27,152Leland Reviews

“Working with Melanie Espeland was one of the best decisions I made in my MBA journey. From the very first conversation, it was clear she brought not only deep expertise and insight into the admissions process, but also a level of empathy, strategic thinking, and encouragement that helped me bring out my best self. As a full-time working professional with a packed schedule, I needed a coach who could help me stay focused, intentional, and authentic across every part of my application. Melanie helped me craft a compelling narrative that tied together my personal story, career aspirations, and leadership potential in a way I could never have done on my own. She asked thoughtful questions that pushed me to dig deeper and refine my messaging — especially for the essays and interview prep. Her feedback was honest but always constructive, and I never felt like just another client. It truly felt like a partnership. Thanks to her guidance, I was admitted to the Yale School of Management’s Executive MBA program — my top choice. I’m still pinching myself! I absolutely would not have gotten here without Melanie in my corner. If you’re looking for a coach who will challenge you, champion you, and help you tell your story with clarity and confidence, look no further. Worth every penny.”

I absolutely loved working with Tim! He's so so prompt at responding that you end up being 2x times productive to keep up with his speed at review. He's super thoughtful and really brings a wealth of adcomms experience, which made a HUGE difference in my confidence. I was a pretty non-traditional applicant, but he was super intentional the entire time, and really put effort to make sure my authenticity shone. I have so much respect for Tim, and highly recommend him to anyone going the deferred route <3

Claire was an amazing coach and went above and beyond. She was extremely responsive, even with all her commitments, she still replied to my not-so-infrequent 2 am messages. She provided very honest feedback and wasn't just an admissions coach; she was also a bit of a therapist, telling me when I was overthinking things and offering unwavering support throughout the process. Her comments were to the point and actionable, and they truly took my application to the next level. Having her help me draft a clear action plan and stick to it was extremely helpful– she definitely kept me on my toes. Although I hesitated at first about getting a coach, looking back this was a great investment. Without Claire, my application wouldn't have been even 70% as good as it was with her guidance. I initially booked only three hours with her, but I quickly realized there was so much value in those sessions that I needed to book more time with her. While I haven't received my outcomes yet (I'll update this review as I hear back), I strongly recommend her as a coach to anyone considering deferred admissions.

Business school applications are incredibly taxing and confusing. I had no idea where to start before meeting Faisal. I made a very late decision to apply to business school in R2 back in November, and got on my first call with Faisal with only a vague idea of what I wanted to do and where I might want to go. Through Faisal's excellent project management, he helped me break down every week into (somewhat) digestible steps and made sure that I stayed on top of each of my deadlines. He also coached me with some needed tough love, pointing out which parts of my application upon which I needed to focus. Faisal also helped me to craft my story. One of the first activities that we did together was an MBA DNA, which forced me to reflect and state in my own words what I really wanted and why. This exercise absolutely was the cornerstone for every single essay that I wrote, both for the schools for which I was leveraging Faisal's support, as well as applications that I chose to do on my own. Fast forward a few short months later, and I am now in a spot that I never thought was possible when Faisal and I started working together; accepted to almost every single of the business schools to which I applied with almost $550k total in merit scholarships including multiple full rides to T10 schools. I can say without a doubt that I would not have reached the successes that I did in this application cycle without Faisal. I highly, highly recommend his services!

Krysta was a game changer in helping me organize my thoughts on my career and experiences so far into an essay. While I knew where I wanted to apply and generally how I wanted to sell myself, it was so helpful to have someone convey feedback and guidance on my essay direction and structure.

I am truly indebted and thankful to Tim for his impactful and relentless guidance and iterations throughout the application process. He understood and empathized with my situation and restored my faith in myself. I'm glad that I found a mentor like Tim, and also grateful to the Leland team for always assisting me through the application process.

Justin helped me prepare for the Sloan interview. His feedback on my pre-interview essays strengthened my story and made it more engaging. I really enjoyed working with him and would definitely recommend him to others!

If your goal is HBS, the GSB, or any of the M7, you can’t go wrong with Andy. As a chronic over-researcher, I spoke with countless consultants, and it quickly became clear that Andy is in a league of his own. He has an outstanding track record of helping candidates break into HBS and the GSB. Andy has been doing this for years and has probably read more applications than many admissions officers themselves. He knows exactly what it takes to stand out—without ever losing the authenticity that resonates with the adcom. He’s a master storyteller who teaches you how to craft a narrative that cuts through the noise of thousands of other applications. I worked with Andy on a comprehensive package of schools, and it was immediately clear how well he understands what each school is looking for. I never imagined I’d get into both HBS and the GSB, especially given how differently they evaluate candidates—but that’s exactly what happened. Andy knows how to tailor your story so it speaks directly to each program’s values and culture. I read the other reviews before working with Andy, and they did not lie! Go with Andy!

I had an incredible experience working with Geri during my MBA reapplication journey!! I couldn't recommend her enough :) As a reapplicant, I had to change my approach and working with Geri this time around was worth every minute! From the very first meeting, she was always so quick to reply, provided detailed feedback, and genuine dedication to my success. What truly set her apart was how she helped me dig deep as I worked through my essays—this wasn’t just about revisions, it was about reflecting on my story, refining my goals, and presenting my true value in the most compelling way possible. One of the things I absolutely loved was how she started our very first call by having me fill out a discovery doc. This gave her an in-depth understanding of my journey, motivations, and aspirations, making every session super productive and tailored to my unique needs. She asked thoughtful questions that not only improved my application but also gave me a fresh perspective on my own path. And let me tell you, she was SO motivating! :) Whenever I felt overwhelmed or uncertain, she was right there with the encouragement I needed to push forward. Her positivity and belief in me were incredibly uplifting and kept me focused on my goal. Thanks to her expert guidance and unwavering support, I got into my DREAM school—Wharton! I truly believe her expertise and motivating energy were absolutely essential in helping me craft an application that stood out. Working with Geri was one of the best decisions I made, and I would recommend her to anyone looking for not just a consultant, but a coach who will empower you to reach your fullest potential. You are awesome, Geri!!! :)

From our first intro call, I knew Geri was the right person to work with. She possesses a remarkable talent for understanding your background and identifying key narrative threads to stitch together. Throughout the process, Geri wore many hats —coach, therapist, and mentor. Her responsiveness and expertise provided me with both confidence and exceptional preparation. 10/10 would work with Geri again!