Leland+ Content Library

Is Your MBA Application Actually Ready for Round 1? [8/27/2026] (Recording)

Round 1 deadlines for top MBA programs land are fast approaching . If you're applying this cycle, you're weeks away from submitting, and it's easy to lose perspective on whether your application is actually strong or just feels done because you're tired of looking at it. I'm a former McKinsey consultant and HBS MBA. In this session, I'll walk through what actually separates a strong Round 1 application from one that gets rejected, focusing on the parts most applicants underestimate: story, positioning, and how your essays hold together as a coherent narrative, not just a collection of good individual answers. This isn't a test prep session. It's for people who've done the work and want a clear-eyed check before they hit submit, or who are close to done and want to know what's still missing. What we'll cover: - The difference between an application that's "finished" and one that's actually ready - How to spot a weak or disjointed narrative in your own essays - Common positioning mistakes that even strong candidates make - What admissions readers are actually looking for beyond the resume line items Come with questions. If you have a draft essay or two, even better, we'll use real examples where we can.

The 2026 Recommender Prep Packet

This is your all-in-one recommender prep packet. This process shouldn't be as complicated as it is, and this doc is meant to simplify things dramatically for you. Inside you'll find: 1. An outreach templates for beginning the dialogue with your MBA recommender 2. The most important context for recommenders when writing your letters 3. An overview on how the process works for submitting your letter, including timelines & process 4. Specific school-by-school questions your recommenders will need to answer 5. An example architecture to answer the main questions in the MBA recommendation letter (Stanford GSB serves as an example guide) Reach out if you need some guidance on the recommender process, but this is the #1 resource I wish I had when I was applying. Knowing who to select, how to broach those conversations, and how to prepare them the right way so you end up with top-quality letters.

Learn from the Experts: Writing Standout Law School Personal Statements [7/21/2026] (Recording)

A great personal statement does more than tell your story. It convinces admissions committees that your experiences, motivations, and future goals belong in law school. This session is for applicants who want to write a personal statement that feels authentic, compelling, and memorable. You’ll learn how to identify the strongest parts of your story, avoid common writing pitfalls, and create an essay that helps distinguish you from other qualified candidates. Join live to hear a panel of law school experts break down what makes certain essays rise above the rest. Through real-world examples and practical insights, you'll gain a better understanding of how admissions readers interpret personal statements and what creates a lasting impression. Bring your questions and leave with concrete ideas you can apply to your own writing immediately.

Generate More Leads with AI [6/25/2026] (Recording)

Generating more leads isn’t about using more tools—it’s about building a system that consistently creates opportunities. This session is for sales and marketing professionals who want to use AI to improve lead generation without adding unnecessary complexity to their workflow. You’ll learn how to integrate AI into a practical sales process, identify the highest-impact use cases, and create repeatable systems that help you find and engage more qualified prospects. Join live to ask questions about your current process and see how an expert approaches AI-driven lead generation in the real world. The speaker specializes in helping teams build practical, scalable sales workflows and focuses on using AI to enhance execution rather than simply adding new tools. Expect actionable strategies and real-world insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 consulting engagements.

Stop Sounding Generic: How to Write a Standout Law School Personal Statement [5/27/2026] (Recording)

Many law school personal statements sound polished but forgettable, making it hard for applicants to truly stand out. This session is for candidates who want to write essays that feel distinctive, authentic, and memorable to admissions readers. You’ll learn how to identify the strongest parts of your story, avoid overly generic themes and language, and structure a personal statement that creates a clearer sense of who you are. Join live to ask questions about your own essay ideas and get guidance on how to sharpen your narrative before submitting. The speaker is an experienced law admissions coach who regularly helps applicants strengthen their personal statements and overall positioning. They’ll share the patterns they see across standout essays and the kinds of feedback typically given in 1:1 coaching conversations.

GRE Geometry & Algebra: The Top Tips High Scorers Use [5/22/2026] (Recording)

Geometry and algebra questions make up a major portion of the GRE Quant section, but high scorers approach them with specific strategies that go far beyond memorizing formulas. This session is for students who want to improve both accuracy and speed on two of the most heavily tested GRE topics. You’ll learn the shortcuts and patterns top scorers rely on, how to recognize common trap setups, and the foundational concepts that make difficult problems more manageable under time pressure. Join live to see how an experienced GRE instructor breaks down these question types and the patterns they see across high-performing test takers. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions in real time and get practical guidance on how to apply these strategies effectively during your own preparation.

Don’t Blow Your Law Interview: Ask a Stanford JD Anything

Law school interviews can be intimidating—but they don’t have to be. In this interactive session, Machmud M.—a Stanford JD, Rhodes Scholar, and Knight-Hennessy Scholar—will share candid insights on how to prepare for and excel in your law school interviews. From common pitfalls to powerful storytelling techniques, you’ll learn how to communicate your values, experiences, and goals in a way that truly resonates with admissions committees. Drawing on his diverse background across public policy, corporate law, and government—including time at the White House and on the Biden 2020 policy team—Machmud will answer your toughest questions about what law schools are really looking for. Whether you’re prepping for T-14 interviews or your first conversation with an alum, this session will help you approach your interview with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.

Sample Outreach Messages

Sample emails and LinkedIn messages to help you confidently connect with Kellogg student and alumni for networking and insights.

