28,739Leland Reviews

I started working with Joy in June 2023 to target R1 for the 23/24 cycle. From our first interaction, Joy took an immediate interest in my story and background. As an ORM candidate with nothing overtly outstanding in my profile, I was very skeptical of my chances. I felt Joy’s background in journalism really came through early on in our interactions when she was probing about my history. Our cultural differences made the whole personal story aspect of the application fascinating (something I personally enjoyed). Throughout the whole resume, goals and essay process, Joy was very understanding of my work schedule and was very accommodating of my tendency to procrastinate. I remember us having a chat late July in which I was saying I would have to cut down on the number of schools I was going to apply to in R1, but she pushed me to go that extra mile. Having someone in my corner like that really put me in overdrive for the month of August and I was able to apply to 8 schools in R1. In the resume building process, I lucked out with having Joy as we had different backgrounds. She took my engineering resume and brought out the salient features that would read well for business school applications. During the essay process, I remember having spent many weeks on the Stanford application as it was so personal. Joy pushed me to introspect and really think about the why MBA and why XYZ school aspect. She was able to catch inconsistencies in my thought process and even went the extra mile to discuss with her colleagues about whether my goals made sense. I was very happy with how each of my essays turned out Joy worked with me for mock interviews, and then also put me in touch with Obinna for the interview prep and I can’t thank her enough for that. I’m sure I would not have cracked Kellogg without his help and mock interview. Thanks to Joy for this fantastic interview prep session guide. Although I didn’t need Joy’s services after submitting all of my R1 apps and doing interview prep, she would still keep in touch and was interested to know how my results went. She was there with me during my rejections and celebrated all my wins. To cap it off, I think Joy’s radiant personality really worked well for a reticent candidate like me and I’m so glad I cracked an M7 with her help. I would strongly recommend her to anyone who’s thinking of using Joy for their MBA application journey.

Throughout the entire application process, Joy was professional, responsive, and extremely compassionate. She understood the task at hand, and delivered over and over again. It was very clear from the onset that she loves her job and she puts a lot of time, energy, and effort into her work. She is knowledgeable, and makes herself available to meet your needs. I highly recommend Joy!

Joy Pincus is an absolute gem in the world of MBA admissions coaching, and I had an exceptional experience with her. From the moment I connected with Joy, I knew I was in capable hands. Her dedication to my success was unwavering, and her expertise proved invaluable every step of the way. As someone navigating the EMBA application process with 11 years of experience, a non-traditional background, and minimal support from my company, I found Joy to be a beacon of support. She not only provided expert guidance, but also approached our collaboration with a level of attentiveness and kindness that set her apart. One of Joy's standout qualities is her keen attention to detail. She meticulously reviewed my application materials, offering insightful feedback that elevated my essays and resume to new heights. Her ability to draw out the most compelling aspects of my experiences truly made my application shine. What ultimately sets Joy apart, however, was her genuine investment in my success. She was always available to address my concerns, offer encouragement, and celebrate milestones along the way. Her positivity and enthusiasm were infectious, making the entire process not only manageable, but also empowering and enjoyable. Thanks to Joy’s support, I not only secured admission to 3 of my desired top-tier EMBA programs, but also received additional scholarships—which more than covered the coaching fee. Working with Joy was truly a wonderful experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone seeking to navigate the MBA admissions journey with confidence and success. She is, without a doubt, a five-star coach in every sense of the word.

After several years in managerial positions, I was unsure of which stories and experiences would be the most impactful for an EMBA admissions committee. Joy took the time to understand my background and motivation for business school, which helped me emphasize the right examples in my essays and interviews. Writing an admissions essay was very different than any previous writing projects I’ve worked on; she coached me on how to keep my writing clear and compelling. I applied to three top programs and was accepted into all three with scholarship offers. Joy was personable, direct, and knowledgeable about the admissions process, which all attributed to me getting admitted into my top school of choice!

Joy was truly a pleasure to work with for the 2024 MBA cycle. She was not only my confidante during this entire process, but a wonderful cheerleader and supporter. My application certainly had obstacles as the job market for 2023 was challenging for startups and tech companies. However, Joy was undeterred. She helped me overcome the obstacles that felt like major roadblocks in my application and helped me see how the negatives were actually positives for my personal story. For any prospective clients, she is a great coach that will help you throughout the entire process.

