Leland+ Content Library

How to Write an MBA Goals Essay

A complete framework for writing the goals essay that nearly every MBA program requires. Learn the winning formula, then use fillable tables to map your goals, select supporting past experiences, and connect to opportunities at up to four target schools. At the end, you'll have everything you need to draft a focused goals essay.

Gain Competitive Advantage as a Non-Traditional Applicant

Standing out as a non-traditional dental school applicant requires more than explaining your path—it requires positioning it as an advantage. In this session, you’ll learn how to frame career changes, academic gaps, or time in the workforce as strengths, address common admissions concerns, and build a cohesive narrative across your application and interviews. Whether you’re pivoting careers or applying later than your peers, you’ll leave with a clear strategy to turn your unique background into a competitive edge.

Round 1 MBA Strategy: Get Admitted & Maximize Your Scholarship Chances [9/14/2026] (Recording)

A practical session focused on Round 1 MBA applications, with the goal of maximizing both your chances of admission and scholarship funding. We’ll cover how to position your profile, build a compelling personal and career narrative, tailor your application to each school, strengthen your résumé and essays, approach recommendations, and identify the key factors that can differentiate you from other candidates. We’ll also discuss scholarship strategy, timing, and common mistakes to avoid so you can submit a strong, competitive application in Round 1.

Application Power Hour: Standout Resume, Essay, & Recommendation Tips

Applying to college or graduate school can feel overwhelming - but with the right approach, you can make every part of your application shine. In this power-packed hour, you’ll learn how to: - Build a resume that shows who you are and what you’ve accomplished. - Write an essay that’s authentic and memorable. - Secure letters of recommendation that strengthen your story. Whether you’re just getting started or polishing your final draft, this session will give you the tools and confidence to submit your strongest application.

Decoding the GMAT FE: What You Need to Know Before You Register

Thinking about business school? The new GMAT Focus Edition is here—shorter, smarter, and designed to highlight the skills that matter most in today's data-driven business world. Whether you're transitioning from the classic GMAT or comparing it to the GRE, this session breaks down everything you need to know: from exam structure and section strategies to scoring and test-day logistics. Join us to get insider tips, practice problems, and the confidence to plan your prep—and your future—effectively.

The 5 Traits of Memorable College Applicants [7/1/2026] (Recording)

Memorable college applicants aren’t always the ones with the longest resumes, they’re the ones who present themselves with clarity, purpose, and authenticity. This session is for students who want to understand what actually makes an application stand out at highly competitive schools. You’ll learn the five traits that consistently show up in strong applicants, how admissions readers evaluate potential, and how to highlight your strengths in a more compelling way. Join live to ask questions about your own application strategy and hear directly from a former Harvard admissions officer. The speaker has reviewed countless applications and now coaches students through the admissions process, giving them a unique perspective on what resonates most with top schools. Expect practical guidance and insights similar to what’s discussed in 1:1 admissions coaching conversations.

Find Your MBA Fit

Considering an MBA but not quite sure which programs are the right fit? All these MBA options sound the same? Not even sure why you want an MBA yet? Should you apply to 2 schools, or 7? Been there. As a Stanford GSB Alum who's helped over 300 applicants land a coveted spot at top programs like GSB, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg and more, I'm throwing together this free 45-minute event to cover some criteria you can use to narrow your search. You'll come away with a clearer idea of how to pick the right schools for you so you can focus your time and energy. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot and take the first step not just towards applying, but applying to the right places.

Think Your Career is Too Unconventional for an M7? Watch This Before Round 2. [10/12/2026] (Recording)

A classical musician and a water sustainability expert share the application strategies that got them into top B-Schools, and elite Tech & MBB roles post-MBA. In this session, we will cover how to position your application across your essay, resume, who to choose as your recommenders, and how to leverage your background for scholarships & aid.

Deferred (2+2) MBA Application Week Kickoff

Thinking about applying to a Deferred MBA program? Join us for Leland’s Deferred MBA Week Kickoff, featuring top Leland coaches Andy P. (20+ years of MBA coaching), Allie K. (75+ M7 Admits), and Geri T. (Founder of Harvard's DMBA Program), who have helped countless candidates get into the most competitive programs at schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton.

8 Steps to an MBA app: 1) Life Story, Timeline, & MBA Resume

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 starting point 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 build your foundational Life Timeline of all your key stories and begin transforming your resume into MBA format. 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 1 identifies your significant experiences and reshapes your resume into MBA format: • Understand the full trajectory of the 8-phase MBA Identity Mapping process and how each piece connects. • Build a comprehensive Life Timeline that captures the raw material of your life. • Begin transforming your professional resume into MBA format. 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 stop juggling tasks and start building an organized, cohesive MBA application, this is where you begin. (Please message me if you would like a copy of the super helpful free resource mentioned in the video: MBA Resume Transformation Guide.)

