Leland+ Content Library

Live Review of a Master's Personal Statement by an Expert Coach

Get an inside look at what makes a master’s personal statement stand out in a live, real-time review led by Ash C, one of Leland’s expert graduate admissions coaches. You’ll see how an experienced reader evaluates structure, clarity, storytelling, and fit—and learn exactly what elevates a draft from “good” to “admit-worthy.” Whether you're early in your writing or polishing your final version, you’ll walk away with concrete strategies to strengthen your own statement before deadlines hit.

Leaving an Impression: Telling a Compelling Story for the McKinsey PEI

The McKinsey Personal Experience Interview is designed to uncover how you lead, handle conflict, and drive impact, and your storytelling makes all the difference. This session will teach you how to craft clear, compelling PEI stories that demonstrate ownership, resilience, and results while staying authentic and concise. You’ll learn how interviewers evaluate responses, how to structure stories for maximum impact, and how to avoid common pitfalls that weaken otherwise strong experiences.

The Resume That Got Me Into Facebook As An IC6 PM

This is the exact resume that I submitted to Facebook, got me interviews and resulted in me being hired as an IC6 PM in 2017.

What Sets Great Cases Apart: Insights from an Ex-Mckinsey Interviewer

Great consulting candidates don’t just solve cases—they stand out in how they think, communicate, and lead the conversation. This workshop is designed to break down what truly separates strong case interviews from exceptional ones, drawing on insights from a former McKinsey interviewer. In this session, you’ll learn how interviewers evaluate structure, problem-solving approach, synthesis, and communication under pressure. We’ll cover common mistakes candidates make, what top consulting firms consistently look for, and how to elevate your case performance across interview rounds. Whether you’re building your foundation or fine-tuning for final-round interviews, you’ll leave with practical strategies and a clearer interviewer’s perspective.

How to Ace the Wharton TBD (From an Ex-Admissions Fellow)

​The Wharton Team-Based Discussion (TBD) is unlike any other MBA interview—a fast-paced, collaborative exercise designed to test how you think, communicate, and lead in a group setting. ​In this session, Brian B., a Wharton MBA graduate (with honors) and former Admissions Fellow who helped run Wharton’s TBDs, will share insider insight into what the admissions team is really looking for. Having coached dozens of MBA candidates, Brian will walk you through how to prepare effectively, contribute with confidence, and stand out as both a strong teammate and leader.

How to Ace the Wharton TBD (From an Ex-Admissions Fellow)

The Wharton Team-Based Discussion (TBD) is unlike any other MBA interview—a fast-paced, collaborative exercise designed to test how you think, communicate, and lead in a group setting. ​In this session, Brian B., a Wharton MBA graduate (with honors) and former Admissions Fellow who helped run Wharton’s TBDs, will share insider insight into what the admissions team is really looking for. Having coached dozens of MBA candidates, Brian will walk you through how to prepare effectively, contribute with confidence, and stand out as both a strong teammate and leader. ​Whether you’ve received your Wharton invite or are planning ahead, you’ll leave this session with actionable frameworks and strategies to excel in the TBD.

Navigating an AI Career: from Google to Microsoft to AI startups

Curious what it’s really like to build a career in AI—and how to stand out in one of tech’s fastest-growing fields? In this session, Michael A., who previously worked at McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft, and who now works with AI startups, will share insights from his own journey across big tech and emerging companies. You’ll learn how to identify the right roles in AI, what skills and experiences matter most to hiring teams, and how to position yourself for long-term success in this evolving space.

AI at Work: 5 Ways to Save an Hour a Day

Feeling overwhelmed by AI but not sure where to start? This hands-on workshop shows you exactly how to use AI for real work—today. This session is for professionals who want to work smarter, not harder, using free AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude. Outcomes: You’ll leave with a clear framework for prompting AI effectively, five ready-to-use examples for real work, and customized prompts to fit your own role. Learning Objectives: *Understand how AI fits into everyday workflows *Identify 3+ tasks AI can do faster and better *Practice a repeatable method for effective prompting

