Leland+ Content Library

Inside Private Equity: Ask a PE Founder and Former BlackRock Director Anything

Private equity can be hard to break into and even harder to fully understand from the outside. This session is for candidates who want a candid look into the industry from someone who has operated at a high level and built their own firm. You’ll learn how private equity professionals think about investing, what the day-to-day actually involves, and how candidates can better position themselves for roles in the field.

Defining the 1%: The Skills and Habits Behind 99th Percentile LSAT Scores

Scoring in the 99th percentile on the LSAT requires more than just practice—it reflects a specific set of skills, habits, and ways of thinking that most test takers never fully develop. This session is for students aiming to break into the 170s who want to understand what truly separates top scorers from the rest. You’ll learn how high scorers approach each section, the study habits that drive consistent improvement, and what differentiates performance across the 150s, 160s, and 170s.

What Deferred MBA Essays Need to Accomplish, and How to Get There

Deferred MBA essays are less about polished resumes and more about potential, clarity of goals, and long-term impact, and getting them right requires a very specific approach. In this session, you’ll learn what top programs actually expect deferred candidates to demonstrate, how admissions committees read these essays differently from traditional MBA applications, and how to structure your responses to show maturity, self-awareness, and trajectory. We’ll break down common pitfalls, winning themes, and practical steps to move from a blank page to a compelling final draft with confidence.

PM Recruiting 2026: What’s Changing and How to Stand Out This Cycle

Product management recruiting is evolving—candidate pools are growing, expectations are shifting, and what worked in past cycles may not be enough for 2026. To stand out this year, you need more than solid PM skills; you need clear positioning, a strong narrative, and a deep understanding of what companies are prioritizing right now. In this session, we’ll break down what’s changing in PM recruiting for 2026 and how you can adapt your strategy to stay competitive. The session will be led by an experienced PM coach who has helped candidates successfully navigate PM recruiting across top tech companies. Drawing on firsthand coaching and hiring insights, they’ll walk through current recruiting trends, how recruiters and hiring managers evaluate candidates, and the specific ways top applicants differentiate themselves in resumes, interviews, and storytelling. You’ll leave with practical, actionable guidance you can apply immediately as you prepare for the 2026 recruiting cycle.

The Truth About Deferred MBA Essays: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why

In this session, Leland Coach Kristen H., a HBS and GSB deferred admit and expert in early-career MBA strategy, will pull back the curtain on what separates successful essays from forgettable ones. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of how to approach each essay prompt strategically — and how to make your essays stand out in a competitive Deferred MBA cycle.

2 Must-Haves for Round 2 And What To Do Right Now!

​Round 2 deadlines are right around the corner - is your application ready? Bruce H. and Betsy M. have over 30 years of MBA admissions experience and they will share the 2 essential things you MUST have in your application. ​Deadlines are coming up fast and Betsy and Bruce will give you their best advice on what you should be doing RIGHT NOW to produce your strongest application by January. They will also talk about whether it is better to apply this year or if waiting until next year will give you a better chance of attending your dream school.

Stay Calm, Solve On: How to Manage Stress and Master GRE Quant

​Struggling to stay calm under pressure while tackling GRE Quant? You're not alone—many test-takers feel the stress building as they approach those high-stakes math questions. ​In this session, Avi L., a 15-year veteran GRE/GRE-Quant coach on Leland who scored a 339 on the GRE and has coached over 500 people, will show you how to manage stress, sharpen your mindset, and master key Quant topics efficiently. ​You’ll learn how to build a clear prep plan, recognize your mental bottlenecks during test day, and apply proven strategies to elevate your score while staying composed. Whether you’re aiming for a big Quant jump or simply seeking clarity and confidence, this session will equip you to perform at your best.

How to Ace PE Interviews: From Behaviorals and Technicals to Why PE

​Private equity interviews test more than your technical skills—they assess your judgment, communication, and fit. In this workshop, Claire H. and Jonathan L.—three seasoned finance professionals who have successfully navigated and conducted PE interviews—will walk you through what top firms are really looking for. You’ll learn how to craft thoughtful answers to behavioral questions, structure strong technical responses, and nail your “Why PE” story. ​Between Claire’s experience at Morgan Stanley and The Carlyle Group and Jonathan's role as a senior PE associate at General Atlantic, you’ll gain insider insights from both sides of the interview table. Whether you’re preparing for on-cycle recruiting or exploring post-banking opportunities, this session will give you actionable strategies and the confidence to stand out in competitive PE recruiting.