Why Banking, Why This Firm, Why This Group [9/1/2026] (Recording)

Swap the word banking for consulting. If your answer still holds, you have not answered the question. That is the test, and most answers fail it. Fast paced, smart people, steep learning curve. All true, all interchangeable, all heard forty times this month by the person across the table. Three questions, scored separately, proved three different ways. Why banking is proved by your past. Why this firm is proved by your conversations. Why this group is proved at desk level, by someone who actually sits on it. One structure underneath all three. Claim, reason, evidence, impact. Sixty seconds. The evidence slot is the one that decides the answer, and it is the only slot you cannot write at your desk. That is why this session sits here in the run and not at the start. You do not walk into the chats with these answers. You walk out with them. What we'll cover: - The swap test and the name swap test, and how to run both on the answer you already have - Claim, reason, evidence, impact, and why evidence is the only slot with lead time - Where firm evidence comes from: named conversations, one deal known properly, platform, direct experience - Coverage versus product, and why a group answer that never names an industry is not an answer - How the bar moves at a bulge bracket versus an elite boutique versus a regional office - The failure that costs the most, which is being specific enough to be interesting and thin enough to collapse on the follow up Want to solidify your whys and be done with them? I run a popular 90-minute session where we go deep and construct a strong, personal story. Book a free 15-minute intro to learn more. Part 5 of Coffee Chat Ready, a six part run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each one stands alone, so jump in anywhere. I'm the founder of OFFERGOBLIN and ex-Centerview tech.

Full-time or Executive MBA - That is the Question!

One question I hear again and again is, "At my age, and with years of experience, should I be aiming towards a full-time MBA or an Executive MBA?" Some candidates worry that they might be too young for an EMBA. Others fear that they are overqualified for a typical full-time program. Still others wonder if a part-time MBA might not be all that they need, and is it really worth pursuing the other programs instead? Each type of MBA program comes with its particular advantages and disadvantages, and each one has its standard cohort, with the expected outliers. The question is really, what are you looking for? Why do you want or need to attend that program? Which will truly be the best for your particular goals? In this webinar we will start to open up these questions to bring clarity to the issue.

The Personal Statement That Got Me Into Every Top Law School!

This is the personal statement I submitted during my own application cycle, when I was admitted to every law school to which I applied, including Harvard, Columbia, Yale, U Penn, U Chicago, and more. It shows how the strongest essays find the magic in the mundane—using close observation and precise detail to turn an ordinary experience into a story only one unique applicant could tell. I share it as an example of how to write the rare personal statement that an admissions officer cannot shake.

Bain Cover Letter Example

See an example of a compelling cover letter for the Associate Consultant position at Bain. Learn how to highlight your problem-solving skills, leadership, and passion for consulting.

REAL INSEAD MBA Interview Mocks

Multiple INSEAD mock interview sequences, based on real questions clients reported in interviews. Use these sequences to practice and ensure you convert your INSEAD interview into an admit.

REAL Kellogg MBA Interview Mocks

Multiple Kellogg mock interview sequences, based on real questions clients reported in interviews. Use these sequences to practice and ensure you convert your Kellogg interview into an admit.

REAL Babson MBA Interview Sequences

Multiple Babson mock interview sequences, based on real questions clients reported in interviews. Use these sequences to practice and ensure you convert your Babson interview into an admit.

Chief of Staff 101 FAQ

An unfiltered guide to CoS. Learn what the job actually entails, who thrives in it, how to break in, and what no one tells you until you're in.

The Amy Approach: Navigating the Grad School Search

Graduate school is an exciting opportunity to deepen your knowledge, build your expertise, and shape your career path. This guide breaks the process down into clear, manageable steps.

You've Submitted, Now What? 5 Strategies for a Successful Application Year [9/15/2026] (Recording)

You’ve submitted your applications. Now what? The months that follow can be an exciting but also stressful time, filled with uncertainty, waiting, and plenty of wondering about what you should be doing next. Join Ellen and Melinda, health professions advisors with over 45 years of collective experience advising applicants for health professional schools. In this session, we’ll explore five strategies for making the most of your application year and discuss how to stay engaged and intentional while navigating the uncertainty of the process. You’ll come away with a clearer sense of what to focus on now, what you can control, and how to make the most of the months ahead. RSVP Today!

MBB Interview Workshop: Master the Fundamentals [5/14/2026] (Recording)

MBB interviews test a specific set of core skills, and many candidates struggle not because they lack ability, but because they haven’t fully mastered the fundamentals. This session is for candidates preparing for consulting interviews who want to build a strong foundation before moving to advanced cases. You’ll learn how to structure clear and logical frameworks, communicate your thinking effectively, and avoid the common mistakes that cost candidates offers. Join live to see how an experienced coach breaks down core case interview skills and the patterns they see across successful candidates. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions and get real-time guidance on your approach, with insights typically shared in 1:1 coaching sessions.

Pivoting from Academia to Industry

Pivoting from Academia to Industry Transitioning from academia into an industry role requires more than strong technical skills—it demands the ability to clearly communicate your value, reframe your academic experience, and navigate a hiring landscape that looks very different from university admissions. In this workshop, Stefan E. will share the strategies he used to execute his own successful pivot, earning interviews at 10 of the 12 universities he applied to and early admits to four top programs. Drawing on his experience as a lecturer, instructor, and former international student, Stefan will teach you how to translate research and teaching into industry-ready impact, present your skills with clarity, and approach your career transition with confidence.