GRE Text Completion: How to Use Context Clues Effectively

Many GRE test-takers struggle with Text Completion not because of vocabulary gaps, but because they miss the contextual signals that reveal the correct answers. Understanding how to leverage context clues can turn these questions from guesswork into strategy. In GRE Text Completion: How to Use Context Clues Effectively, you’ll learn how to analyze sentences and identify the hints that point directly to the right choice. Audra Z. regularly works 1:1 with GRE students and will share the same strategies used in coaching sessions to help candidates improve accuracy and confidence. Who This Is For - GRE test-takers aiming to boost their Verbal scores - Students who find questions tricky or time-consuming - Candidates wanting a structured approach to decoding sentence meaning - Test-takers who want to move beyond memorizing vocabulary What You’ll Walk Away With - A framework for identifying context clues in complex sentences - How to predict the correct answer before looking at choices - Patterns I see across students who consistently select the right options - The common mistakes I correct in 1:1 sessions - Practical exercises to apply these strategies immediately

AI for Global Leaders: Mastering Cross-Cultural Communication

In today's globalized world, effective cross-cultural communication is no longer a soft skill, it's a critical leadership competency. But what if you could harness the power of Artificial Intelligence to navigate cultural nuances with precision and empathy? This forward-thinking webinar, led by global communication expert Caolan Hunter, will show you how. Drawing on his experience building his own AI communication tool and advising top global companies, Caolan will demystify how AI can be your secret weapon for analyzing communication styles, adapting to different cultural norms, and leading your international teams with confidence. This isn't just a talk on AI; it's a masterclass in modern global leadership. Event Outcomes & Learning Objectives: 1. Decode Cultural Communication Styles with AI. You will learn to use AI-powered tools to analyze and understand different cultural communication patterns, such as direct vs. indirect feedback, and formal vs. informal address. 2. Navigate Cross-Cultural Challenges Proactively. You will discover how to leverage AI simulations and practice scenarios to prepare for difficult cross-cultural conversations, anticipate potential misunderstandings, and build stronger relationships. 3. Develop a Personal AI Strategy for Global Leadership. You will walk away with a practical framework for integrating AI into your daily workflow to enhance your cultural intelligence and effectiveness as a global leader in 2026 and beyond.

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.

An Example of a Latham & Watkins Cover Letter for Emerging Companies Practice

This cover letter connects a background in entrepreneurship and clean energy to a firm's forward-looking practice in emerging companies.

An Example of a Kirkland & Ellis Cover Letter for their Energy Practice

Learn how to translate sustainable entrepreneurship and renewable energy experience into a compelling narrative for a top law firm's corporate practice.

Ace MBA Interviews & Essays: Strategies for Why an MBA/Now/This School

Are you struggling to clearly answer “Why an MBA?”, “Why now?”, and “Why this school?” in both interviews and written applications? These three questions are the backbone of every strong MBA candidacy. In this focused 60-minute session, you’ll learn exactly how to approach them with clarity, specificity, and confidence. We’ll break down what admissions committees are really looking for, why these questions matter, and the most common mistakes applicants make. You’ll see detailed examples drawn directly from successful applicant materials, along with in-depth analysis of what makes each example strong or weak. We’ll cover how to link your background, needs, and goals to the right program features, how to avoid generic phrasing, and how to bring authenticity and structure into your responses. Throughout the session, I’ll highlight specific dos and don’ts and walk you through the progression from vague answers to compelling, school-ready responses. You’ll also see how your approach should differ between essays and interviews so your answers feel natural and appropriate in each format. We will close with a Q&A where you can ask about these three questions, your approach, or anything that wasn’t fully clear in the presentation. By the end, you’ll have a sharper understanding of what makes a strong response, how to integrate school-specific research, and how to communicate your story in a way that resonates in both interviews and written applications.

Your AI Resume Framework - 5 Tools to Stand out in an AI World

This guide walks you through 5 AI-powered tools designed for professionals who feel like their experience is strong but their resume isn't landing. If you've used AI to polish your resume and still aren't hearing back, this is for you. Each tool combines a thinking exercise you complete first with a precision AI prompt that executes on that thinking -- covering how to read a job description like a hiring manager, find where you disappeared from your own document, recover the specific details that make you irreplaceable, make your career trajectory feel intentional, and protect your voice after every AI pass.

Key Skills to Master in Your First Year as an Associate or Consultant

Learn the specific problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills you must demonstrate to earn a top-tier performance rating.

