Leland+ Content Library

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!

From Constantly Overwhelmed to Back in Control [7/22/2026] (Recording)

Feeling overwhelmed has become the norm for many people, but staying there doesn’t have to be. In this session, we’ll explore why overwhelm happens, how it impacts focus, energy, and decision-making, and what it takes to regain a sense of control. You’ll walk away with a practical strategy to reduce mental clutter, prioritize what matters, and create a more sustainable way of working and living.

How to Stand Out When So Many Use Claude / ChatGPT for Essays [7/21/2026] (Recording)

As AI tools become more widespread in the admissions process, differentiation matters more than ever. This session will explore how applicants can rise above increasingly polished but increasingly generic essays by developing sharper self-awareness, stronger personal narratives, and more nuanced positioning. Attendees will learn what admissions committees notice immediately in AI-assisted applications and how to ensure their story remains distinctive, memorable, and authentically their own.

How to Stand Out When So Many Use Claude / ChatGPT for Essays [5/27/2026] (Recording)

As AI tools become more widespread in the admissions process, differentiation matters more than ever. This session will explore how applicants can rise above increasingly polished but increasingly generic essays by developing sharper self-awareness, stronger personal narratives, and more nuanced positioning. Attendees will learn what admissions committees notice immediately in AI-assisted applications and how to ensure their story remains distinctive, memorable, and authentically their own.

Med School Applications 101

Applying to medical school can feel overwhelming without a clear roadmap of what matters most and when. This session walks through the full med school application process, from building a strong academic and extracurricular foundation to crafting personal statements, secondaries, and school lists. You’ll gain clarity on how admissions committees evaluate applicants and leave with a practical framework to plan your application strategy with confidence.

HELP -- I'm Non-Traditional! AMA with Jessica B [6/8/2026] (Recording)

You didn't take the standard path. That doesn't mean you can't get into a top program — it means you need a sharper strategy than most. This is an open AMA for applicants who don't fit the typical mold: career changers, military veterans, physicians, founders, late-career applicants, people with non-linear resumes, or anyone who's ever wondered whether admissions committees will know what to do with them. I've worked with all of you. Since 2006, my clients have come from backgrounds that don't map neatly onto the McKinsey-to-HBS pipeline — and they've gotten into M7 programs anyway, frequently with scholarship. Three times Poets & Quants has recognized me as one of the best admissions consultants in the field. Bring your specific situation. Ask me whether your background is a liability or an asset, how to frame a career that's hard to explain in 250 words, whether EMBA or full-time MBA makes more sense for where you are, or anything else that's been keeping you up at night. No slides. No agenda. Just answers.

Winning Essays from My Stanford GSB Admits [7/24/2026] (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 Stanford's top MBA program.

Exploring the MPP/MBA Dual Degree

Considering a path that blends business and public policy? The MPP/MBA dual degree might be the perfect fit. In this workshop, you'll hear from Karla M., a seasoned coach with an MBA from Chicago Booth and an MPP from Harvard, who will share insights from her own journey and what she’s learned guiding hundreds of applicants into top programs. ​You’ll get an inside look at what these programs offer, who they’re right for, and how to position yourself for success. Whether you’re actively applying or still exploring, this session will help you move forward with clarity.

Navigating the MBA Waitlist Process (4/6)

We will discuss how to navigate the waitlist process for MBA programs. This will include: - General process and timelines - Common reasons people are waitlisted - How to plan structure your updates - What else you can do to improve your chances - Q&A

Deferred MBA M7 Series: Booth

Learn what it takes to stand out in Chicago Booth’s highly selective Deferred MBA program. In this session, expert Leland coach and Admissions Fellow at Booth Tim F. will share insights on what Booth values most, from intellectual curiosity to leadership potential. You’ll walk away with clear strategies for crafting a strong application and telling your story with authenticity and impact.

The MBA Resume Breakdown: How to Show Impact, Trajectory, and Fit on One Page [7/29/2026] (Recording)

Your MBA resume isn't your job resume with a new header. Adcom is reading it differently than a hiring manager would — and most applicants don't adjust. They submit a resume optimized for getting a job, not for getting into a program. This session covers what they're actually looking for and how to make sure your resume is telling the right story. How Adcom Reads Your Resume -The difference between a hiring manager scan and an adcom read -What adcom is actually pulling from your resume: leadership signals, trajectory, and impact -Why formatting, included components, and structure matter differently for MBA applications Writing Bullets That Show Impact, Not Just Activity -How to quantify impact even when your role wasn't revenue-generating -What strong vs. weak bullets actually look like when an adcom reader is scanning them Telling a Coherent Story Across Your Career -How to frame promotions, transitions, and pivots so they read as intentional rather than accidental -What to do if your career path looks scattered on paper -How to make sure your resume sets up your essays rather than contradicting them

