Leland+ Content Library

IB Technicals 5: M&A and Accretion Dilution [9/29/2026] (Recording)

M&A applies valuation to a live decision: why a company buys another, what it pays, and what the deal does to the buyer. Building is slow and buying is fast. The catch is that the buyer pays a premium, usually twenty to forty percent over where the target already trades, so the deal has to create more value than the market already priced in. Synergies are the argument for that, and cost synergies are the only ones bankers count on. The question that carries the most interview volume in this block is accretion and dilution, and it comes down to one comparison: the earnings you are buying against the cost of the financing you used to buy them. Then the mechanics underneath, starting with goodwill, which appears the moment you pay more than book value. What we'll cover: - Why companies acquire, and why synergies have to exceed the premium - Cost synergies versus revenue synergies, and why bankers only count on one of them - Cash, debt, or stock: which is most accretive, and why - The P/E arbitrage rule, and the earnings yield trick that answers it in your head - Goodwill, and what happens when you write up assets for book but not for tax - The sell-side process, and selling to a sponsor versus a strategic Want to be done with the M&A block? I run a 90-minute mock interview, a full simulation and then rapid-fire technicals on whatever broke. Book a free 15-minute intro to see if it is a good fit. Part 5 of IB Technicals, a six part run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each night covers how the concept works and, more importantly, how to actually answer the questions on it, with the stories and details behind them. Each one stands alone, so jump in anywhere. I'm the founder of OFFERGOBLIN and ex-Centerview tech.

Build Your PE Prep Plan [9/21/2026] (Recording)

PE recruiting moves quickly, and trying to prepare without a clear plan can leave you scrambling when interviews arrive. The strongest candidates know what to prioritize, how to structure their preparation, and where to spend their limited time for the biggest impact. This session is for aspiring private equity professionals who want a focused roadmap for getting interview-ready. You’ll learn how to structure your prep, prioritize technicals and deal experience, and build the investing skills needed to perform with confidence. Join live to hear from a private equity expert and former investor at a leading software-focused PE firm. The speaker will share practical preparation strategies, common mistakes that derail candidates, and a clear framework for building an effective PE prep plan. You’ll leave with a more focused approach to your recruiting preparation and a better sense of what it takes to be ready when interviews come.

Breaking Into Investment Banking from Non-Traditional Backgrounds [6/16/2026] (Recording)

If your resume doesn't follow the traditional finance recruiting path, this session will show you how to position your background so it reads as an asset, not a gap. We'll cover how to reframe non-traditional experience for banking roles, which transferable skills actually resonate with hiring managers, and how to approach networking when you don't have built-in alumni pipelines. Attending live means you can describe your specific background and get a direct read on how a recruiter or banker would interpret it, which a recording simply cannot replicate. The coach works with non-traditional candidates regularly and will share the patterns that tend to separate the ones who break in from the ones who stall out.

Home for Ambition #25 — Weekly Live Show [9/30/2026] (Recording)

Home for Ambition is a weekly live show, hosted by Leland CEO, John Koelliker, for people trying to stay ahead as work, learning, and opportunity keep changing. Each episode tackles a handful of timely, high-signal topics across AI, careers, education, and the future of work. We expect thoughtful debate, unique perspectives, and practical takeaways you can actually use. It is not a typical interview show or a generic news recap. It is a live roundtable built to help ambitious people make sense of what is changing, understand what matters, and leave with a sharper point of view on how to navigate what comes next.

Feedback That Lands - Make feedback easier to hear and more useful [9/29/2026] (Recording)

Giving feedback is one of the most important things leaders do, and one of the easiest to avoid or get wrong. In this interactive session, we'll look at what makes feedback useful, what creates defensiveness, and how to have clearer conversations about performance, behavior, and growth. You'll practice a simple approach you can use for both everyday feedback and conversations you've been putting off.

Top 5 Tips to Stand Out in IB Recruiting [7/8/2026] (Recording)

Investment banking recruiting is intensely competitive, and small differences in preparation can have an outsized impact on who gets interviews and offers. This session is for candidates who want to understand how to separate themselves in a crowded applicant pool and stand out to top firms. You’ll learn five high-impact strategies for strengthening your candidacy, positioning your experience effectively, and making a lasting impression throughout the recruiting process. Join live to hear from a former Associate at Goldman Sachs and Private Equity Director who has seen recruiting from both sides of the table. The speaker will share the habits, signals, and subtle differentiators that top firms pay attention to, along with common mistakes that hold strong candidates back. Expect practical advice and insider perspective you can immediately apply to your recruiting journey.

AMA...about writing, publishing, and promoting a book [9/8/2026] (Recording)

Most people who want to write a book have more questions than answers. This session is your chance to ask them. Bring whatever is on your mind about writing and publishing. Should you write a book? How do you choose between traditional, academic, and self-publishing? What does a writing partnership actually look like? What goes into a book proposal? How do you market a book after it's published? All of it is fair game. I've been a writing partner on 27 published books — most with Wiley — on entrepreneurship, startups, venture capital, and leadership. I serve on the Editorial Board of Entrepreneur & Innovation Exchange (EIX), reaching 15 million readers annually. I have a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago and have published my own books with the University of Chicago Press. This session is free and open to anyone thinking about writing a book. Everyone who attends gets my Book Readiness Checklist — a one-page diagnostic to help you figure out exactly where you are in the process and what your next step should be.

