Leland+ Content Library

Wharton Deferred Essays – Ethical Product Design and Inclusive Tech Leadership

Two essays responding to Wharton’s deferred prompts, outlining a career in ethical productivity software and proposing new initiatives to bridge business and tech through PennApps and Wharton Women in Business.

8 Steps to a Complete MBA App: 3) Core Values, Superpowers & LOR Strategy

Applying to business school can feel overwhelming! You have dozens of moving pieces: essays, short answers, video content, resume, recommendations, outreach, research, and more. This workshop is the third of a structured 8-part MBA Identity Mapping series designed to take you from fragmented tasks to a clear plan of action. In this session, you will identify your core values and defining strengths and begin aligning your Letters of Recommendation with your overall narrative. These sessions walk you step by step through building one fully aligned MBA application. In every workshop, you will be assigned tasks to complete over the next two weeks, keeping you organized and accountable. By the end, you will have strong, authentic essays and a cohesive narrative that runs consistently through your resume, goals, recommendations, school strategy, and interviews. You are absolutely welcome to attend individual sessions if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. Event 3 clarifies your defining characteristic and begins the recommendation process: • Identify 3–5 core values and superpowers that consistently appear across your key stories. • Define what each strength truly means in your life and how it shows up in action. • Ensure your positioning reflects who you actually are, not who you think admissions wants you to be. • Learn how to select recommenders and ensure strong narrative alignment. This is the phase where your stories become identity. Instead of a collection of experiences, you now articulate the defining qualities that connect your past, present, and future. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international programs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Clients consistently describe it as transformative because it replaces scattered effort with forward momentum and strategic clarity. If you are ready to clarify what truly defines you and ensure your recommendations reinforce your positioning, this is your next step.

MBA Personal Statement Strategy: Crafting a Compelling Personal Narrative [8/13/2026] (Recording)

MBA applications often include at least one essay prompting applicants to describe themselves and their personal stories through experiences that go beyond the applicant's resume, forcing the applicant to be introspective and reflect on different aspects of their personal, professional, and academic lives. If these essay prompts are not blatantly identified as personal statement prompts, how can we identify them? Additionally, since we all have so many personal stories that define different aspects of our identities and lives, how do you choose the right stories to tell the admissions committee? Furthermore, how do you keep these deeply personal stories limited to within the confines of strict word limits? And how do you ensure that these stories complement the rest of your application? Walk through solutions to these important questions and more with me during this livestream focused exclusively on drafting stronger personal statements. After the livestream concludes, participants will have acquired actionable strategies to take their stories from raw ideas to polished personal statements that will clearly and emphatically express to admissions committees why you are an ideal candidate.

(Early in Career) AI Career Blueprint: Build the Skills Employers Want [6/20/2026] (Recording)

Are you eager to break into the world of AI and build the skills that top employers are seeking? Join me, Sukant, for an insightful session on crafting your AI career blueprint. With a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence from Royal Holloway, University of London and extensive experience as an Agentic AI Engineer at Accenture/Avanade, I have been at the forefront of designing intelligent, autonomous AI systems that revolutionise business operations. In this event, we'll dive into essential skill-building strategies that will set you apart in the competitive AI job market. Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance your current skill set, this session will provide you with the tools and insights needed to succeed. Spaces are limited, so be sure to RSVP and secure your spot today!

Non-US Elite MBA Pathways: INSEAD, HKUST & IESE

This session moves beyond school rankings to give you the strategic framework for building a truly global career. Join cross-cultural career coach Caolan Hunter (ex-On, Ogilvy) to learn how to integrate your career, education, and long-term life goals into a coherent international strategy. We will start by exploring the specific pathways offered by elite non-US business schools like INSEAD, HKUST, and IESE, using them as a lens to understand the bigger picture of strategic mobility. By the end of this session, you will stop thinking “US or nothing” and leave with a concrete, strategic shortlist of serious non-US MBA targets aligned with visa reality, your career goals, and your risk tolerance. Learning Objectives: What You Will Learn 1. The Real Global MBA Landscape: Understand the true power centers of business education beyond the United States and how they offer distinct advantages. 2. Visa & Post-Study Work Reality: Decode the practical realities of post-MBA life in Europe and Asia, focusing specifically on post-study work rights, the ease of corporate hiring for international graduates, and viable pathways to long-term residency. 3. Strategic Career Positioning: Learn how hiring logic differs from the US and why the smaller, more international cohorts at these schools can provide stronger access. We’ll explain where non-US MBAs over-perform, particularly in sectors like luxury, consulting, sustainability, finance, and deep tech. Key Outcomes: What You Will Walk Away With 1. A Reframed Worldview: You'll gain a new understanding of INSEAD, HKUST, and IESE not as "alternatives," but as premier, strategic choices for a global career. 2. Visa & Employability Clarity: You'll have clear, actionable insights into the post-MBA visa and employment landscape in Europe and Asia, ensuring your school choice leads to a real career outcome. 3. A Personal Viable Pathway Map: You will leave with the tools to build a personal map connecting your background to the right program and region, aligning your education with your long-term life goals. 4. Strategic Confidence: You will have the confidence and evidence to know that for many career paths, a non-US MBA is a strategic advantage, not a second-tier option.

Recruiting Internationally: Land an IB Role

Breaking into investment banking as an international candidate comes with unique challenges—but with the right strategy, it’s absolutely achievable. In this session, top IB coach Hanie L. will break down how international recruiting really works. You’ll learn how to position your background, network strategically across borders, and avoid the common mistakes that derail otherwise strong applications.