I worked with Joy for several months leading up to R2 application deadlines, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the help I received from her through that time was invaluable. Navigating the MBA application process turned out to be much more involved than I ever would have thought, and Joy was a constant source of guidance, support, and positivity in that time. From the outset, Joy ensured that I stayed disciplined and on-track in my application, both checking in regularly and challenging me when necessary, such that I never felt pressed for time in any of my applications. She was willing to overcome time zone differences (often waking up incredibly early in the morning) to ensure we were able to keep a regular cadence of meetings, and was always available and responsive whenever I needed help or feedback. Another great benefit of working with Joy is that she is refreshingly candid with her feedback, not settling for half-baked ideas when she senses that more lies underneath. The brainstorming I was able to do with Joy, both on big picture storytelling as well as the nitty-gritty of essay writing, were also very meaningful. She has the remarkable ability to facilitate conversations and help you arrive at ideas and language on your own, such that you don’t feel like you are compromising your voice. I was incredibly happy with my outcomes with Joy’s help, with acceptances to both Ross and Yale SOM (with scholarship). I would highly recommend Joy to anyone looking for a consultant to help them navigate the MBA application process.

I had the pleasure of working with Joy during the R2 application process, and I wholeheartedly endorse her to anyone who is considering applying to business schools. Before I began the application process, I was slightly worried because I was facing a tight timeline to meet the R2 deadline. However, from our first meeting, it became evident that Joy was a seasoned expert, and I felt assured in her capable hands. Joy is exceptional not only in eliciting one's life story but also in artfully assembling it in a manner that is compelling, personal, and relevant. This was particularly invaluable to me given that its been a while since I graduated college; she rekindled memories of my accomplishments and experiences both during and prior to college. When it comes to crafting essays, Joy is highly responsive and provides candid feedback, a quality I deeply appreciated. Moreover, Joy’s prowess in resume editing is exceptional. While I had previously summarized my work history and education, she transformed the resume to vividly illustrate the impact of my experiences. However, what truly sets her apart is her unwavering emotional support and guidance throughout the entire process. Joy was always there for me as a cheerleader, believing in my potential even during moments when I doubted myself. Her infectious enthusiasm was empowering every time we convened. I highly recommend working with Joy!

I absolutely loved working with Joy throughout the 2024-2025 MBA application cycle, and I cannot say enough amazing things about my time working with her! Joy is a seasoned expert in every aspect of the MBA application process, from researching schools, to fine-tuning career goals, from essay writing, to interview preparation. What stood out most to me while working with Joy is the very personalized approach she takes to working with her clients. During our initial meetings, Joy pushed me to introspect and dug deep into my background and life experiences to get to know the real me behind my resume and find the right stories to tell, often ones I wasn’t even aware of to begin with! Then, Joy was instrumental in helping me bring those stories to life on paper, with targeted feedback to naturally illustrate impact, leadership, community-building, growth, interpersonal connection, and so many other wonderful qualities through the power of story. To write and refine over 10 essays over the course of just 2 months, while also refining my resume, professional experiences, and career goals seemed like a daunting proposition when I first started working with Joy. Joy and I corresponded almost daily, and her mix of tactical feedback, ideas, insights, and meticulous reviews were critical in getting me through it all. Beyond the nuts and bolts of working on the application itself, I’ll always remember Joy’s enthusiasm, positive encouragement, and emotional support, that made what might have been a stressful time a highly enjoyable experience. I’ve always felt the very best mentors help you learn to help yourself – and Joy epitomizes this in every sense of the word. I can confidently say that I have grown as a writer and even learned more about myself through my time working with Joy! With Joy’s support, I was thrilled to be accepted to Stanford, my first-choice program, and I’m incredibly thankful to have gotten the chance to work with her. If you’re lucky enough to work with Joy, you can be confident you’re getting the absolute best!

Brandon is an absolute rockstar. He was so easy to work with, direct and honest, and generous with his time. I am very thankful for his help and positive attitude during the whole process. Thank you, Brandon! Don't stop coaching. You're built for this! :)

Kristen was a wonderful coach; she went above and beyond and knows her stuff! She brought out the best of me in my application and pushed me to dig deeper to create a more compelling story. I would recommend her 1000 times to anyone applying for school. I was not too confident about getting coached because I worked with another coach prior to Kristen and did not see the value. After connecting with Kristen, even briefly speaking to her, I felt confident. The amount of effort she put into helping me truly made me a fan of her and Leland. Do not look any further; she will guide you in the right direction.