Leland+ Content Library

Ask Me Anything Office Hours [10/13/2026] (Recording)

Join me for an engaging "Ask Me Anything" session where we'll dive into the world of management consulting, top-tier MBA programs, and anything else that's on your mind. Whether you're preparing for interviews, refining your resume, or strategizing your search, this is your chance to get personalized advice and insights. With a Master's from Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management and extensive experience at Boston Consulting Group, I've guided numerous candidates through the consulting recruitment process. My background spans from establishing recruiting pipelines to leading organizational transformations and financial strategies. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and strategies. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot!

Essay Edit: Watch Me Transform an Underwhelming Draft [6/18/2026] (Recording)

Strong master essays are built through strategy and revision, not first drafts. In this live workshop, attendees will watch a real-time transformation of an underwhelming master essay into a far stronger and more compelling submission. Along the way, the session will unpack the strategic thinking behind each edit, illustrating how top applicants improve storytelling, structure, reflection, and differentiation throughout the drafting process.

Your Path to HBS, Stanford, and Wharton: What Actually Matters Most [10/5/2026] (Recording)

Getting into HBS, Stanford, or Wharton takes more than impressive stats and a polished resume. The most competitive applicants understand what actually matters to admissions committees and how to build a compelling story around their experiences, goals, and potential. This session is for MBA applicants targeting the world’s most selective business schools who want to focus their efforts on what can make the biggest difference. You’ll learn what these programs look for, how successful applicants differentiate themselves, and which parts of your application deserve the most attention. Join live for a panel of MBA experts who have seen the admissions process from both sides of the table, from helping students earn admission to evaluating applicants themselves. They’ll share firsthand insights into what separates successful candidates, common mistakes that hold applicants back, and how to approach your application strategically. Bring your questions and leave with a clearer understanding of what actually matters on the path to HBS, Stanford, and Wharton.

MBA Round 1: Your 5 Week Roadmap [7/30/2026] (Recording)

Are you ready to tackle your MBA Round 1 applications but feeling the pressure of the ticking clock? Join me, Melanie, for a detailed 5-week plan to craft a standout application for your dream MBA program. With my background as an MBA graduate from both Columbia Business School, MBA Admissions Interviewer, and Professional Coach, I'm here to guide you through every step of the process. In this session, we'll cover your plan to craft an excellent application in just 5 weeks before the September deadline. Whether you're aiming for a traditional full-time MBA or a specialized program like MBA-JD or MBA-MD, this event is designed to help you shine. Spaces are limited, so be sure to RSVP and secure your spot. Let's make your MBA aspirations a reality!

Top 5 Tips for Building a Compelling Law School Application [8/27/2026] (Recording)

Applying to law school can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to make every part of your application work together. This session is designed for law school applicants who want practical guidance on building a strong, cohesive application and understanding what admissions committees value most. You’ll learn five key tips for strengthening your application, from developing your personal story and choosing the right experiences to presenting your goals and qualifications effectively. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own application and get direct guidance on the areas where you may need the most support. The speaker will share practical best practices from working with law school applicants, with examples of what can make an application stronger and more compelling. If you want a clearer approach to building your law school application, it’s worth joining live.

Wharton Essay 1: Defining Your Career Narrative [8/3/2026] (Recording)

Wharton has redesigned its Career Goals essays—and many applicants are misreading what’s actually being asked. This session will help students confidently navigate the new prompts by breaking down what each question is testing, how admissions evaluates responses, and where candidates often go wrong. We’ll deconstruct the language of the new essays, translate it into plain English, and introduce a repeatable framework for identifying the right career story to tell. Students will leave with a clear set of diagnostic questions to pressure-test their goals, guidance on how to balance specificity with credibility, and tactical advice on essay mechanics—how to allocate word count, structure responses, and avoid wasted sentences. The focus is practical and actionable: how to move from a vague idea of “career goals” to a compelling, well-structured narrative that fits Wharton’s new format and signals maturity, self-awareness, and direction. Ideal for first-time applicants and reapplicants alike.

The Consultant's Playbook for Landing a Chief of Staff Role [8/4/2026] (Recording)

Most consultants have the skills to be a great Chief of Staff — they just don't know how to make the case. Structured thinking, stakeholder management, executive presence: it's all there. But the translation from consulting to CoS isn't automatic, and most people don't know where to start. After three years at Deloitte, a stint in Venture, and an MBA at Kellogg, I made the jump into startups and landed as Chief of Staff at Arch, a Series B company. I learned firsthand what the role actually demands — and where consulting training helps versus where it gets in the way. In this session, we'll break down what the CoS role really is, how to position your consulting background, and how to navigate a job search where most roles never get posted. Spaces are limited, RSVP to secure your spot.

