Leland+ Content Library

Ask. Me. Anything. AMA with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to get answers to your college admissions questions. I'm Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, a Harvard grad, proud first-generation college graduate, and an experienced college admissions coach. With years working with students from all backgrounds, including US-based, international, and first-generation applicants, I'm here to help you navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to provide thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic guidance. Whether you're a high school student or parent, don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional.

Ask Me Anything with a Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session to get answers to your college admissions questions. I'm Isamar, a former Stanford Admissions Officer, a Harvard grad, proud first-generation college graduate, and an experienced college admissions coach. With years working with students from all backgrounds, including US-based, international, and first-generation applicants, I'm here to help you navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to provide thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic guidance. Whether you're a high school student or parent, don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional.

Telling Your MBA Admissions Story: Create A Holistic Application

​A strong MBA application is more than just a collection of essays, scores, and resumes—it’s a story. In this session, expert MBA admissions coaches Loubna B., Kelsey K., and Dione C. will walk you through how to craft a holistic narrative that ties together your academic background, professional achievements, leadership experiences, and future goals in a way that resonates with top business schools. ​You’ll learn how to identify the themes that make your journey unique, weave them across every component of the application, and avoid the common pitfalls of presenting a fragmented profile. Whether you’re just beginning the process or refining your final drafts, this session will give you the tools to create a compelling, authentic story that sets you apart in the competitive MBA admissions landscape.

Ask Me Anything: IB Recruiting Insights from a Former Lazard Banker

Breaking into investment banking is competitive—especially if you're targeting elite boutiques or specialized coverage groups. In this AMA-style workshop, Akaash P.—a former Lazard banker with hands-on experience across Media & Telecom, Restructuring (RX), FIG, Energy, and Software—will give you an inside look at what it takes to stand out in IB recruiting. Drawing on cross-sector banking and investing experience, as well as coaching candidates into top groups at elite firms, Akaash will answer your questions on technical prep, industry-specific expectations, crafting a differentiated story, and navigating competitive recruiting processes. Whether you're aiming for M&T, RX, FIG, Energy, or Software roles, or simply want to understand the landscape better, you’ll leave with clear, actionable insights to elevate your recruiting strategy.

Culture Code Cracked: Your Guide to Global Team Success

Unlock the secrets to thriving in global teams with our event, "Culture Code Cracked: Your Guide to Global Team Success." Join me, Caolan, an expert in cross-cultural communication and storytelling, as we delve into the art of effective communication across diverse cultures. With a rich background in leading international teams and delivering talks at top universities, I've guided executives and rising leaders to transform their communication skills. As work becomes ever more borderless, success depends not just on strategy, but on understanding. Discover how diagnostics and coaching can dissolve friction, deepen trust, and turn cultural differences into your team’s greatest advantage. From Seoul to Singapore, from global startups to local innovators, this session is designed for anyone building across borders. Be part of the conversation on how the next generation of global teams will work, learn, and thrive.

Top Mistakes That Sink Law School Applications [9/9/2026] (Recording)

A strong law school application can be undermined by mistakes that are often completely avoidable. From weak essays and unclear positioning to poor school selection and overlooked details, small missteps can make a major difference in a competitive admissions process. This session is for aspiring law students who want to identify and avoid the mistakes that can weaken an otherwise strong application. You'll learn the most common pitfalls, how to spot them in your own materials, and what to do instead. Join live to hear from a Stanford Law School graduate who understands what it takes to build a compelling law school application. The speaker will break down the mistakes applicants make most often and share practical strategies for strengthening your essays, application narrative, and overall admissions strategy. Leave with a clearer understanding of how to avoid costly errors before you hit submit.

How to Stand Out in the Schwarzman Scholars Application [8/16/2026] (Recording)

The Schwarzman Scholars program attracts exceptional applicants from around the world, making a thoughtful application strategy essential. This session is for anyone planning to apply who wants to understand what distinguishes successful candidates and how to present their experiences in the strongest possible light. You'll learn what the selection committee values most, the common mistakes applicants make, and practical ways to strengthen every part of your application. Join live to hear from two Schwarzman Scholars who have successfully navigated the highly competitive admissions process. They'll share firsthand insights into crafting a compelling application, preparing for interviews, and showcasing the leadership, academic excellence, and global perspective that the program looks for. Expect actionable advice and the opportunity to get your questions answered live.

