Leland+ Content Library

Winning Essays from My HBS Admits [7/17/2026] (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 HBS.

Winning Essays from My Kellogg & Booth Admits [8/7/2026] (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 Chicago Booth & Northwestern Kellogg

The MBA Narrative Lab: Where Story Meets Strategy

Most MBA applicants have strong resumes. Far fewer know how to turn their experiences into a cohesive, compelling narrative that actually drives admissions decisions. In The MBA Narrative Lab: Where Story Meets Strategy, you’ll learn how to connect your career moves, leadership moments, and future goals into a clear story that resonates. The speaker regularly works 1:1 with MBA candidates, and this session offers rare access to the same narrative frameworks used in coaching sessions to shape standout applications. Who This Is For - Applicants planning to apply in the next 1–2 cycles - Reapplicants who need a stronger, clearer positioning - Candidates struggling to connect “why MBA” to long-term goals - High achievers whose story feels scattered on paper What You’ll Walk Away With - A practical framework to define your core narrative arc - How to align past experience with future goals convincingly - The patterns I see across successful candidates at top programs - The kinds of story gaps and positioning mistakes I fix in 1:1 sessions - A simple exercise to pressure-test your narrative before writing essays

How to Ace Your Ivy League Interview

How to Ace Your Ivy League Interview is a premium, visual guide that walks applicants through every stage of the Ivy League interview process, from research and preparation to presence, delivery, and follow-through. This guide goes school by school across all eight Ivy League institutions, surfacing the niche programs, cultural touchstones, and academic traditions that signal genuine fit to alumni interviewers. It then builds outward into the full arc of a successful interview: how to construct and own your personal narrative, how to decode and answer the questions that appear most consistently, how to carry yourself in the room, how to close strong, and how to follow up in a way that keeps you top of mind. The guide is structured around seven actionable sections and packed with frameworks, do/don't tables, answer scaffolds, and a week-by-week prep timeline. Best for: High school juniors and seniors preparing for Ivy League or highly selective college interviews who want a rigorous, specific, and beautifully designed resource to guide their preparation from first research to final thank-you note.

Things You Need to Know Before Submitting Your Law School Application

​As deadlines approach, it’s essential to make sure every piece of your law school application tells a cohesive and compelling story. In this panel, expert Leland law school coaches will share insider tips on how to polish your materials, avoid last-minute mistakes, and approach submission day with confidence. From personal statements and addenda to letters of recommendation and timing strategy, you’ll learn what admissions committees are really looking for in the final stretch. ​Whether you’re putting finishing touches on your application or preparing for future cycles, this session will give you the clarity and tactical guidance to submit with confidence. ​Meet Your Panelists ​Yaseen E. – Law school admissions coach with a track record of helping students gain admission to top programs through strategic storytelling and strong LSAT preparation. ​Margo K. – Former admissions professional with years of experience guiding applicants in crafting standout essays and identifying best-fit law schools. ​Ruthie S. – Law school coach specializing in personal statement development, application strategy, and helping students find their authentic voice in the admissions process.

Winning Essays from My Wharton Admits [7/31/2026] (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 Wharton.

Supercharge Your Job Search with AI

AI can be your secret advantage in the job search, helping you craft stronger resumes, uncover company insights in minutes, and walk into interviews fully prepared. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to turn AI into your personal career assistant—one that helps you rewrite your resume with impact, uncover insights about companies in minutes, and prepare stories that shine in interviews. You’ll see how to use AI to highlight your transferable skills, reframe experience for a career pivot, tailor your resume for each role, and even turn your best achievements into polished STAR stories. We’ll also explore how to use AI to research company strategy, culture, and recent initiatives, so you walk into interviews informed and confident. Outcomes: You’ll leave with an AI-powered job search workflow: one that helps you write stronger resumes, research faster, and interview smarter. Learning Objectives: *Understand how AI can accelerate and improve the job search process. *Use AI to reframe and tailor resume content for specific roles or industries. *Apply prompt frameworks to research companies and identify key insights. *Collaborate with AI to develop authentic STAR-format interview stories.