Networking vs Community- How I got into a16z and others [7/17/2026] (Recording)

Are you looking to break into the AI industry but unsure how to to build a community? Join me, David, for an insightful session on "Networking vs Community" where we'll explore effective job search strategies and networking techniques tailored for AI careers. With experience in talent acquisition at top companies like Meta, Intuit, and Andreessen Horowitz, I have a deep understanding of what it takes to stand out in the competitive AI job market. My background in people analytics from The Wharton School and my ongoing studies in coaching further enhance my ability to guide you through this journey. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to leverage both networking and community-building to advance your AI career. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP and secure your spot today!

The Non-Traditional Applicant’s Blueprint to MBA Admissions [8/27/2026] (Recording)

If you're not a former consultant or banker, you've probably wondered: "Do I even belong in an MBA classroom?" Here's the truth nobody tells you: 55% of Harvard Business School's Class of 2027 came from outside consulting and finance. Military veterans, nonprofit leaders, engineers, educators, journalists, and career changers didn't just get in, they get in because of their unconventional backgrounds. But knowing that doesn't tell you how to do it. That's exactly what this session is for. ________________________________________ What you'll walk away with: In this session, I'll hand you the same positioning framework I used for my own application and that I now use with private clients. This framework has helped non-traditional applicants earn seats at HBS, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Tuck, Yale SOM, Stern, and many more. Specifically, we'll cover: The 5 fatal mistakes non-traditional applicants make that get them rejected, even with great GMAT scores and strong work histories. The Bridge Framework: a 5-step narrative architecture that turns your unconventional career path into your single biggest competitive advantage. What adcoms are actually saying about candidates like you right now, with direct quotes from admissions directors at Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, and Yale SOM GMAT/GRE strategy for non-quant backgrounds, including score benchmarks, waiver policies, and which schools give the most flexibility Scholarship opportunities most non-traditional applicants don't know they qualify for, from the Forté Foundation to the Consortium to Yale SOM's new Aspire Fellowships Live Q&A — bring your specific situation and get real, personalized coaching in real time ________________________________________ Who this is for: Military veterans. Nonprofit and government professionals. Engineers and STEM professionals making the pivot. Educators, creatives, journalists, and healthcare professionals. Career changers of every kind. Older applicants who've heard "you might be too experienced." First-generation college graduates. Anyone who has ever felt like the MBA process wasn't designed for them. It was. You just need the right blueprint. ________________________________________ About your host: Gabriel is a Harvard Economics graduate and Kellogg MBA where he was an F.C. Austin Scholar (Kellogg’s highest merit-based scholarship). Before attending Kellogg, he was a teacher and a nonprofit leader. He has over two decades of experience helping students navigate elite admissions processes. When he’s not coaching candidates, he leads strategic AI and Security partnerships at Microsoft. This is free. It's live. It's 45 minutes that could change the trajectory of your application. Reserve your spot now — seats are limited. Have a specific question about the college admissions process? DM me before the session - everyone who does is entered to win a free 1-hour strategy session ($375 value), announced live at the end.

Why Your AI Output Looks Right and Isn't — A Verification Checklist for Finance [10/2/2026] (Recording)

AI can produce polished financial analysis that looks convincing even when the underlying numbers, assumptions, or conclusions are wrong. This session is designed for finance professionals who want to use AI more effectively while maintaining the accuracy and judgment required in financial work. You’ll learn a practical checklist for verifying AI-generated outputs, spot common errors in calculations and assumptions, and know when an answer needs deeper review before you rely on it. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own finance workflows and see how to apply these verification practices to real examples. The speaker will walk through practical ways to check AI outputs and share best practices for using AI without losing control of the underlying analysis. If you want to use AI more confidently while knowing when to question its output, it’s worth joining live.

How to Get Into BYU: Insider Tips from Admissions Experts [8/18/2026] (Recording)

The BYU admissions process is just as unique as it's university and the coaches on this panel have guided dozens of students through the application to admission. You'll learn straight from the insiders what the admissions committee is looking for in your essays, how you should approach the activities list, what your recommenders need to know, and so much more. Be sure not to miss this opportunity to get advice and insight specific to the BYU application process.

Authorship and Originality in AI assisted Creative Work [8/14/2026] (Recording)

AI can generate content fast, but it is virtually impossible to preserve originality and authorship in AI-assisted work. People end up generating content that no one likes to read or watch. Even if it is sometimes creative enough and not generic, it is still not the author's unique original work. Prompt, context, harness, intent, loop- none of these engineering can solve this, as the work is open-ended. Creatives, or anyone interested in combining AI processing power and speed with human originality and authorship in content creation, can benefit from this lesson.

Round 1 MBA Strategy: Get Admitted & Maximize Your Scholarship Chances [9/14/2026] (Recording)

A practical session focused on Round 1 MBA applications, with the goal of maximizing both your chances of admission and scholarship funding. We’ll cover how to position your profile, build a compelling personal and career narrative, tailor your application to each school, strengthen your résumé and essays, approach recommendations, and identify the key factors that can differentiate you from other candidates. We’ll also discuss scholarship strategy, timing, and common mistakes to avoid so you can submit a strong, competitive application in Round 1.