Law School Essays - Personal Statement vs. Optional statements: What Goes Where [8/19/2026] (Recording)

Navigating the nuances of law school essays can be daunting, especially when distinguishing between personal statements and optional statements. Join me, Kevin, for an insightful session where we'll delve into what goes where in your law school application. With a J.D./LL.M. from Duke University School of Law and extensive experience in admissions, I have guided countless students through the intricacies of law school applications. This session will equip you with the tools to strategically place your narratives and make your application stand out. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot!

Studying Abroad at Oxford [9/15/2026] (Recording)

Studying abroad at Oxford can be an exciting opportunity, but figuring out what the experience is actually like—from academics and student life to navigating a new country—can feel overwhelming. This session is designed for students considering studying abroad at Oxford who want a firsthand look at what to expect and how to make the most of the experience. You’ll learn about the academic environment, what day-to-day life as a student can look like, and practical considerations for preparing for life and study abroad. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about the experience and hear directly from someone who has studied at Oxford. The speaker will share firsthand lessons from their own journey, including what they wish they had known before going and how they made the most of their time abroad. If you’re considering studying abroad at Oxford and want a more realistic picture of the experience, it’s worth joining live.

What Made You a Strong Operator May Be Costing You as a Leader 6/16/26

Strong operators usually get promoted because they’re sharp, reliable, useful, and good at figuring things out. But people leadership asks for a different kind of strength. At some point, the same habits that made you valuable as an operator can start creating drag as a leader. You may find yourself overexplaining, second-guessing, carrying too much in your head, jumping in too quickly, delaying hard conversations, or trying to stay useful in ways that make it harder to actually lead. This session is a practical working session for technical managers and technical leads moving into people leadership. We’ll look at why strong operator habits can become leadership drag, how to spot what is costing you the most right now, and why clearer leadership usually starts with better operating design. You’ll leave with a simple Leadership Drag Audit you can use immediately to identify where your current way of operating is creating unnecessary cost for you, your team, and your leadership presence. This session is especially useful if you are a technical manager who was promoted because you were strong technically, but now you are responsible for delegation, performance conversations, trust, communication under pressure, and leading people without carrying everything yourself. This is the front door to the work I call the People Leadership OS: building a way of leading that fits who you actually are and what your role now requires. This session is for: Technical managers Engineering managers Data engineering managers Analytics engineering managers ML and data science managers Platform, infrastructure, DevOps, and security managers Technical leads moving into people leadership Former senior, staff, or principal ICs who now manage people or are about to

Master the Mindset That Keeps You Moving [9/29/2026] (Recording)

Sometimes the biggest obstacle between you and your goals isn’t knowing what to do. It’s the thoughts and mental patterns that make it harder to keep doing it. Overthinking, perfectionism, fear of failure, self doubt, and harsh self criticism can quietly influence the actions we take, the risks we avoid, and whether we continue moving forward when progress becomes difficult. In this session, we’ll explore the mental habits that can interfere with progress and practical tools for responding to them more intentionally so you can keep moving toward what matters. We’ll cover: • How thoughts influence emotions, behaviors, and the actions we take • Common mental patterns that can interfere with progress and follow-through • A practical framework for identifying and questioning unhelpful thoughts • How to reframe mental narratives that contribute to overthinking, perfectionism, or self doubt • Simple mindset practices that help you navigate setbacks and continue moving forward You’ll leave with practical tools to better manage your internal dialogue, respond more intentionally when your mind gets in the way, and continue taking meaningful action even when motivation or confidence fluctuates. This workshop is part of a 3-part goal achievement series for ambitious professionals.

Secondary Applications: Writing Excellent Essays [6/9/2026] (Recording)

Secondary applications can quickly become overwhelming, and many strong applicants lose momentum when it comes time to write dozens of school-specific essays. This session is for medical school applicants who want a clearer strategy for writing compelling secondary responses efficiently and effectively. You’ll learn how to approach common prompts, maintain quality across multiple applications, and craft essays that feel personal without becoming repetitive. Join live to ask questions about your own secondary essays and hear guidance from a coach who completed over 40 secondaries and earned 13 medical school acceptances. The speaker has firsthand experience navigating the volume and pressure of the process and now helps applicants strengthen their writing and application strategy. Expect practical advice and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 coaching conversations.

