Leland+ Content Library

Career Story & Post-MBA Goals

Structuring a compelling international career narrative

Your Guide to STEM Graduate School Admissions

Recording of a Leland webinar I presented on 02 Jan 2026 demystifying STEM graduate school admissions types and deliverables

Start Where You Are: Investing in the Arts as a Pathway to Venture Capital

You don’t need a fund, a finance background, or a Silicon Valley network to start investing—you just need vision and the courage to begin. In this inspirational session, Tiana Tukes (she/her) shares her journey of investing in creativity and culture as a foundation for a career in venture capital. Beginning with her first investment in photographer Tyler Mitchell in 2018, Tiana explores how supporting artists teaches powerful lessons about risk, storytelling, and conviction—the same instincts that drive great venture investors. Joined by potential special guest De’Havia Stewart, an investor at Serena Williams’ venture firm and Broadway investor (Othello, Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen), the conversation will highlight the many ways to participate in investing—whether that’s in people, art, or startups. Attendees will leave inspired to see that venture capital isn’t a closed world—it’s a creative one. And every investment, no matter how small, can be the start of your journey.

Behavioral Interviews & How to Tell Your Story

Landing an investment banking offer starts long before the technical questions—your behavioral responses and personal story often determine whether you even move forward. In this session, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling narrative that highlights your motivations, showcases your strengths, and aligns with what banks actually look for in candidates. We’ll break down common behavioral questions, effective frameworks, and the biggest pitfalls that sink interviews, plus how to tailor your story whether you’re coming from finance, consulting, engineering, or a non-traditional background. You’ll leave with clear strategies, practice prompts, and a structured approach you can use to walk into interviews with confidence and tell a story that sticks.

PM Analytical Take-Home: Regal (B2B SaaS Startup)

This project is a take-home project that will help us evaluate your skill set for the Product Manager Role. You should not spend more than 5 hours on this over the course of a couple days and should package your responses into a Google doc or presentation.

Essays (3): UCLA Anderson MBA Admitted R1

These are the 3 application essays of an applicant who secured R1 admission to UCLA Anderson full-time MBA.

Example: MIT Sloan Cover Letter

This is an example cover letter for the MIT Sloan MBA application

Strategic Approach to GRE Quant Questions

GRE Quant can feel less about math knowledge and more about strategy—and that’s exactly where most test-takers lose points. Join this session, Strategic Approach to GRE Quant Questions, designed to help you think smarter, not harder, when tackling quantitative problems on test day. In this event, you’ll learn how to recognize common GRE question patterns, choose the most efficient solving methods, and avoid time-consuming traps that can derail your score. The session focuses on decision-making under pressure, strategic shortcuts, and knowing when to calculate, estimate, or eliminate answer choices. Whether you’re struggling to manage time or aiming to push your Quant score into a higher range, this coaching event will give you practical tools you can apply immediately. Walk away with clearer strategies, increased confidence, and a more controlled approach to GRE Quant questions.

Gaming the GMAT FE: Advanced Strategies to Break 705

You’re already scoring well, but how do you break into that next percentile tier? This free workshop is for those ready to fine-tune their GMAT Focus performance with advanced, test-savvy strategies. We’ll unpack how the adaptive scoring algorithm really works, how to choose section order strategically, and how to avoid the traps that cost top scorers the most points. You’ll also dive deep into high-efficiency tactics for Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights. Plus learn how your mindset on test day can be the difference between a good score and a great one.

Essays (4): UVA Darden MBA Admitted R1 Class of 28

These are the 4 application essays of an applicant who secured R1 admission to UVA Darden full-time MBA.

Neurodivergent Strengths Workbook

Unlock the potential of your neurodivergent mind and turn it into your greatest career asset!

Unlocking Innovation in High-Context Teams

Subtle, field-tested practices to surface hidden ideas, reduce friction, and build psychological safety, with a particular focus on East Asia.

The Investment Banking Behavior Interview: Prove Your Value

Investment banking behavioral interviews test more than fit—they assess judgment, resilience, and whether you’ll add value on day one. In this session, you’ll learn how to structure compelling stories, highlight impact under pressure, and answer common questions with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re preparing for first rounds or superdays, you’ll leave with a repeatable framework to stand out in behavioral interviews.

INSEAD Personal and Leadership Reflection Essay

A candid overview of leadership strengths, weaknesses, and ongoing development in managing diverse, cross-functional teams.

Duke Fuqua Post-MBA Career Goals Essay

Plans to pursue senior leadership in tech or consulting, with a long-term vision of transforming Korean companies.

How to build MECE and Customized Frameworks

Strong case performance depends on your ability to build clear, MECE, and customized frameworks, not memorized templates. In this session, Karthik R., an ex-BCG Project Leader and interviewer and former President of Consulting Prep at both Wharton and UT Austin, will teach a foundations-first approach to frameworking that top firms actually reward. Drawing on his experience helping 200+ candidates earn offers at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Oliver Wyman, Deloitte, and Accenture, Karthik will break down how to structure problems from scratch, tailor frameworks to the case context, and integrate quantitative and qualitative thinking into a coherent storyline. You will also learn how interviewers evaluate frameworks and how small improvements in clarity and logic can dramatically raise your case scores.

CV builder for McKinsey, BCG and Bain

This is a CV builder package (guide + template) to help you build a stellar CV and pass MBB screening

What MBA Interviewers Are Really Evaluating

MBA interviews are less about having the “right” answers and more about how you show up. In this panel, former MBA interviewers will share firsthand insight into what admissions committees are actually assessing during interviews, from leadership presence and self-awareness to clarity of goals and authenticity. You’ll learn how interviewers interpret your stories, what common signals raise red flags, and how to prepare in a way that feels confident rather than rehearsed. Whether you’re interviewing soon or planning ahead, this session will help you understand how to perform at your best when it matters most.

Example High School Resume

Template of a High School Resume to draw inspiration from!

Generalist Roles at Startups: What They Are and How Hiring Works

Generalist roles play a critical role at startups, spanning strategy, operations, product, and growth. This session breaks down what these roles actually look like, how hiring works at different startup stages, and how candidates can position themselves to stand out. You’ll learn what founders value most and how to translate your background into impact.