYT's superstar compensation story. Includes assignment to benchmark target roles against market pay.

Navigating AI Salary Data & Market Trends

Walkthrough of key salary datasets and trends, explaining what drives compensation differences and how candidates can evaluate offers and align career goals with compensation realities.

Forward-Deployed Engineers & AI Services-Led Growth

Explores the FDE role in detail: client-facing integration, technical implementation, rapid prototyping, and serving as a bridge between engineering and GTM, supported by insights from a16z and industry examples. Assignment encourages role research and personal reflection.

Inside the Forward-Deployed Engineer Role

Interactive session dissecting the FDE role with real-world examples, skill mapping, and discussion on how FDEs accelerate AI adoption in enterprise environments.

Brainstorming & Idea Generation (using Canva AI)

Learn how AI supports creative thinking and collaborative ideation sessions.

From Ideas to Action

Learn how to turn identified AI opportunities into a defined pilot plan and actionable next steps.