Leland+ Content Library

Q&A with an ICF-certified coach and executive recruiter [10/1/2026] (Recording)

Join me for an insightful Q&A session, an ICF-certified coach and seasoned executive recruiter, as I share my expertise on job search strategies. With a wealth of experience in executive search and leadership roles across the hospitality, travel, and leisure industries, I have successfully guided numerous professionals in their career development journeys. Whether you're navigating the job market or looking to refine your approach, this event is your opportunity to gain valuable insights and ask your most pressing questions. Don't miss out and reserve your spot today!

Home for Ambition #23 — Weekly Live Show [9/16/2026] (Recording)

Home for Ambition is a weekly live show, hosted by Leland CEO, John Koelliker, for people trying to stay ahead as work, learning, and opportunity keep changing. Each episode tackles a handful of timely, high-signal topics across AI, careers, education, and the future of work. We expect thoughtful debate, unique perspectives, and practical takeaways you can actually use. It is not a typical interview show or a generic news recap. It is a live roundtable built to help ambitious people make sense of what is changing, understand what matters, and leave with a sharper point of view on how to navigate what comes next.

Product Management AMA: Trends, Interview Prep, AI PM & More [6/25/2026] (Recording)

Join us for an insightful AMA session on Product Management, where we'll dive into the latest trends, interview preparation, AI in product management, and more. I'm Jay, your host for this event, and I bring a wealth of experience from leading roles at Meta and Microsoft, as well as founding a successful e-commerce brand. With a strong background in engineering and product leadership, I've mentored numerous PMs and led teams to success across various domains. Whether you're preparing for behavioral or product case interviews, looking to enhance your execution skills, or simply exploring the field, this session is designed to provide valuable insights and guidance. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from my experiences and ask your burning questions about the dynamic world of product management. RSVP and secure your spot today!

Why MBA & Why Here: How to Answer the Most Important Interview Questions [9/10/2026] (Recording)

Nearly every MBA interview starts the same way. "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you want an MBA?" "Why this school?" Three questions every candidate knows are coming — and yet these are the answers interviewers remember most, because they reveal whether you actually know your own story. As a Ross admissions interviewer, I've heard every version of these answers. The ones that work aren't the most polished. They're the most specific, the most connected, and the clearest about what the candidate actually wants. This session breaks down how to answer each one in a way that holds up under follow-up. Tell Me About Yourself: This isn't an invitation to recite your resume. It's the first signal of whether you can communicate with clarity under pressure. -What interviewers are actually listening for in your self-introduction — and it's not a timeline of your career -How to build a two-minute answer that orients the interviewer, sets up your story, and makes them want to ask more -The most common version of this answer and why it doesn't work Why MBA: The oral version of this answer is different from the written one — and most candidates don't adjust. -Why reading your goals essay out loud is not an answer to this question -How to make your Why MBA feel like a natural conclusion rather than a rehearsed pitch -How to explain Why Now? in a compelling way -What interviewers are listening for that your essay already addressed (and what they're listening for that it didn't) Why This School: Most answers to this question sound like the school's own brochure. Here's how to not be that candidate. -What "Why This School" is really asking — it's a fit and preparation question as much as an enthusiasm question -How to build a specific answer that can't be copy-pasted to a different program -What interviewers think when they hear a generic "Why" answer and what it signals about your application overall Holding Up Under Follow-Up: The three-question opener is just the beginning. Here's how to prepare for what comes next. -How interviewers probe the answers you just gave and how to stay consistent -What it looks like when a candidate's story doesn't hold together — and how to make sure yours does -How to practice these answers so they sound natural rather than rehearsed

GMAT Quant Isn't About Math: The 4 Skills That Decide Your Quant Score [6/16/2026] (Recording)