If You’re Admitted vs. If You’re Not – Next Steps and Growth Opportunities

• What to do immediately if admitted off the waitlist (next steps checklist) • If not admitted: reframing and reapplication mindset • How to carry lessons forward to strengthen next cycle applications • Managing timelines (deposits, deferrals, reapp deadlines) • Closing encouragement: progress > perfection

Real Estate Private Equity: What it is and How to Break In

​Real estate private equity (REPE) is one of the most dynamic and lucrative areas of finance—but breaking in can feel like a black box. In this session, Leland coach Ayo K., a former Blackstone associate now working in REPE at a leading global firm, will walk you through what the field actually looks like and how to position yourself for success. ​You’ll gain an inside look at the types of deals REPE firms pursue, the skills and backgrounds that stand out in recruiting, and what day-to-day work really entails. Whether you’re currently in investment banking, exploring a pivot from another field, or just starting your career planning, this session will give you actionable strategies to understand the industry and take the right steps toward landing a role in real estate private equity.

Breaking In and Breaking Through: IB Crash Course for International MBA Associates

Designed specifically for international MBA students targeting Investment Banking roles in the US, this hands-on bootcamp demystifies the IB recruiting process and sets you up for success from networking to technicals. ​The session is led by Yudhajit D., a former IB associate and TTS trainer, and focuses on high-leverage areas that international candidates must master early: ​Storytelling & Behavioral Mastery for non-US backgrounds ​Technical Prep That Works Under Pressure ​Navigating Work Authorization & Visa Concerns Confidently ​What Top Banks Really Look for in International Candidates ​Yudhajit will use real examples, interactive exercises, and common recruiting pitfalls to help you confidently position yourself as a competitive IB candidate from Day 1 of recruiting.

Automate Prospect Research and Personalization with Claude Agents [6/13/2026] (Recording)

Stop manual Googling. This session walks you through using Claude browser agents to research prospects, extract key signals, and generate personalized first-touch messages at scale. Leave with a working prospect research + personalization workflow you can run this week. Agenda: • 10 min: The agentic research framework — what signals matter and how to extract them automatically • 25 min: Build-along — set up a Claude agent workflow for prospect research and first-touch personalization • 10 min: DFY qualification and CTA Who this is for: Service firm founders doing manual prospect research or relying on generic templates with low response rates. CTA: Book a System Builder call to have this workflow built and integrated into your outbound stack in 2 weeks.

IB Technicals 1: Accounting and the Three Statements [9/10/2026] (Recording)

Accounting is where investment banking technicals start, and it is the block everything else is built on. If you cannot trace a line item through the three statements, valuation stays abstract, M&A math floats free of its meaning, and LBO mechanics never click. So this session is the foundation: what each statement does, how they connect, and how to walk a change through all three out loud without losing the thread. This series is the foundational run. Six sessions that build the fundamental intuition, in the order the concepts should be learned. Each night covers how the concept works and, more importantly, how to actually answer the questions on it: the real questions banks ask, on screen, answered the way I would in the room, with the stories and details behind them. What we'll cover: - What an investment bank actually does, and the money basics the statements assume: stocks, bonds, and who gets paid first in a bankruptcy - What each statement is for, and the three lines that connect them - The order to walk them in, and why opening on the balance sheet falls apart - The pre-tax income shortcut, and why you say those words out loud instead of EBT - Why net income is not cash - A customer pays $100 upfront for a product you deliver next year. Walk me through the three statements. Want to find out where your technicals actually stand? I run a 90-minute mock interview, a full simulation and then rapid-fire technicals on whatever broke. Book a free 15-minute intro to see if it is a good fit. Part 1 of IB Technicals, a six part run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each one stands alone, so jump in anywhere. I'm the founder of OFFERGOBLIN and ex-Centerview tech.