Turn Big Goals Into Consistent Action [9/15/2026] (Recording)

Big goals often stall not because we lack ambition, but because translating them into consistent action can be harder than setting the goal itself. When a goal feels far away or difficult to manage alongside day-to-day responsibilities, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, lose momentum, or spend more time planning than actually moving forward. In this session, we’ll introduce a practical framework for breaking ambitious goals into clear milestones and daily actions so you can make meaningful progress through consistency rather than pressure or perfection. We’ll cover: • Why big goals often stall after the initial excitement wears off • How to turn a big goal into clear milestones and actionable priorities • The Jar Framework for identifying the actions that matter most • How to use Good, Better, Best to stay consistent when life gets busy • Practical ways to build momentum through small, repeated action You’ll leave with a simple framework you can apply to a meaningful goal in your career or life and a clearer understanding of how to turn ambition into consistent progress. This workshop is part of a 3-part goal achievement series for ambitious professionals.

The Family Business MBA Blueprint [7/24/2026] (Recording)

Joining a family business can be both an extraordinary opportunity and a unique challenge. Future leaders are often expected to preserve what previous generations have built while simultaneously navigating changing markets, new technologies, evolving customer expectations, and increased competition. Whether you currently work in your family business or plan to join after business school, this workshop will explore how to position your family business background effectively throughout the MBA admissions process and maximize the value of an MBA experience. We’ll discuss how admissions committees evaluate applicants from family businesses, how to demonstrate impact and leadership beyond family affiliation, and how to build a compelling narrative around your long-term vision for the business. By the end of this session, you will be able to: * Understand how top MBA programs evaluate candidates from family business backgrounds. * Develop a compelling narrative that demonstrates leadership, ownership, and impact—not simply family affiliation. * Articulate a clear “Why MBA?” and “Why now?” rationale as a future family business leader. * Position your family business experience effectively in resumes, essays, interviews, and recommendations. * Leave with practical next steps for strengthening both your MBA candidacy and your long-term leadership potential.

MBA Interview Story Bank: Build Your Best Stories Before the Invite [9/10/2026] (Recording)

Great MBA interview answers rarely start with memorizing answers to a list of questions. They start with knowing your own experiences well enough to draw on the right story when you need it. In this session, we’ll show you how to build an MBA interview story bank before interview invitations begin arriving. You’ll identify the strongest experiences from your background and learn how to turn them into flexible stories you can use across dozens of behavioral and school-specific questions. We’ll cover: Which types of stories every MBA applicant should have ready, including leadership, teamwork, conflict, failure, influence, initiative, impact, difficult decisions, and personal growth How to choose your strongest example when several experiences could answer the same question How one experience can support multiple interview questions without giving the same answer repeatedly How to structure stories clearly without sounding rehearsed or robotic How to make your answers specific, reflective, and memorable How to identify gaps in your story bank while you still have time to prepare Whether you have already submitted or are finishing your Round 1 applications, you’ll leave with a practical framework for building the core stories that can support your interviews across multiple MBA programs.

Cómo posicionarte para una búsqueda de empleo internacional [6/22/2026] (Recording)

Buscar trabajo en un contexto internacional no consiste solo en traducir tu CV al inglés o postular a más ofertas. Muchas veces, el verdadero problema es otro: tienes experiencia, capacidades y criterio, pero tu perfil no se entiende con claridad fuera de tu mercado, tu sector o tu país. En este webinar veremos cómo posicionarte mejor para oportunidades internacionales, para que tu experiencia tenga más sentido para recruiters, hiring managers y programas en entornos globales. Hablaremos de cómo presentar tu trayectoria de forma más clara, cómo destacar lo que realmente importa y cómo construir una narrativa profesional que resulte creíble, relevante y competitiva. En este webinar aprenderás a: - entender por qué un perfil sólido puede perder fuerza en un proceso internacional - identificar qué partes de tu experiencia no se están traduciendo bien fuera de tu contexto local - presentar tu trayectoria de una manera más clara, estratégica y atractiva - construir un perfil que conecte mejor con empleadores internacionales - mejorar la forma en que explicas tu experiencia en tu CV, LinkedIn y entrevistas - evitar errores comunes al postular a oportunidades globales Al final de la sesión, saldrás con: - una idea más clara de cómo posicionar tu perfil para el mercado internacional - un mejor marco para explicar tu experiencia y tus fortalezas - más claridad sobre qué cambiar en tu CV, LinkedIn y narrativa profesional - una forma más estratégica de presentarte para oportunidades fuera de tu país o sector actual Este webinar es para profesionales que: - quieren acceder a empleos en empresas internacionales o en otro país - están intentando reorientar su perfil hacia un mercado más global - sienten que su experiencia tiene valor, pero no está “aterrizando” bien en procesos internacionales - quieren presentarse con más claridad, confianza y estrategia - están aplicando a roles globales, programas internacionales o posiciones en inglés Tanto si estás empezando tu búsqueda como si ya llevas tiempo postulando sin conseguir la respuesta que esperabas, esta sesión te ayudará a entender cómo hacer que tu perfil sea más claro, más legible y más competitivo en un contexto internacional.

