28,119Leland Reviews

I had graduated from Howard University, enrolled in a Master’s program in Psychology, dropped out, and settled into a job that didn’t match my goals or my potential. I was a business analyst making about $50,000 a year. I reached out to David for coaching, and that decision changed everything. He walked me through the realities of my career path; the psychology behind my choices, and the long-term impact of each direction I was considering. He helped me see the bigger picture and showed me that returning to Howard to finish my degree in psychology was not only possible, but the best decision for my future. He reviewed every document, helped me strengthen my application, and I was accepted back into the program. After graduating, I talked to him again about what came next, and together we mapped out a path toward a PhD. Pursuing my doctorate felt intimidating at first, but with his guidance, strategy, and constant support, I completed my PhD, became a psychologist, and opened my own practice. Today I make more money than I ever imagined; I travel the world, and I live a life that feels aligned with who I’m meant to be. I’m also proud to say that I’m a Forbes Lister; something I would have never pursued without his direction and belief in my potential. I don’t usually make major life decisions without speaking to David first. His insight is unmatched, his honesty is grounding, and his guidance has shaped my life in ways I can’t fully express. I’m truly grateful for him, and I can’t recommend him enough.

I’ve trusted Dr. Castain for years, and he has been one of the most consistent sources of guidance in both my career and my education. When I told him I wanted to start giving back and building my professional portfolio, he immediately brought me into the David Castain Foundation as an intern and created space for me to contribute to meaningful community work. Since then, he’s helped me refine my resume, strengthen my positioning, and navigate every major career pivot I’ve made in the tech world, from interview prep to strategy to understanding my value. With his insight, I’ve landed roles at companies like Google and Meta, and every time I’ve needed counsel on challenges at work or decisions about my next move, he’s the first person I call. When I decided to pursue my MBA at Georgetown, he reviewed my materials, gave me clear direction, and wrote my recommendation letter, and I was ultimately accepted into the program. He has also advised me on my entrepreneurial interests, including e-commerce, branding, and social media strategy. Whether I’m building something new or stepping into a different stage of my career, his perspective has always helped me move with more intention and confidence. Dr. Castain has a way of seeing your potential before you fully recognize it yourself, and he guides you in a way that feels both empowering and honest. He’s been a mentor, a sounding board, and someone I deeply trust with my career development. Anyone who gets the chance to work with him is in good hands.

Harikesh is an incredibly talented and hard-working man who has been able to crack the industry with an incredibly unique and powerful approach. The fact that he has gotten so many job offers at various large corporate and within several different positions goes to show that he knows exactly what he’s doing and is why I chose to work with him. Before we started working together, I was struggling with even getting initial interview interviews. But within just a few weeks of working together, I was able to make it to my second round interview at an ideal dream position. I 100% recommend him to anyone looking to fast track their success in the corporate world. Thanks Harikesh!

Harikesh is an exceptionally insightful and effective coach. He knows case interviews inside and out and brings tremendous value when it comes to resume refinement and behavioral preparation. He helped sharpen the messaging on my resume, guided me through my behavioral responses, and coached me extensively on casing in the weeks leading up to my BCG interviews. One of Harikesh’s standout strengths is his computer science background. For candidates coming from non-traditional paths, this is incredibly helpful: he understands how to translate technical or unconventional experiences into compelling stories. His unique perspective also allows him to break down cases from multiple angles and teach them in an intuitive, structured way. I began preparing later than I should have and was extremely nervous, but his methodical approach took me from feeling overwhelmed to being a confident caser in a very short time. Thanks to his guidance, I was able to land a BCG internship with just 2–3 weeks of preparation. Highly recommend to anyone looking for clear, strategic coaching and fast, meaningful improvement.

Harikesh is incredibly knowledgeable and brings a unique, effective approach to preparation. His advice on networking and setting clear outreach goals, including how many people to contact and who to prioritize, helped me build connections with MDs and VPs at firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS, and many more. Those relationships turned into referrals and ultimately interviews. He also lays out exactly what to focus on for interview prep and conducts mock interviews with the questions I’m most likely to face. Whenever I follow his guidance, I land an offer.

Harikesh was an exceptional coach! With his guidance, I was able to manage and accrue multiple offers at top-tier companies, including Google. He was also instrumental in helping me significantly improve my behavioral skills, which was key to my success in the interview process. I highly recommend him as a coach

Extremely precision on resume reviews and creates clear direction on each call in order to have the most productive time. Highly recommend for case interviews and networking!!!

Zonta is extremely proactive and was able to get in the weeds about the necessary details while also keeping the big picture in frame. He is easy to work with and flexible, and most importantly, humble and people-oriented.

I came to Dr. Castain when I was already working and getting good roles, but I knew I was capable of more. I wanted to break into a different lane, step into bigger opportunities, and position myself for the kind of work that actually reflects my talent. David helped me reposition my digital footprint, and rethink my approach to the business side of acting everything from branding and image development to public relations strategy, networking, and how to move in rooms that matter. His advice isn’t cookie-cutter. It’s real, direct, and often unconventional. Exactly what I needed to start playing at a higher level. I saw a major shift in my career. The strategies we built helped me secure a lead role in a major Universal Pictures film alongside A-list talent. That was a huge milestone for me, and I can honestly say the way David pushed me to think, plan, and operate played a part in getting there. What I respect about David is that he doesn’t try to change who you are, he helps you become sharper, more intentional, and more aligned with your goals. I appreciate his rawness, his insight, and the way he challenges you to rise to your potential. Working with him has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my career.

I had a very good experience with Andrea, he helped me prepare the application for the MBA from GMAT to resume, essays etc After our third session he set clear expectations and targets based on my background, interest and where I wanted to live. Then he gave me clear tasks to complete while he took care of almost anything else. Regarding GMAT we did a diagnostic and then based on weak spots and my level per section he prepared a plan with a target exam date. All sessions were super focused and well structured, plus he explained every concept multiple times till it was clear to me.