Top GRE Tips: Arithmetic and Sentence Equivalence Problems [7/9/2026] (Recording)

Some of the fastest score gains on the GRE come from mastering the question types that appear again and again. This session is for test takers who want to strengthen both their quantitative and verbal performance by improving their approach to arithmetic and sentence equivalence problems. You’ll learn proven strategies for solving common question types efficiently, avoiding costly mistakes, and building the skills needed to perform consistently on test day. Join live to hear from a GRE expert who has helped more than 50 students score 325+. The speaker will break down the patterns behind challenging arithmetic and sentence equivalence questions, share practical shortcuts, and demonstrate the techniques that top scorers use to maximize accuracy and speed. Expect actionable tips you can immediately apply to your GRE preparation.

The Non-Traditional Applicant’s Blueprint to MBA Admissions [8/27/2026] (Recording)

If you're not a former consultant or banker, you've probably wondered: "Do I even belong in an MBA classroom?" Here's the truth nobody tells you: 55% of Harvard Business School's Class of 2027 came from outside consulting and finance. Military veterans, nonprofit leaders, engineers, educators, journalists, and career changers didn't just get in, they get in because of their unconventional backgrounds. But knowing that doesn't tell you how to do it. That's exactly what this session is for. ________________________________________ What you'll walk away with: In this session, I'll hand you the same positioning framework I used for my own application and that I now use with private clients. This framework has helped non-traditional applicants earn seats at HBS, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Tuck, Yale SOM, Stern, and many more. Specifically, we'll cover: The 5 fatal mistakes non-traditional applicants make that get them rejected, even with great GMAT scores and strong work histories. The Bridge Framework: a 5-step narrative architecture that turns your unconventional career path into your single biggest competitive advantage. What adcoms are actually saying about candidates like you right now, with direct quotes from admissions directors at Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, and Yale SOM GMAT/GRE strategy for non-quant backgrounds, including score benchmarks, waiver policies, and which schools give the most flexibility Scholarship opportunities most non-traditional applicants don't know they qualify for, from the Forté Foundation to the Consortium to Yale SOM's new Aspire Fellowships Live Q&A — bring your specific situation and get real, personalized coaching in real time ________________________________________ Who this is for: Military veterans. Nonprofit and government professionals. Engineers and STEM professionals making the pivot. Educators, creatives, journalists, and healthcare professionals. Career changers of every kind. Older applicants who've heard "you might be too experienced." First-generation college graduates. Anyone who has ever felt like the MBA process wasn't designed for them. It was. You just need the right blueprint. ________________________________________ About your host: Gabriel is a Harvard Economics graduate and Kellogg MBA where he was an F.C. Austin Scholar (Kellogg’s highest merit-based scholarship). Before attending Kellogg, he was a teacher and a nonprofit leader. He has over two decades of experience helping students navigate elite admissions processes. When he’s not coaching candidates, he leads strategic AI and Security partnerships at Microsoft. This is free. It's live. It's 45 minutes that could change the trajectory of your application. Reserve your spot now — seats are limited. Have a specific question about the college admissions process? DM me before the session - everyone who does is entered to win a free 1-hour strategy session ($375 value), announced live at the end.

The Non-Traditional Applicant’s Blueprint to MBA Admissions [7/30/2026] (Recording)