Can You Pass the MBA Interview? Live Mock Interview [10/2/2026] (Recording)

What would happen if your MBA interview started tomorrow? This is not a presentation about interview tips. It is a live mock MBA admissions interview. I’ll simulate the type of conversation you can expect in a MBA interview and then break down what worked, what raised questions, and how the candidate could improve. We’ll explore the areas that matter most: Your personal and professional story Career progression and key decisions Leadership and teamwork Why MBA, why now? Post-MBA career goals Your understanding of the MBA nd how you would contribute Follow-up questions that test whether your answers are genuinely your own I’ll also explain what I would be listening for as an interviewer, rather than simply giving you a list of “perfect answers.” The goal is to help you understand the difference between an answer that sounds prepared and an answer that actually convinces an admissions interviewer. Come prepared to participate — I’ll invite applicants to take part in the live mock interview. This is strongly grounded in the actual MBA alumni interviewer guidance: the interview evaluates pre-MBA life/career, leadership and teamwork, school knowledge and post-MBA career goals, and interviewers are encouraged to use follow-up questions to test genuine understanding of the application

Land Your Job or Study in ... Denmark (Sept. 2026 edition)

Denmark does not make much noise. It does not need to. Novo Nordisk alone accounts for roughly 4% of the entire Danish GDP. Vestas leads the world in wind energy. Danfoss sets the standard in industrial automation. These are not household names to most non-EU professionals, and that is precisely the point: the competition for roles here is lower than the quality of the companies would suggest. The labour market is tight and the skills shortage is real, which works in your favour. English is the default language in most professional environments. The workforce is genuinely multicultural, and Danish workplace culture is notably flat: titles matter less than contribution. This session covers both paths in: studying at world-class institutions like Copenhagen Business School and the Technical University of Denmark, and entering the job market directly. We go through visa options, the Danish approach to work-life integration, living costs, and what international candidates consistently get wrong in their applications. Two real cases show what a successful move to Denmark actually looks like. Denmark is smaller than its neighbours and more selective. This Thursday, we show you exactly how to qualify. New episodes in this series cover a different European country every Tuesday.

Land Your Job or Study in ... Denmark

Denmark does not make much noise. It does not need to. Novo Nordisk alone accounts for roughly 4% of the entire Danish GDP. Vestas leads the world in wind energy. Danfoss sets the standard in industrial automation. These are not household names to most non-EU professionals, and that is precisely the point: the competition for roles here is lower than the quality of the companies would suggest. The labour market is tight and the skills shortage is real, which works in your favour. English is the default language in most professional environments. The workforce is genuinely multicultural, and Danish workplace culture is notably flat: titles matter less than contribution. This session covers both paths in: studying at world-class institutions like Copenhagen Business School and the Technical University of Denmark, and entering the job market directly. We go through visa options, the Danish approach to work-life integration, living costs, and what international candidates consistently get wrong in their applications. Two real cases show what a successful move to Denmark actually looks like. Denmark is smaller than its neighbours and more selective. This Thursday, we show you exactly how to qualify. New episodes in this series cover a different European country every Thursday.

AMA/Office Hours: Sales "deal desk"

Got a tough deal you're trying to close? Not sure how to handle a tricky objection, or how to structure pricing for your early-stage product? Need help figuring out why a once-hot opportunity has gone cold? Bring your sales questions to this open “Deal Desk” AMA session. Whether you’re a founder doing your own sales, an AE trying to close faster, or a BDR struggling to get responses, this is your space to get unfiltered, tactical guidance from a startup sales coach who’s been in your shoes. I’ve helped dozens of venture-backed startups go from zero to repeatable sales processes, and I’m opening up the floor to help you work through your blockers in real-time. Think of this like having a VP of Sales on speed dial for 60 minutes. About me: I have an MBA from Stanford and was the first sales hire at two venture-backed startups that now have 9 figure valuations (Arc Technologies and Trunk Tools). I'm now a full-time sales coach and consultant to help B2B SaaS startups to scale beyond founder-led sales, turning interested prospects into paying customers. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights and strategies tailored to your needs.

