Leland+ Content Library

LBS MBA Application Essays | Securing that interview!

These are examples of detailed MBA application essays that secured a place at London Business School.

October Series Session 7: Negotiating Confidently

This session teaches you to treat salary negotiation as a normal business conversation about your value.

HBS Admit: Recommendation Letter Sample

See a successful recommendation letter that helped an applicant gain admission to Harvard Business School. Learn what makes a powerful MBA recommendation!

HBS Personal Statement: A Strong Example

See a compelling personal statement that helped an applicant gain admission to Harvard Business School. Learn what makes a powerful MBA essay.

Example Harvard MBA Essay - Career Aspirations

This example essay for Harvard Business School answers the "Briefly tell us more about your career aspirations" prompt and focuses on goals to be a cross-cultural leader.

Interview Insider: Decode the Hiring Manager [8/25/2026] (Recording)

You prepared for a Q&A session. The hiring manager is looking for a business solution. That gap is why great candidates can get rejected 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. 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.

HR & Talent Acquisition Resume: Sample

Review a sample resume showcasing experience in HR, talent acquisition, business intelligence, and client services within large organizations. Learn how to highlight diverse skill sets for HR-focused roles.

How to Answer the HBS "What Else?" Essay

A top MBA admissions expert breaks down a successful essay for Harvard Business School and shares how to answer the "what more would you like us to know?" prompt.

Promotion Readiness Scorecard

Score yourself across the five dimensions that actually drive promotion decisions -- Performance, Visibility, Leadership Presence, Sponsorship, and Business Impact. Identify your biggest gap and walk away with a prioritized 90-day action plan.

My Post-Consulting Resume That Gets Me Hired

See the resume that helped me transition from consulting to a top corporate strategy role. We'll break down the key skills and experiences.

Management Consulting Resume Template

A structured, MBB-style resume template designed for aspiring strategy consultants.

Drivers of Value Creation & Valuation: Insights for Hedge Fund Investors

In this foundational session, you’ll explore the key levers of business value creation—understanding how revenue dynamics, margin improvement, capital efficiency, and growth initiatives shape valuation. By grounding yourself in these fundamental concepts, you’ll establish the strategic foundation you need for identifying critical inflection points and alpha-generating opportunities in later deep-dive sessions. ​Guiding you through it is Leland coach Diyang Y., who brings first-hand experience from M&A at RBC and as a long/short equity analyst at Point72. He emphasizes that success in investing isn’t just technical—it’s about “thinking independently, building conviction in an idea, and communicating it clearly under pressure.” This session will offer not just conceptual clarity but practical tools to sharpen your analytical mindset and valuation approach.

Stop Firefighting: 4 Strategies to Reclaim Your Time and Scale Your Startup

In this session, you will walk away with a repeatable system for identifying which tasks only you can do versus what should be delegated or eliminated. You will learn how to build decision-making frameworks that prevent constant interruptions, and how to structure your week so that growth work stops getting crowded out by operational noise.

How to Nail “Why This Fund?”

Learn how to research a fund beyond their website - including their strategy, culture, and recent deals - and turn that insight into a response that shows deep alignment.

October Series - Creating a Career Plan (Session 2)

Jumping into the job search without a plan is like heading into battle without any armor or strategy. The most successful job seekers treat this step as building their strategy. It’s not just about knowing what you want, but also want you don't want. And how you’re going to avoid it. This means identifying what you’re looking for, what you’re not looking for, and assembling the tools and resources you’ll need along the way. The job search plan is the foundation for everything that follows. Without it, you’re likely to waste time on the wrong opportunities or get stuck in endless cycles of busywork. By taking the time to create a strategy and assemble your repertoire you give yourself the best chance of career success.

Michigan Ross Essay Examples for a Standout Application

See the actual essays that got one student admitted to the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

Successful Bain Resume – Economics, Research, and Global Leadership

A standout undergraduate resume combining academic excellence in economics and global health with leadership in model government, public policy research, and international education programs.

Wharton Contribution Essay – Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and DEI

A well-rounded contribution essay highlighting plans to enhance Wharton’s community through financial literacy workshops, startup recruiting efforts, and expanded DEI programming in the Asian American Association.

Stanford GSB Essay – What Matters Most and Why

Unpack a compelling Stanford GSB essay revealing a journey of owning identity, challenging norms, and empowering others to foster inclusive environments.

Wharton Personal Statement – Events, Ventures, and Nonprofit Leadership

An essay highlighting contributions to Wharton through event planning, peer leadership, and nonprofit engagement—grounded in civic experience and a passion for community impact.