If you're not a former consultant or banker, you've probably wondered: "Do I even belong in an MBA classroom?" Here's the truth nobody tells you: 54% of Harvard Business School's Class of 2027 came from outside consulting and finance. Military veterans, nonprofit leaders, engineers, educators, journalists, and career changers didn't just get in, they get in because of their unconventional backgrounds. But knowing that doesn't tell you how to do it. That's exactly what this session is for. ________________________________________ What you'll walk away with: In this session, I'll hand you the same positioning framework I used for my own application and that I now use with private clients. This framework has helped non-traditional applicants earn seats at HBS, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Tuck, Yale SOM, Stern, and many more. Specifically, we'll cover: The 5 fatal mistakes non-traditional applicants make that get them rejected, even with great GMAT scores and strong work histories. The Bridge Framework: a 5-step narrative architecture that turns your unconventional career path into your single biggest competitive advantage. What adcoms are actually saying about candidates like you right now, with direct quotes from admissions directors at Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, and Yale SOM GMAT/GRE strategy for non-quant backgrounds, including score benchmarks, waiver policies, and which schools give the most flexibility Scholarship opportunities most non-traditional applicants don't know they qualify for, from the Forté Foundation to the Consortium to Yale SOM's new Aspire Fellowships Live Q&A — bring your specific situation and get real, personalized coaching in real time ________________________________________ Who this is for: Military veterans. Nonprofit and government professionals. Engineers and STEM professionals making the pivot. Educators, creatives, journalists, and healthcare professionals. Career changers of every kind. Older applicants who've heard "you might be too experienced." First-generation college graduates. Anyone who has ever felt like the MBA process wasn't designed for them. It was. You just need the right blueprint. ________________________________________ About your host: Gabriel is a Harvard Economics graduate and Kellogg MBA where he was an F.C. Austin Scholar (Kellogg’s highest merit-based scholarship). Before attending Kellogg, he was a teacher and a nonprofit leader. He has over two decades of experience helping students navigate elite admissions processes. When he’s not coaching candidates, he leads strategic AI and Security partnerships at Microsoft. This is free. It's live. It's 45 minutes that could change the trajectory of your application. Reserve your spot now — seats are limited. Have a specific question about the college admissions process? DM me before the session - everyone who does is entered to win a free 1-hour strategy session ($375 value), announced live at the end.

Consulting to MBA: What Actually Sets You Apart [9/22/2026] (Recording)

Consulting is one of the most common paths to an MBA, but coming from consulting doesn't automatically make your application stand out. The strongest candidates know how to translate their consulting experience into a compelling story about their leadership, goals, and reasons for pursuing an MBA. This session is for consultants considering business school who want to understand how to differentiate themselves in a competitive applicant pool. You'll learn how to position your consulting experience, approach the application process strategically, and avoid the common mistakes consulting applicants make. Join live for a panel of experts who have successfully made the transition from consulting to MBA programs. They'll answer the questions applicants most often have about the process and share firsthand insights on what they wish they had known before applying. Bring your questions and get practical advice for making your own transition to business school.

Mega AI Prompt Library - MBA Applications

A complete prompt library for using AI as your application co-pilot, organized by stage from school selection through final decision. Copy and paste 60+ ready-to-use prompts covering goals planning, personal branding, essay drafting, recommender strategy, application forms, interview prep, waitlist letters, and scholarship negotiation. At the end, you'll have a faster, sharper application without losing your authentic voice.

Secondary Applications: Writing Excellent Essays [6/9/2026] (Recording)

Secondary applications can quickly become overwhelming, and many strong applicants lose momentum when it comes time to write dozens of school-specific essays. This session is for medical school applicants who want a clearer strategy for writing compelling secondary responses efficiently and effectively. You’ll learn how to approach common prompts, maintain quality across multiple applications, and craft essays that feel personal without becoming repetitive. Join live to ask questions about your own secondary essays and hear guidance from a coach who completed over 40 secondaries and earned 13 medical school acceptances. The speaker has firsthand experience navigating the volume and pressure of the process and now helps applicants strengthen their writing and application strategy. Expect practical advice and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 coaching conversations.

International Applicants & the MBA Admissions Process: Keys to Success

This session is designed to support international candidates applying to top MBA programs in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond. It will also provide valuable insights for Americans targeting programs overseas. Jesse, a leading MBA admissions coach with deep experience guiding international applicants, will cover the unique challenges global candidates face, share strategies for differentiation, debunk common myths, and offer practical advice to strengthen your candidacy. ​Jesse has 8+ years of experience running a boutique MBA consultancy with his wife, specializing in coaching international applicants and guiding 100+ admits to Global Top 20 programs, such as all M7, London Business School, INSEAD, IESE, IE Business School, and HEC Paris. His insights are also shaped by 15+ years of living and working abroad in 12 countries and his strong track record of success with candidates from diverse backgrounds.