Elevate Your Common App: Craft a Powerful Activities List

Are you applying to college and nervous about how to talk about your activities? Join Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, for this live workshop focused on helping you highlight your story through your activities list. This workshop will help you craft a powerful Common App activities list that showcases your unique interests and accomplishments beyond superficial activity descriptions. Learn 3 strategies to ensure that your application makes a compelling impression on admissions committees, captures your essence, and maximizes your chances of standing out in the admissions process. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your application! Who is leading the workshop? As a former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford, Isamar personally reviewed over 7,000 applications. As an admissions consultant, she coached students to gain admission to universities like Yale, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, UVA, Pomona, and more. She has supported both US and international students, as well as first-gen students. Isamar’s personalized, empathetic, and strategic approach ensures that your unique strengths and experiences shine through in your application. Her goal is for you to feel that you are applying as your best self, no matter where you’re applying. Isamar is a proud first-generation college graduate with a BA and EdM from Harvard, and an MBA from Oxford.

AMA: Insider Tips from 20+ yrs of MBA Admissions & Coaching

Unlock the secrets of MBA admissions with Christine, a seasoned one-of-a-kind expert with 20+ years of admissions experience across three elite MBA programs. This "Ask Me Anything" session is your chance to gain invaluable insights into the application process. Christine's impressive background includes admissions roles at Chicago Booth, London Business School, and Yale School of Management, where she has helped craft MBA classes and understands the nuances of what makes a successful applicant. With a track record of over 400 M7 admits and more than $5 million in scholarship awards secured for her clients, Christine is a one-of-a-kind consultant equipped to guide you through every step of your MBA journey. Join us to explore application strategies, discuss how to make a stand out MBA resume, learn what makes a candidate stand out, and gain insight into how applications are reviewed and admissions decisions are made. Christine's no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach will help you craft an authentic story that highlights your unique strengths and differences. Whether you're just starting your MBA application journey or you're already on your way, join me and leave equipped with insights into the M7 (and beyond) application process.

Is Your MBA Application Actually Ready for Round 1? [8/27/2026] (Recording)

Round 1 deadlines for top MBA programs land are fast approaching . If you're applying this cycle, you're weeks away from submitting, and it's easy to lose perspective on whether your application is actually strong or just feels done because you're tired of looking at it. I'm a former McKinsey consultant and HBS MBA. In this session, I'll walk through what actually separates a strong Round 1 application from one that gets rejected, focusing on the parts most applicants underestimate: story, positioning, and how your essays hold together as a coherent narrative, not just a collection of good individual answers. This isn't a test prep session. It's for people who've done the work and want a clear-eyed check before they hit submit, or who are close to done and want to know what's still missing. What we'll cover: - The difference between an application that's "finished" and one that's actually ready - How to spot a weak or disjointed narrative in your own essays - Common positioning mistakes that even strong candidates make - What admissions readers are actually looking for beyond the resume line items Come with questions. If you have a draft essay or two, even better, we'll use real examples where we can.

Non-Traditional Background? How to Turn Your Background into an MBA Advantage [8/23/2026] (Recording)

If you’re applying to an MBA without a classic finance or consulting background, this session is for you. As a former Director of MBA Admissions, I’ve reviewed thousands of applications from artists, engineers, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, healthcare professionals, teachers, athletes, and career-switchers — and I know exactly how unconventional profiles can rise to the top of the pile. In “Non-Traditional Background? Here’s How to Make the MBA Adcom Say Yes”, I’ll break down how admissions committees actually evaluate candidates with unique paths, what they value most, and how you can present your story in a way that feels authentic, powerful, and strategically aligned with what top programs are seeking. We’ll cover: What “non-traditional” really means in MBA admissions The strengths and blind spots most unconventional applicants have How to highlight your transferable skills (leadership, analytical ability, impact) How to position pivots, gaps, or non-linear paths The elements of a compelling narrative that stands out Real examples of successful non-traditional admits A live Q&A to answer your specific questions Whether you come from the arts, education, government, startups, healthcare, hospitality, science, military, or any unexpected field, you’ll walk away with clarity and a concrete strategy for making the adcom say yes.