3 AI Skills to Land your Job in ... the Biotech Industry

Some people assume biotech is purely science: pipettes, gene sequences, clinical trials. In practice, the industry runs on physical infrastructure as demanding as any in manufacturing. A diagnostic device that detects a cancer marker with enough reliability to inform a treatment decision. A surgical instrument precise enough to operate where a millimeter is the margin between success and failure. A monitoring system that tracks a patient's vital signs continuously, without interruption, for weeks. These are tangible products in the most consequential sense: the stakes attached to their performance are measured in human outcomes. I spent more than 10 years working with the biotech industry as a supplier, managing it as a strategic key account across multiple market segments. I understand what biotech and medtech companies require from their partners and their people; I also know which skills are shifting fast right now because of AI. This Tuesday session covers the biotech industry: one of the most regulated, most innovation-driven, and most purposeful sectors in the global economy. We will discuss three specific AI skills that are changing what hiring managers expect, and how you can demonstrate them before you walk into an interview. If you want a career where the tangible product you help bring to market can directly improve someone's life, this session is for you.

The AI Brainstorm Lab: Turn Any Idea Into 10 Better Ones

Discover how to use AI as your creative partner, not just your assistant. In this hands-on lab, you’ll learn how to generate, expand, and refine ideas using ChatGPT or Claude—whether you’re naming a project, planning a campaign, or trying to get unstuck. Outcomes: You’ll leave with 10+ new ideas generated live, a framework for evaluating and combining AI suggestions, and practical techniques for overcoming creative blocks and turning raw ideas into real concepts. Learning Objectives: *Recognize where AI can enhance creative thinking and idea generation *Use structured prompting techniques to expand, combine, and refine ideas *Apply AI brainstorming methods to generate actionable outputs for real projects

US-Style Networking: How To Land a Job in the States

Networking is one of the most powerful tools for landing opportunities in the U.S.—but it often looks very different from what international students and professionals are used to. In this workshop, Leland coaches Fiona T. (expert in finance recruiting), Madhuri M. (former hiring manager at Adobe), and Alyssa T. (Bain consultant) will break down the unique culture of U.S.-style networking and share practical strategies for building authentic connections that open doors to jobs and internships.

3 AI Skills to Land your Job in ... The Automation Industry

Some people assume automation is about software: algorithms, digital twins, remote monitoring dashboards. In practice, the industry is deeply physical. A robotic arm on a production line that welds the same joint ten thousand times a day with sub-millimeter repeatability. A programmable logic controller that keeps a bottling plant running in sequence, every second, without deviation. A motion control system precise enough to place a component on a circuit board at speeds a human hand could never match. These are tangible products; the factory floor does not forgive imprecision. I spent more than 10 years working with the automation industry as a supplier, with companies like Siemens, Schneider Electric, and Kuka among my key accounts. I understand what automation companies require from their partners and their people; I also know which skills are shifting fast right now because of AI. This Tuesday session covers the automation industry: one of the most technically rigorous, capital-intensive, and rapidly evolving sectors in industrial manufacturing. We will discuss three specific AI skills that are changing what hiring managers expect, and how you can demonstrate them before you walk into an interview. If you want a career where the tangible product you sell or develop keeps the modern world running, this session is for you.

Land a Consulting Offer Week: Kickoff Panel [5/4/2026] (Recording)

Breaking into consulting isn’t just about working harder—it’s about knowing where to focus your effort. This kickoff session is for candidates looking to land consulting offers with a clearer, more strategic approach. You’ll learn how successful applicants prepare across resumes, networking, and case interviews, what timelines to expect, and where to focus to maximize your chances. Join live to hear directly from experienced consulting coaches and ask your questions about breaking into consulting. The panelists regularly work with candidates through recruiting and will share the patterns they see across successful applicants and what stands out from the hiring side. It’s a strong way to start with the right plan and perspective.