How-To Industry Deep Dive

Get the inside scoop on your target industry! Learn how to conduct expert-level research for job applications, career changes, and more.

Complete MBA Step-by-Step Application Plan, Timeline & Checklist

Applying to business school can feel like juggling too many balls at once: endless information, countless to-dos, and constant second-guessing about what really matters. In this session, MBA admissions coach M will share the structured system she uses to help applicants cut through the noise, stay motivated, and make steady progress toward their goals. Bonus: You’ll also hear directly from Vandit, an Indian applicant currently in the middle of his own journey, who will share an international perspective and what it feels like to apply these tools in real-time. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international options like INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, and HEC Paris. Clients consistently say it’s transformative, not only does it uncover the deeper patterns, values, and defining experiences that set you apart, it also organizes your journey into manageable steps that reduce stress and build confidence. By the end of this workshop, you’ll walk away with a clear action plan, a realistic timeline/schedule, and a practical checklist to keep you organized and on track from start to finish.

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.

How to Get Started with the LSAT

Starting your LSAT prep can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure where to begin. In this session, you’ll learn how the exam is structured, what skills it truly tests, and how to build a smart study plan that fits your timeline and goals. We’ll cover foundational strategies for Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, how to track progress effectively, and common mistakes to avoid early on. Whether you’re months away from test day or just exploring law school, you’ll leave with a clear, confident starting point.

How to Land a Consulting Offer from your MBA

Breaking into consulting from business school is one of the most competitive recruiting paths—but with the right preparation, it’s completely achievable. In this session, expert Leland coach who received offers from both McKinsey and BCG Rifat M. will walk you through the full MBA consulting recruiting process, from networking and resume prep to case and behavioral interview mastery. You’ll learn how to position your background, build relationships with firms, and stand out in a crowded field to land your consulting offer with confidence.

Nailing the MBA Interview

​In this panel, MBA admissions experts will share strategies to help you prepare for one of the most critical parts of the application process: the interview. From common question types and school-specific approaches to storytelling techniques and pitfalls to avoid, you’ll get insider perspectives from Oren M., Emily L., and Temi O. ​Whether you’re gearing up for Round 1 interviews or looking ahead to Round 2, this session will give you practical tips, proven frameworks, and the confidence to walk into your MBA interviews fully prepared.

MBA Recommendation Letters: How to Write the Brief for a Strong LOR [10/15/2026] (Recording)

Leave this session with a clear plan for your recommenders and a ready-to-use brief template you can send them this week. Your recommendation letters are the one part of your application written by someone else, and they carry real weight with admissions committees. Most recommenders want to help but do not know what schools are looking for, which examples to use, or how their letter fits with the rest of your application. A strong brief, sometimes called a recommender packet, gives them exactly that. For Round 2, now is the time to prepare it, while your recommenders still have weeks rather than days. In this session, you will: • Learn how to choose between a senior title and someone who truly knows your work, and what to do if your manager cannot know you are applying • See what schools actually ask recommenders, including leadership competency grids and school-specific questions • Learn how to make the ask clearly and lock in a completion date • Compare weak and strong briefs side by side, and see what to include so your recommenders can write with specific examples • Prepare your recommenders for the constructive feedback question, where many otherwise strong letters fall short • Understand how to handle recommenders who ask you to write the letter yourself, and what international applicants should consider when a recommender writes in a second language Most applicants send their recommenders a resume and hope for the best. The result is often two letters that repeat the same achievements in general terms. A strong brief assigns each recommender different examples based on what they personally saw you do, so each letter adds something new to your application instead of repeating the other. I have guided 100+ applicants into every M7, across the top 20 in the U.S., and leading international programs (INSEAD, LBS, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more). Give your recommenders everything they need to write specific, credible letters. Register now to claim your spot.

Build an Exclusive Lead Engine: From Public Signals to Sales-Ready Leads [9/19/2026] (Recording)

Most teams do not have a lead-volume problem, they have a signal-quality, timing, and follow-up problem. In this practical session, I’ll show you how to design a first-party lead engine that monitors legitimate public signals, turns raw records into sales-ready opportunities, and routes qualified leads into a human-owned sales workflow. You will learn how to evaluate data sources, score records for actionability, prevent duplicates, set up review gates, and measure whether the system produces pipeline—not just spreadsheet rows. This is for founders, agency owners, revenue operators, and professional-services teams that want an alternative to buying generic lists or relying entirely on rising paid-media costs.