About this event You've done hundreds of problems. You know the formulas. Your score isn't moving. Here's why: the GMAT isn't actually testing your math. The math on Quant is high school level — it has to be, because there's no calculator. What separates a 600 from a 700+ isn't more content knowledge. It's the four test-taking skills that decide how every problem unfolds: how you choose your path, how you manage time, how you handle stress, and how you maintain focus across 45 minutes. In this 60-minute session, we'll deep-dive each of those four skills using the same framework I use with my 1:1 students on Leland. You'll see live problem walkthroughs showing the difference between a 4-minute "compute the obvious thing" path and a 20-second "make your life easy" path — and you'll learn the single mental move that makes the second one feel natural. By the end, you'll have a personalized diagnostic of your own weakest skill — and a concrete 4-week plan to actually move your score. --------------------------------------- What you'll learn Why "more practice" doesn't fix the plateau — and what does The 4 Test-Taking Abilities behind every top score (Strategy / Methodology, Time Management, Stress Management, Focus) and how each one maps onto specific in-the-moment moves The one mental question to ask before every Quant problem that re-routes you from the long path to the short one The skip decision framework — when to invest, when to bank time, and how to make the call at the 1-minute mark instead of the 2-minute mark An anti-paralysis protocol for the moment you go blank on test day Your personal TTA profile via 3 live polls — including a 4-question diagnostic that tells you exactly where your prep should focus next --------------------------------------- What you'll walk away with A clear picture of your weakest skill out of the four — and why it's almost certainly the lever that will move your score the most A calibrated 4-week prep plan A short list of pattern-recognition moves you can use on your very next practice session --------------------------------------- Who this event is for - Pre-test or mid-prep MBA applicants targeting 700+ - Students who have plateaued despite putting in significant prep hours - Anyone whose mock scores consistently trail their practice scores by 5+ points - Students who have done content review and want to know what to do next This is not a content-review session. We will not cover formulas, definitions, or "how to solve a quadratic." If you're at the foundational-content stage, this event will be most useful after you've done your first content pass. --------------------------------------- Format 60 minutes, live Fully worked problems demonstrating compute-first vs. think-first approaches Open Q&A at the end --------------------------------------- About the host Josh P. is a GMAT coach on Leland who works with students across all three sections — Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. He has developed a structured methodology for diagnosing and addressing the test-taking skills that determine scores — refined across hundreds of 1:1 students over multiple years. The four-skill framework taught in this event applies across the whole test; tonight we focus it on Quant. His students span pre-MBA candidates targeting top-10 programs, professionals returning to the test after a long gap, and applicants who have hit a plateau and need a fresh diagnostic to break through. Book a free 1:1 intro on his Leland profile to discuss your own GMAT prep.

Beat Burnout Without Sacrificing Success | Johns Hopkins & Harvard Coach-PhD [8/26/2026] (Recording)

Somewhere along the way, ambitious leaders were sold a lie: that success requires sacrifice, and that if you're not running on empty, you're not working hard enough. I've spent my career as a coach-scientist and I trained at Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Emory. In this live session, I'll break down: 1) The connection between wellbeing, leadership effectiveness, and long-term, sustainable success 2) Where coaching starts to protect your energy and focus without dialing down your ambition 3) We'll close with live Q&A, so come with questions about staying at your best without burning out. You'll leave with a new way to think about wellbeing. It's now what you earn once the work is done, it's the thing that makes work sustainable. Event Title: Beating Burnout Without Sacrificing Success Format: Live virtual session with audience Q&A Audience: Leaders, executives, and professionals seeking sustainable high performance Session Includes: Expert insights, a practical roadmap supported with coaching, and live Q&A

AMA: M7 MBA Admissions and MBB Recruiting [6/16/2026] (Recording)

Want to break into an M7 MBA program and land an offer from MBB? Join Alec Emmert, a Wharton MBA, former McKinsey consultant, and former McKinsey interviewer, for an open, judgment-free coaching session on MBA admissions, consulting recruiting, and career reinvention. Alec was admitted to Wharton at 35 with a 2.85 undergraduate GPA and later joined McKinsey after being rejected in a previous application cycle. In this session, he’ll share the lessons, strategies, and hard-earned insights that helped him overcome nontraditional odds and answer your questions directly. Bring anything you want to ask about MBA applications, M7 positioning, consulting interviews, networking, overcoming weak spots, or building a compelling story.

AI Safety 101: What Every Builder Needs to Know [8/11/2026] (Recording)

After this session, you'll be able to identify the safety risks that matter most when building AI-powered products and explain how to design around them with intention. We'll cover how to evaluate model outputs for harmful behavior, how to think about alignment at the application layer, and how to document safety decisions in ways that hold up to scrutiny. These are the frameworks practitioners actually use when shipping AI responsibly. Attending live means you can ask how these principles apply to what you're building right now, and hear how the coach thinks through real cases in real time. This coach works directly in the AI safety space and brings the kind of judgment that only comes from making these decisions on live products.