What Deferred MBA Admissions Committees Really Look For: How to Strengthen Your [8/26/2026] (Recording)

Deferred MBA admissions are about much more than a high GPA, strong test scores, or a prestigious internship. Admissions committees are evaluating your potential: the choices you’ve made, the impact you’re already creating, and the trajectory you’re building. In this session, I’ll break down what top deferred MBA programs are actually looking for and how to assess your profile from an admissions committee perspective. We’ll cover academics, internships, leadership, extracurricular involvement, career direction, and personal positioning—and, most importantly, what you can still do before the next application deadlines to become a stronger candidate. Whether you’re just starting to consider deferred MBA programs or already planning to apply, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of where you stand and what to prioritize next.

Are You Quant Enough for a MFE? [9/29/2026] (Recording)

Are you quant enough to get into a top MFE program? I'll share my perspective as a former AdCom member of Carnegie Mellon University's MSCF program (the #3 financial engineering master's in the US). I'll also share what I've learned coaching clients who have gotten into quant finance programs at Stanford, Columbia, UChicago, Cornell, Duke, and NYU. Spaces are limited, so be sure to RSVP and secure your spot today!

How to Pivot into Consulting [10/7/2026] (Recording)

You don't need a traditional consulting background to build a career in consulting, but you do need to know how to make your experience work in your favor. Career pivots can be challenging when you’re competing against candidates with more conventional backgrounds, so positioning and strategy matter. This session is for professionals and students looking to transition into consulting who want a clearer path forward. You’ll learn how to position your existing experience, identify the skills consulting firms value, and approach recruiting as a career switcher. Join live for a panel of consulting experts who have experience navigating the path into the industry. They’ll share practical advice on positioning your background, breaking into the recruiting pipeline, and avoiding common mistakes that can hold career switchers back. Bring your questions and leave with a clearer roadmap for making your pivot into consulting.

Your Networking Playbook: What it Takes in 2026 [10/6/2026] (Recording)

Networking is no longer about collecting connections or sending endless cold messages. In a competitive consulting market, the right conversations can open doors, but only if you know how to build genuine relationships and turn them into opportunities. This session is for aspiring consultants who want to network more strategically and build relationships that actually move their recruiting forward. You’ll learn how to identify the right people to reach out to, craft messages that get responses, and turn networking conversations into meaningful connections. Join live to hear from a former McKinsey consultant who knows what effective networking looks like from inside a top consulting firm. The speaker will share practical outreach strategies, common networking mistakes, and advice for building relationships that can strengthen your path into consulting. Bring your questions and leave with a playbook you can put to work immediately.

Interview Insider: Decode the Hiring Manager [9/22/2026] (Recording)

You prepared for a Q&A session. The hiring manager is looking for a business solution. That gap is why great candidates get rejected without feedback or don't get the offer, and it's what this session is built to close. Here's what we'll cover: The Offer Void: Why strong candidates lose offers they should have won, and what's actually happening behind the scenes. Two Audiences, One Room: The recruiter is your gatekeeper. Mitigates risk, confirms fit. The hiring manager is your decision maker. Solves a specific team pain point. Most candidates only address one of them. Impactful Storytelling: The STAR method, built for business value. Use owner verbs. Lead with results. Keep Situation and Task under 30 seconds of a 2-minute answer. Decoding Hidden Questions: What "Tell me about a time you failed" and "Why are you leaving?" are actually asking and how to answer the question behind the question. Interview Do's and Don'ts: The specific habits that cost candidates offers, and the moves that build trust fast. The Offer Call: The Triple Win strategy across financial, lifestyle, and growth. How to use market data instead of "I want" and the rule for handling any offer without leaving money on the table. Come with your toughest interview question. We'll address as many as we can in live Q&A.

Ask Me Anything: The Personal Statement [8/13/2026] (Recording)

Join me, Chris, for an engaging "Ask Me Anything" session focused on crafting the perfect personal statement for your college applications. With a rich academic journey through UC Berkeley, NYU, and Harvard, and experience as a Creative Writing and Personal Statement Coach, I've helped over 60 students gain admission to their dream schools, including Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Brown. Whether you're just starting your application journey or refining your essays, this is your chance to get personalized advice on essays, editing, school selection, and more. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make your application shine—RSVP now to secure your spot!

GMAT Quant Strategies for 90%+ Scores [7/22/2026] (Recording)

Rusty on your Math skills? Eager to start studying for the GMAT, but need a refresher of the basic Arithmetic and Algebra topics tested on the exam? In this fun and engaging webinar designed and taught by the 99%-ile GMAT instructor with many years of teaching experience, you'll learn the strategies that will help you achieve success on the Quant section of the GMAT! If you're serious about mastering the GMAT and applying to the very best business schools, you can't afford to miss the FREE GMAT Strategies Workshop!

Solidifying Your Secondaries [7/31/2026] (Recording)

If you're in the medical school admissions cycle, chances are you are staring down the secondary essays. You might be almost done, have not yet started, or somewhere in between. No matter where you are at, this session is here to help you craft stand out responses! We will spend the first part of this session going through the major essay archetypes that most institutions ask in some form (e.g., why us, diversity, challenge) and talk about how to make yourself stand out while keeping your secondaries congruent with your larger narrative. Then we will move to an open Q&A, so bring your prompts, drafts, or any other questions you have as you navigate the process!