One Month to Deadlines AMA: What do Admissions Officers Recommend?

You've been working hard for months now and the finish line is almost in sight. There is a lot of information out there, but you have burning questions that you want to ask Admissions Officers who have experience admitting applicants to every top business school around the world. Join Faisal and Christine! During this session, we'll cover all your questions in a live AMA ("Ask Me Anything") format. Everything from essays and application strategy to interviews and recommendations.

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.

MBA Essay Edit: Watch Me Transform an Underwhelming Draft [8/18/2026] (Recording)

Strong MBA essays are built through strategy and revision, not first drafts. In this live workshop, attendees will watch a real-time transformation of an underwhelming MBA 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.

MBA Essay Edit: Watch Me Transform an Underwhelming Draft [7/21/2026] (Recording)

Strong MBA essays are built through strategy and revision, not first drafts. In this live workshop, attendees will watch a real-time transformation of an underwhelming MBA 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.

MBA Essay Edit: Watch Me Transform an Underwhelming Draft [6/16/2026] (Recording)

Strong MBA essays are built through strategy and revision, not first drafts. In this live workshop, attendees will watch a real-time transformation of an underwhelming MBA 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.

What an AI-Native Org Actually Looks Like (And Why Yours Probably Isn't) [6/4/2026] (Recording)

Most teams are experimenting with AI, but far fewer have figured out what it actually means to build an AI-native organization. This session is designed for leaders, operators, and professionals who want to understand how AI changes the way teams make decisions, structure workflows, and create leverage across an organization. You’ll learn what distinguishes AI-native companies from teams simply layering on tools, how workflows and roles evolve in practice, and the organizational patterns that emerge when AI becomes part of day-to-day operations. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own team, workflows, or implementation challenges and get feedback in real time. The speaker works closely with organizations navigating AI adoption and will share the patterns they see across teams, along with how they evaluate what is actually driving impact versus creating noise. If you're thinking seriously about what AI adoption should look like in practice, it’s worth joining live.

How to Land an Interview at an MBB Firm

​McKinsey, Bain, and BCG are among the most competitive employers in the world—so how do you actually land an interview? In this panel, three top Leland consulting coaches will share the insider strategies, application tactics, and networking approaches that helped them break into MBB and that they now use to coach candidates into these firms. ​Hear from James H., a Columbia MBA, former McKinsey consultant, and ex-McKinsey interviewer; Annika F., a Bain consultant, HEC Paris MBA, and ICF-certified coach; and Sushmitha R., an MIT Sloan alum and former BCG summer consultant. Together, they’ll break down how to craft standout resumes, position nontraditional backgrounds, build meaningful networking connections, and align your story with what MBB teams are truly looking for. Whether you're an undergrad, MBA student, or career-switcher, this session will give you a clear roadmap to landing the interview that changes everything.

Deferred MBA M7 Series: Columbia

Applying to Columbia Business School’s deferred MBA program is a unique opportunity—and a uniquely competitive one. In this session, Melanie E.—a multi-disciplinary coach featured in Forbes, NBC, ABC, CBS, Business Insider, and TEDx—will break down exactly what CBS is looking for and how to position yourself as a standout candidate. With deep experience coaching applicants into top MBA programs and a coaching style tailored to each individual’s strengths, Melanie will walk you through how to craft a compelling narrative, highlight leadership potential, and approach Columbia’s essays and recommendations with clarity and strategy. Whether you’re early in your MBA exploration or preparing to hit submit, this session will give you actionable insights to strengthen your CBS deferred application.

Making Big Pivots: Breaking into a New Industry

Thinking about a major career change but unsure how to make the leap? This session is designed for professionals considering a big pivot—and looking for a clear, strategic way to break into a new industry. In this panel, we’ll unpack what it really takes to successfully transition careers, from identifying transferable skills and reframing your experience to building credibility in a new field. You’ll learn how to tell a compelling career story, network with intention, and avoid the most common mistakes career switchers make. Whether you’re coming from consulting, finance, education, operations, or another background entirely, this session will give you practical frameworks and real-world strategies to help you pivot with confidence and land your next role.

Kellogg Essay and Short Answer Examples – Leadership, Culture, and Collaboration

A compelling set of responses reflecting on cross-cultural leadership, collaborative problem-solving, and a deep commitment to values like solidarity, inclusion, and ethical influence in high-stakes environments.

What AI Can’t Do in MBA Admissions [7/14/2026] (Recording)

Artificial intelligence has transformed how applicants brainstorm, draft, and prepare for business school applications, but the strongest MBA applications still require far more than polished prose. This session will break down where AI can help, where it often hurts, and the critical aspects of strategy, reflection, and storytelling that technology cannot replicate. Attendees will learn why top admissions committees continue to reward authenticity, judgment, and narrative depth, and how to use AI as a tool without allowing it to dilute what makes an application compelling.

What AI Can’t Do in MBA Admissions [5/18/2026] (Recording)

Artificial intelligence has transformed how applicants brainstorm, draft, and prepare for business school applications, but the strongest MBA applications still require far more than polished prose. This session will break down where AI can help, where it often hurts, and the critical aspects of strategy, reflection, and storytelling that technology cannot replicate. Attendees will learn why top admissions committees continue to reward authenticity, judgment, and narrative depth, and how to use AI as a tool without allowing it to dilute what makes an application compelling.