Before You Apply: The Foundation Every First-Time Graduate Applicant Needs [6/25/2026] (Recording)

You already have everything you need to apply to graduate school. What most first-time applicants are missing aren’t stronger credentials, a more impressive resume, or more time. It's actually the inner work — a clear, grounded foundation that addresses the most important questions in the graduate application process: 🔍 What do you actually want? 🔍 Why is graduate school the right next step? 🔍 And what are you passionate about? Without that foundation, even the most qualified applicants jump straight into researching programs and drafting essays, trying to sound impressive instead of sounding authentic. The result is an application that's technically fine, but not very compelling. Most graduate applicants write from the pressure to sound impressive. In trying to present a version of themselves they think admissions wants to see, they lose what makes them unique. Without a clear foundation, every draft, every decision— will be met with self-doubt and more confusion. This session is about taking a different approach. No outside noise. No external pressure. In this masterclass, you’ll learn how to slow down long enough to find what's actually true about your story: what you want, why it matters, and where you’re headed. You’ll learn how to say it in a way that actually sounds like you, not a performed version of you trying to meet expectations. After the session, you'll walk away with more clarity on your direction, more confidence in your story, how to identify the core themes in your narrative, and a foundation for an application that feels intentional, grounded, and real. In a sea of overly polished applications that all sound the same, authenticity will set you apart. By end of this masterclass, you’ll walk away with: ✨ A clear sense of whether graduate school is the right next step and why 💡 An understanding of what you’re actually looking for in a program beyond rankings and prestige 🌱 The foundation of your narrative — the story that already exists that your application should tell 📋 A simple framework for making decisions with intention and clarity

Columbia MBA Essay Examples (Consultant / Corp Dev / ETA / LGBTQ)

Explore successful Columbia Business School essays that articulate career goals, demonstrate inclusive leadership, and highlight fit with the program's unique culture and NYC opportunities.

Find Your Fit: Selecting The Right Schools For You [9/11/2026] (Recording)

Part 1 of 6 — Build Your Best MBA Application: One Piece at a Time, a free series (5:00–5:45pm ET). Pick the right schools — on purpose, not by ranking. This session walks through the exact fit framework I use with my 1:1 clients: start with the big three — geography, career pursuits, and community/culture — then layer in pedagogy, selectivity, cost, and network. From there we'll build the weighted scorecard my clients use to rank every program by personal fit, not someone else's list. We'll also pressure-test: balancing reach, target, and likely schools, confirming each program actually places grads into your target post-MBA roles and companies, and what to capture for every school once the list locks — deadlines, decision dates, rec counts, interview formats. Your school list should be locked before the essay sprint begins. You'll leave with the framework to lock yours this month.

8 Steps to an MBA App: 5) Why an MBA? Why now? Your contributions?

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 fifth 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 define exactly what you need from an MBA and articulate the value you will bring to an MBA community, making sure you can answer the questions of why an MBA and why now successfully. 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 watch individual videos if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. This session moves your MBA application forward by clearly defining why you need an MBA now and what you will contribute to your future program: • Identify the specific skills, experiences, and perspectives you need from an MBA. • Clarify the academic, leadership, and experiential gaps your MBA must fill. • Articulate the perspectives, experiences, and strengths you will contribute to your MBA community. • Ensure your application shows both readiness for the MBA and a clear reason for pursuing it now. This is the phase where your goals and identity connect directly to the MBA itself. Instead of simply saying you want an MBA, you will clearly explain why this step is essential for your growth and how your presence will enrich the classroom and community. 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 exactly how an MBA fits into your journey and demonstrate both readiness and contribution, this is your next step. Message me to receive a copy of the Why an MBA Why Now Worksheet I mentioned in the video!

AMA - Dental School Applications [7/9/2026] (Recording)

The 2026-27 AADSAS Application opened on May 12, and the first day to submit was June 2. WHere do you stand? Are youstillperfectingh tat application? Struggling with program materials and secondaries? Are you preparing to take the Kira exam? Join former Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Director of Admissions for an open Q&A on the basics. You ask, Ellen answers. Bring your questions!

A Roadmap to Graduate School Applications

Applying to graduate school is a multi-step journey, and success depends on having a clear plan from start to finish. This session walks through the full application roadmap, from early preparation and program selection to essays, recommendations, interviews, and final decisions. You’ll learn how to prioritize each stage, avoid common pitfalls, and stay organized throughout the process so you can submit strong, confident applications.

How to Become an AI Leader At Your Company

AI leadership isn’t just about technical expertise—it’s about influence, strategy, and execution. In this session, expert Leland coach and AI Program Director at Fabletics Logan K. will break down how to position yourself as a trusted AI leader within your organization, regardless of your formal role. You’ll learn how to identify high-impact opportunities, communicate AI value to stakeholders, and drive adoption responsibly and effectively.