Turn a Non-Traditional Background Into a Super Power as an MBA Applicant

Learn how to leverage your unique experiences and stand out in the competitive MBA application process.

LinkedIn Launchpad: Profile to Profit

Is your LinkedIn profile a forgotten resume or a powerful asset? In today's competitive job market, your professional brand is more crucial than ever. Join us for this free, dynamic workshop to learn the insider strategies for maximizing your visibility. We'll reveal the secrets to transforming your profile from overlooked to outstanding by focusing on the three pillars of success: 1. Discoverability: Master the strategic keywords recruiters search for to ensure your profile ranks high. 2. Impact: Learn how to craft a magnetic headline and an "About" section that turns profile views into opportunities. 3. Networking: Acquire techniques for building a genuine professional network that expands your career reach. Whether you're job searching, looking to advance, or aiming to establish yourself as an industry expert, this workshop will give you the practical, actionable steps you need to leverage LinkedIn to its fullest potential. Elevate your professional presence and open doors to new opportunities!

Your MBA Edge: Turning a Non-Traditional Path into a Winning App

Join this live conversation with a Korean INSEAD admit from a niche industry (gaming) and their admissions coach, Caolan. We’ll unpack how to build an authentic, coherent MBA story without over‑fixating on scores, even as a reapplicant or non‑traditional candidate. You’ll see how they framed transferable skills, targeted schools with different cultures, and prepared for interviews. - Learn how to craft a compelling and authentic application story that stands out, even with diverse career paths or perceived weaknesses like a lower GPA. - Understand why storytelling, strategic discussions, and a holistic approach can be more critical than perfect quantitative metrics (GMAT/GPA) for top MBA admissions. - Discover strategies to reframe your niche industry experience as a competitive advantage, turning perceived disadvantages into strengths. - Gain insights into researching and articulating school-specific fit, moving beyond generic website information to truly customize your application. - Be inspired by a reapplicant's journey to INSEAD, demonstrating that with the right approach and guidance, success is achievable for a wide range of profiles. - Learn what to look for in a consultant, including the importance of genuine care, industry understanding, and time investment. An engaging, interview-style conversation between Caolan Hunter and Gitak Kwak, followed by an open Q&A session, designed to empower aspiring MBA candidates, particularly those from non-traditional backgrounds or facing unique application challenges, by offering practical insights and an inspiring success story. Who it’s for: - Korean and international MBA hopefuls - Reapplicants or candidates from niche / non‑traditional industries - Applicants worried about stats (GPA/GMAT) or “imperfect” profiles

Differentiate your MBA Application: School Research & Networking Part 1 of 2

⚡School research and networking are the secret weapons that separate good MBA applicants from the ones admissions committees can’t forget. They shape every part of your application, from essays and interviews to your ability to turn a waitlist into an admit. Yet most applicants never learn how to do them at the level that truly changes the game. This is Part 1 of a two-part workshop series. In this session, you will learn the research and networking strategy and methods. You will then have two weeks to complete your own school research and networking as guided homework. In Part 2, I will demonstrate how to put this work into action through a live walkthrough, including discussion of participant progress and real questions that arise during the process. ⚠️Register for Part 2 in the event calendar on March 13th Part 1 has been my most popular event, run multiple times each year, and consistently rated by attendees as one of the most helpful and actionable MBA preparation sessions they’ve experienced. This is the first time I am introducing the Part 2 execution workshop. In this session, you’ll discover how to: 🔷 Conduct deep-dive school research that goes far beyond websites and brochures 🔷 Strategically network with the right people, turning what may be the greatest networking opportunity of your life into a clear advantage for admission and beyond 🔷 Create an MBA Journey document that becomes your central reference for aligning fit, goals, and contributions across the application 🔷 Integrate your findings seamlessly into essays, interviews, networking conversations, and campus interactions You’ll learn how to pinpoint the exact courses, professors, centers, career services, experiential programs, internships, clubs, culture elements, current students, and alumni connections that will help you achieve your goals, and how to clearly show the value you will bring in return. By the end of this session, you will know how to demonstrate, with clarity and credibility, that you and your target MBA program are the right fit for each other. Bonus Offer ✅1 attendee will receive a free 1-hour coaching session. ✅All attendees may request a free copy of the MBA Research & Networking Template. ⚡Spots are limited. Register now to gain the advantage that can set your MBA application apart.