Applying to College in 2026? Here’s What You Should Be Doing Each Month [9/21/2026] (Recording)

In this session, former admissions director, Loubna Bouamane, will walk students and parents through the real college admissions timeline from May through December — including what actually matters each month if you're aiming for competitive U.S. universities. We’ll cover: How to build a balanced college list strategically When students should start essays (and why waiting until September is risky) How extracurriculars and summer activities should be positioned What admissions officers notice early in the review process Common mistakes students make over the summer Testing timelines, recommendation strategy, and application planning How to avoid creating an application that feels overly polished or AI-generated This session is especially helpful for: Rising seniors applying in Fall 2026 International students navigating the U.S. admissions process Families targeting selective colleges and universities Students feeling overwhelmed or behind

Authorship and Originality in AI assisted Essay Writing [9/25/2026] (Recording)

AI can generate content fast, but it is virtually impossible to preserve originality and authorship in AI-assisted work. People end up generating content that no one likes to read or watch. Even if it is sometimes creative enough and not generic, it is still not the author's unique original work. Prompt, context, harness, intent, loop- none of these engineering can solve this, as the work is open-ended. Creatives, or anyone interested in combining AI processing power and speed with human originality and authorship in content creation, can benefit from this lesson.

CV and LORs (Recommendation letters): Two documents to get right first [10/15/2026] (Recording)

Most people write their essays first and ask for recommendation letters last. That is backwards, and this session is about why. I did a Master in Management and have spent 8+ years in strategy and finance across six countries. I have mentored clients on their MiM, Master in Finance and MBA applications across the US, Europe and Asia. In this session I will take a real submitted CV and rebuild it in front of you, two pages down to one, and then do the same with a recommendation letter. In 1 hour, I will cover why your CV is read before anything else in your file and what a reader actually sees in the first thirty seconds. The eight problems on a real application CV, marked up live, including the one that has nothing to do with your experience and everything to do with the order of your sections. Two tests you can run on your own CV tonight in ten minutes. Why your referee writes from your CV, which is the reason these two documents belong in the same conversation. How to choose a referee, and why the most impressive person who will say yes is usually the wrong answer. What separates a letter that helps from one that quietly does nothing, using a real example that looks perfectly good until you know what to look for. And the three questions that turn a vague letter into a specific one, which is the only part of this document you actually control. This is for anyone applying to a MiM, Master in Finance, MBA or specialised master's, and it is most useful if you have not yet asked anyone for a letter. Forty five minutes of content, then live Q&A, hands or chat. Everyone who attends gets the Recommendation Workbook by email afterwards.

GMAT Jedi Math Tricks [8/18/2026] (Recording)

Struggling with GMAT math because you're used to relying on a calculator? This session is designed for GMAT test-takers who want to solve quantitative problems more quickly and confidently using mental math and strategic shortcuts. You’ll learn practical techniques for faster estimation, efficient arithmetic, and recognizing patterns that simplify complex calculations without sacrificing accuracy. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about the types of problems you find most challenging and see these strategies applied in real time. The speaker works closely with GMAT students and will share the patterns they see across high scorers, along with the mental approaches they use to solve problems efficiently under timed conditions. If you want to feel more confident tackling GMAT quant without a calculator, it’s worth joining live.

How to Build an MBA Application That's Actually Ready for Round 1 [8/3/2026] (Recording)

Preparing for Round 1 can feel overwhelming when you're trying to balance essays, recommendations, test scores, and school research all at once. This session is designed for MBA applicants who want to make sure every part of their application is truly ready before they hit submit. You’ll learn how to assess your application for gaps, prioritize the highest-impact improvements, and build a realistic plan for submitting a polished, competitive Round 1 application. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your own application timeline and get real-time guidance on what deserves your attention before deadlines arrive. The speaker works closely with MBA applicants and will share the patterns they see across successful candidates, along with how they evaluate whether an application is genuinely ready for submission. If you want to approach Round 1 with more confidence and a clear plan, it’s worth joining live.

AMA with a Former McKinsey Associate Partner & Interviewer [9/23/2026] (Recording)

Join us for an exclusive AMA session with Faith, a former Associate Partner and seasoned interviewer at McKinsey & Company. Having spent nearly a decade at McKinsey, Faith has honed her expertise in case interview preparation, job search strategies, and general exploration within the management consulting field. Whether you're aspiring to break into consulting or looking to refine your interview skills, this session is a golden opportunity to gain insights from someone who has been on both sides of the interview table. Spaces are limited, so be sure to RSVP and secure your spot for this invaluable session. Don't miss the chance to learn from Faith's journey and elevate your consulting career!