3 AI Skills to Land Your Job in ... The Semiconductor Industry

Some people assume semiconductors are invisible: microscopic circuits, abstract specifications, products too small to see. In a sense, that is true. And yet the industry behind them is as physical as manufacturing gets. Cleanrooms where a single particle of dust is an unacceptable defect. Machines costing hundreds of millions of dollars, operated by teams with years of specialized training. Processes requiring a level of precision that makes most other industries look approximate. These are tangible products in the most demanding sense: you cannot hold a chip between your fingers the way you hold a seal or a grease, but the physical constraints that govern its production are absolute. I spent more than 10 years working with the semiconductor industry, familiar with its major players and their exacting requirements. There is something genuinely satisfying about contributing to miniaturization generation after generation: smartphones that fit in a pocket, supercomputers that keep accelerating, electronics that the modern world depends on without a second thought. You can be a substantial part of that evolution. This Tuesday session covers the semiconductor industry: one of the fastest-moving, most capital-intensive, and most precision-driven sectors on the planet. We will discuss three specific AI skills that are changing what hiring managers expect, and how you can demonstrate them before you walk into an interview. If you want a career where the tangible product you help create sets the pace for everything else, this session is for you.

3 AI Skills to Land your Job in ... The Automotive Industry

Some people want to work with code, data, or financial models. I understand that. For me, it was always the physical object: the part you can hold, the vehicle you can drive, the product that exists in the real world. I spent 30 years in the automotive industry, in roles from product engineering to divisional CEO at a Tier 1 supplier. I know what OEMs and Tier suppliers look for; I also know which skills are shifting fast right now because of AI. This Tuesday series focuses on industries with tangible products. The first session covers automotive: one of the largest, most technically complex, and most globally connected industries on the planet. We will discuss three specific AI skills that are changing what hiring managers expect in 2025, and how you can demonstrate them before you walk into an interview. If you want a career building, selling, or improving things you can see and touch, this session is for you.

How to Land a Job in the New Frontier: AI Careers

AI is reshaping every industry, and landing a role in this fast-moving space requires more than just technical interest. This session breaks down the AI job landscape, the roles companies are hiring for, and how candidates from technical and non-technical backgrounds can position themselves competitively. You’ll learn how to build relevant skills, craft a compelling narrative, and navigate recruiting for AI-focused roles across tech, startups, and traditional companies.

How to Land Your First Job in Product Management (November 2025)

​Breaking into product management can feel daunting, especially if you don’t come from a traditional PM background. In this session, expert coaches Vaibhav G. (Microsoft), Zen L. (AWS), and Britton O. (Uber) will walk you through the steps to land your first role—covering how to position your skills, build relevant experience, and navigate the recruiting process with confidence. ​You’ll learn what hiring managers look for in early-career PMs, how to tailor your resume and LinkedIn to highlight transferable strengths, and practical strategies for standing out in interviews. Whether you’re a student, career switcher, or just curious about PM, this session will equip you with actionable tips to kickstart your product management career.

Mastering the Chief of Staff Interview

Join us for a practical breakdown of what top Chiefs of Staff look for when hiring this uniquely high-leverage role. Expert Leland Coach and ex-Google and Stitch Fix CoS Cherizza L. will cover how to tell your story, demonstrate strategic thinking, and show you can operate as a true force-multiplier to executives. You’ll gain insight into the interview styles, case prompts, and signals that matter—so you can walk in prepared, confident, and ready to stand out.

VC 101 - How Venture Capital Actually Works

Curious about how venture capital really works? We'll be venture capital for founders who've never raised before - understanding the VC business model, fund economics, decision-making process, and what VCs actually look for in early-stage investments to best understand how to 1) target VCs and 2) obtain term sheets. As a Stanford entrepreneurship instructor and founder of Stanford’s Education Entrepreneurship Hub, I bring a wealth of experience in guiding first-time founders through the complexities of launching and scaling their ventures. With a background in founding a global SaaS product and investing in the future of work, I offer a 360-degree perspective on entrepreneurship. Whether you're looking to refine your pitch or understand the nuances of venture capital, this event is your chance to gain valuable insights. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot!

Military-to-MBA Panel

Thinking about transitioning from the military to business school? Join us for the Military-to-MBA Panel, where both MBA experts and veterans who have successfully made the leap will share their journeys, advice, and lessons learned. You’ll hear how they navigated the admissions process, translated their military experience into strong applications, and chose the right programs for their goals. ​This session is a great opportunity to get tactical tips on everything from selecting schools and writing your essays to building your MBA network as a veteran. Come with questions—our panelists are here to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence. ​Meet our panelists: ​Matt K. - Nuclear Submarine Officer for U.S. Navy, MIT MBA ​Angela C. - Expert MBA Coach, 8,545 Minutes Spent Coaching ​Austin W. - Aviation Officer for U.S. Army, Stanford GSB MBA