The Common App Mistakes That Sink Strong Applicants [8/4/2026] (Recording)

Even highly qualified students can weaken their applications by making avoidable mistakes that distract from an otherwise strong profile. This session is designed for college applicants who want to understand the most common pitfalls in the Common App and how to present their experiences more effectively. You’ll learn how to avoid errors in your activities list and essays, identify weak spots before submitting, and make sure every part of your application reinforces your overall story. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own application and get real-time guidance on areas that may need attention. The speaker works closely with applicants and will share the patterns they see across successful candidates, along with the mistakes they most often see holding strong students back. If you want to submit a stronger, more polished Common App, it’s worth joining live.

Winning Essays from My Kellogg & Booth Admits [8/7/2026] (Recording)

Many applicants find a way to write at least one strong essay. But those who really maximize the essay-writing process develop clear narrative through-lines that connect the dots of their life, and articulate how they'll contributions to their target brand. Their two-dimensional writing brings out a three-dimensional personality. They have a “brand”. You know what they’re all about. This event will draw from example essays written by successful admits who I've personally coached, and helped land a spot at one or more top MBA programs. These essays were particularly strong in how they spoke to one another—how they created a holistic applicant who admissions committees could envision on campus. Their professional and judiciously placed personal experience offer evidence for why they’re the kind of person who will make a specific, meaningful difference in the world. During this session, we'll analyze these essays alongside you so you have a clear view into how you can apply what you've learned to your own writing, and put your best application forward for Chicago Booth & Northwestern Kellogg

Funding Your Future: Fellowships & Scholarships for Masters Programs [6/18/2026] (Recording)

The cost of graduate school can feel daunting, but many applicants overlook funding opportunities that can dramatically reduce the financial burden. This session is for prospective MBA and master’s students who want to better understand the world of fellowships, scholarships, and competitive funding programs. You’ll learn where to find high-impact opportunities, how successful applicants position themselves, and what scholarship committees are often looking for beyond academics alone. Join live to ask questions about your own funding goals and hear directly from a Gates Cambridge Scholar with deep expertise in competitive programs and scholarships. The speaker has firsthand experience navigating highly selective funding processes and will share the strategies, patterns, and application insights that can help you maximize your chances of securing support for graduate study.

Defining LSAT Score Bands: How to Breakthrough a Plateau [8/5/2026] (Recording)

Many LSAT students hit a plateau where more practice doesn't translate into higher scores. The key isn't simply doing more questions. It's identifying what's holding you back and making the right adjustments. This session is for anyone looking to break through a score plateau and reach the next LSAT score band. You'll learn how to diagnose common performance bottlenecks, refine your study strategy, and make more consistent progress toward your target score. Join live to hear from a 99th percentile LSAT scorer and expert instructor who has helped students overcome plateaus and achieve significant score improvements. The speaker will share practical techniques for identifying weaknesses, maximizing the impact of your study time, and building the habits that lead to sustained improvement. Expect actionable strategies you can immediately apply to your LSAT preparation.

Crush Any Case: Developing the Approach to Structure Any Problem [10/7/2026] (Recording)

The hardest part of a consulting case often comes before you solve a single calculation: figuring out how to structure the problem. Strong candidates know how to break down unfamiliar problems, identify the right questions, and build a clear path toward an answer. This session is for aspiring consultants who want to develop a repeatable approach for structuring cases, even when the problem is unfamiliar. You’ll learn how to break down complex problems, build effective issue trees, and develop a logical case approach from the start. Join live to hear from a former BCG consultant who has worked with 1,000+ candidates and achieved a 95% success rate. The speaker will walk through practical frameworks and real case examples to show how strong structuring can transform your approach. Bring your questions and leave with a more reliable method for tackling any case you encounter.

Tell Me About Yourself: How to Nail Your MBA Interview Opening [10/5/2026] (Recording)

"Tell me about yourself" sounds simple, but it's one of the most important questions in an MBA interview. How do you summarize your background, highlight your achievements, and make a memorable first impression without simply repeating your resume? Join me for a practical Leland Live session where we'll break down how to craft a compelling introduction that sets the tone for the rest of your interview. Key takeaways: - Learn how to structure a clear, compelling two-minute introduction. - Connect your professional journey, key achievements, and MBA goals into one cohesive story. - Avoid common mistakes and deliver your introduction naturally and confidently. Bring your questions for a live Q&A!

Event in the future [6/30/2026] (Recording)

Join us for an insightful session on software architecture with Hisham, a seasoned software engineer with a wealth of experience across top tech companies like AWS and Leland. With a strong foundation in computer and systems engineering from Ain Shams University and further business acumen from the Kelley School of Business, Hisham has honed his skills in technical vision and back-end web development. In this event, Hisham will delve into the intricacies of software architecture, sharing his expertise from years of designing and developing robust systems at companies like SparkMeter and CoverMyMeds. Whether you're a budding software engineer or a seasoned professional looking to refine your architectural skills, this session promises valuable insights and practical strategies. Spaces are limited, so be sure to register now to secure your spot and take your software engineering skills to the next level!