MBA Strategy Session: Pick the Right Schools, Tell the Right Story, Apply at the [8/27/2026] (Recording)

In this free 45-minute strategy session, I’ll help you understand how to approach the MBA decision before jumping into applications. We’ll cover how to choose the right MBA format, build a smart school list, assess timing, and start shaping a compelling admissions narrative. What we’ll cover: How to decide whether now is the right time for your MBA Full-time vs Executive vs one-year MBA options How to choose schools beyond rankings What admissions committees look for in strong candidates How to connect your career goals, story, and school selection Common mistakes candidates make when starting too late or applying too broadly This session is especially useful for applicants targeting European and global MBA programs such as IESE, INSEAD, LBS, HEC, Oxford, Cambridge, IE, ESADE, and top US schools. I’ll also share practical insights from my experience as an IESE MBA alumnus, admissions collaborator, professor, and MBA coach.

How Finance Teams Actually Use AI Day to Day [8/21/2026] (Recording)

AI is becoming part of finance work, but knowing where it actually fits into day-to-day workflows can be harder than knowing what the technology can do. This session is designed for finance professionals who want practical examples of how AI can support the work they already do. You’ll see how finance teams are using AI for tasks like analysis, reporting, research, and process automation, and learn how to identify opportunities to incorporate it into your own workflow. Attending live gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your specific role and see how AI could apply to the work you do every day. The speaker will walk through real examples and practical best practices for using AI in finance, rather than focusing only on what the technology could do in theory. If you want a clearer picture of where AI can actually fit into finance work, it’s worth joining live.

How Non-Traditional Candidates Are Breaking Into Private Equity [9/22/2026] (Recording)

Breaking into private equity can feel like an uphill battle for candidates without the traditional background firms tend to recruit. But non-traditional paths are possible when you know how to position your experience, build the right investing skill set, and approach recruiting strategically. This session is for professionals looking to break into PE from outside the typical pipeline. You'll learn how to leverage your existing experience, demonstrate investor potential, and navigate the recruiting process when your background doesn't fit the standard mold. Join live to hear from a PE expert who has held multiple investing roles and now runs an independent private equity platform. The speaker will share firsthand lessons from building a career in investing, practical strategies for positioning a non-traditional background, and insights into what can help candidates stand out with PE firms. Expect actionable advice you can apply to your own path into private equity.

Ex-Bain Manger & Google | Ask Me Anything [9/30/2026] (Recording)

This free AMA is for students and professionals who want to better understand the Bain selection process, prepare more effectively for recruiting, and gain insight into Bain’s distinctive culture. As a former Manager at Bain & Company, and a Trainer in Bain’s Global Internal Training for new Associate Consultants, I will share practical insights on what Bain looks for, how to approach case and fit preparation, and what tends to differentiate the strongest candidates. This will be a live, informal session guided by your questions rather than by slides, so please come prepared with the topics you would most like to discuss. Potential topics include Bain’s interview process, case interview preparation, behavioral and fit interviews, personal storytelling, common mistakes, and how to prepare with more focus and confidence. I can also share perspectives on what makes Bain’s culture and ways of working distinctive, and how that uniqueness is reflected in the selection process and in the qualities the firm looks for in candidates.

How to Write Standout MBA Essays [7/6/2026] (Recording)

The strongest MBA essays don’t just answer the prompt—they make admissions readers remember the person behind the application. This session is for applicants who want to write essays that stand out in a competitive admissions landscape. You’ll learn how to develop compelling stories, communicate your goals with clarity, and avoid the common pitfalls that cause otherwise strong candidates to blend into the crowd. Join live to hear from a panel of expert MBA coaches and ask questions about your own essays and application strategy. The panelists have helped applicants gain admission to top programs and will share the patterns they see across standout essays, common mistakes, and what admissions committees are truly looking for. Expect practical guidance and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 admissions coaching conversations.

Insider Tips for the Harvard Kennedy School App from Former AdCom [8/18/2026] (Recording)

Applying to Harvard Kennedy School requires more than simply demonstrating policy interest or public service commitment. This session will provide insider perspective on how the HKS admissions committee evaluates candidates, what distinguishes successful applicants, and the common mistakes that undermine otherwise strong profiles. Attendees will gain practical guidance on how to position their experiences, essays, and career vision to align with what HKS looks for in future public leaders.