Leland+ for MBA

Writing Compelling MBA Application Essays

Craft standout, poetic essays that captivate admissions committees!

Pathway to a Joint MBA/MPP: Admissions Insights

Learn how to bridge business and public policy for a powerful career. Three coaches with MBA/MPP experience share their unique perspectives on MBA/MPP admissions.

Navigating M7 MBA Admissions with Average GPA and Test Scores

Learn what you can to stand out in M7 MBA admissions, even with average GPA and test scores.

MBA Application Office Hours and Ask Me Anything

An open-format session for real-time Q&A on any part of the MBA application—essays, school selection, interviews, timelines, or strategy—led by admissions experts.

Women in MBA

Explore the MBA journey through a female lens—challenges, wins, and strategies for success.

Landing an M7 MBA Acceptance with a Non-Traditional Background

See how applicants from unconventional paths break into top programs—and how you can too.

What NOT to Do in an MBA Internship

Avoid these common missteps that can cost you the return offer—stay focused, proactive, and professional.

Navigating Dual/Concurrent Degrees: MBA + Policy, Education, and STEM [6/11/2026] (Recording)

For some applicants, a traditional MBA is not the only path. Joint and concurrent degree programs can offer powerful ways to build interdisciplinary expertise, but they require careful strategic consideration. This session will explore when pairing an MBA with another graduate degree makes sense, how to evaluate program structures and tradeoffs, and how to determine whether a dual-degree path aligns with your long-term goals. Attendees will also learn how admissions committees assess dual-degree applicants and what makes for a compelling rationale.

Why MBA, Why Now, Why [X] Program: Answers that Define Your App [6/11/2026] (Recording)

Few questions matter more in MBA admissions than why you want an MBA, why this is the right moment, and why a particular program is the right fit. Yet many applicants answer them superficially. This session will explore how to develop thoughtful, credible, and differentiated responses to these foundational questions, and why the quality of those answers often determines the strength of the entire application. Attendees will leave with a framework for articulating a sharper and more persuasive admissions narrative.

Intel Collection for the MBA: Schools, Careers, and the Application [6/11/2026] (Recording)

This is the second session in the MDMP for MBA series series structured around the seven phases of the Military Decision-Making Process. Each session stands on its own, but together they form a complete framework for military and veteran applicants to systematically and strategically approach the MBA admissions process. In this session, we'll focus on mission analysis and cover how to collect HUMINT and AI-enabled SIGINT to improve your understanding of the critical elements of MBA application: target schools (including class profiles, employment outcomes, and culture), post-MBA career paths (industries, functions, recruiting pipelines, compensation), and the components of the application itself (essays, recommendations, and academic preparation. We'll also cover resources available to military and veteran applicants, from the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon to Service to School and school veterans clubs. By the end, you'll know how to build your candidate school list, how to research post-MBA careers, and how to gather the intelligence that makes every later decision in the process a sound one. Hosted by Ian Kennedy, former Army Special Forces (18E, 1st SFG) and Stanford MBA/MS, who has coached military and veteran applicants into admissions at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, LBS, Duke, and more.

Ten things you can do today to launch your MBA application journey. [6/10/2026] (Recording)

The MBA application journey can feel overwhelming—but it doesn't have to start that way. The secret isn't finding a shortcut; it's knowing exactly where to begin. Whether you're 6 months out or just starting to explore your options, there are concrete, high-impact actions you can take right now to build momentum and set yourself up for success. This workshop breaks down ten practical steps you can take today to launch your MBA application journey with clarity and confidence. From strengthening your academic and test profile to crafting your narrative, identifying the right schools, and preparing the people in your corner, you'll leave with a clear action plan—not just inspiration. By the end of this session, you will be able to: * Identify the immediate steps that will have the greatest impact on your candidacy, no matter where you are in the process. * Strengthen your academic and test profile by addressing gaps proactively and positioning yourself for success. * Showcase career progression and leadership through an accomplishment-based resume and targeted professional achievements. * Begin crafting your story by clarifying your motivations, values, and post-MBA goals. * Secure powerful recommendations by selecting and preparing the right advocates early. * Demonstrate authentic school fit through research-driven insights that align your goals with each program's unique offerings.

How to Choose the Right International Career Move [6/10/2026] (Recording)

If you're considering a move abroad, a degree in another country, or a pivot into a more international career, the hardest part is often not ambition: it's choosing well. A lot of smart professionals get stuck between several “good” options: stay where you are and keep building, go abroad for a master's, switch markets, accept a less obvious opportunity that may open bigger doors later, or wait for a clearer path. This webinar is designed to help you think through those decisions more strategically. In this session, we'll look at how to evaluate an international move in a way that goes beyond excitement, fear, or generic expat advice. We’ll cover how to weigh career upside against cost, visa realities, employability, timing, and quality of life, and how to identify which option actually fits your long-term goals. In this webinar, you'll learn: - how to evaluate whether an international move is strategically worth it - when a degree abroad makes sense and when it probably doesn’t - how to compare countries, cities, and career markets more realistically - what people often underestimate about visas, employability, and timing - how to choose between a safer path and a more ambitious one - how to make a move that is not just exciting, but coherent By the end of the session, you’ll leave with: - a clearer framework for evaluating your next international career step - better questions to ask before committing time, money, or energy - a more realistic understanding of what makes a move viable - more clarity on whether your best next step is to relocate, study, stay put, or reposition first This webinar is for professionals who are: - considering relocating for work - debating whether to pursue a master’s or MBA abroad - trying to break into a new international market - weighing multiple career paths across countries - looking for a more strategic way to plan a global career move Whether you're early in the process or already deciding between specific options, this session will help you think more clearly and move forward with a stronger strategy.

AMA: M7 MBA Admissions and MBB Recruiting [6/9/2026] (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.

How Top 1% Applicants Build Cohesive MBA Application Narratives [6/9/2026] (Recording)

The strongest MBA applicants do more than present impressive credentials—they tell a coherent, strategically crafted story across every component of the application. This session will break down how top candidates create alignment between their resume, essays, recommendations, and interviews to present a clear and compelling narrative. Attendees will learn the principles behind building an application that feels intentional, differentiated, and greater than the sum of its parts.

The Overrepresented Applicant’s Blueprint to MBA Admissions [6/8/2026] (Recording)

Many MBA applicants from consulting, finance, and technology backgrounds underestimate one of the central challenges of the admissions process: differentiation. In this workshop, I'll breaks down how admissions committees evaluate “overrepresented” applicant demographics — and, more importantly, what separates memorable candidates from interchangeable ones. Drawing on experience coaching applicants across M7 and top global MBA programs, the session explores how candidates can move beyond prestige signaling and build a more distinctive, cohesive, and authentic application narrative. Participants will learn how to: * Understand how admissions committees evaluate candidates from highly competitive industries * Identify the most common positioning mistakes made by finance, consulting, and tech applicants * Build stronger differentiation across essays, resumes, interviews, and recommendation strategies * Develop clearer personal themes, leadership narratives, and career vision * Communicate impact and self-awareness beyond titles, brands, and technical accomplishments * Highlight distinctive experiences, perspectives, and motivations that create memorability * Avoid “over-coached” applications and develop more authentic storytelling * Position career transitions, long-term goals, and leadership potential more strategically Whether you come from investment banking, private equity, consulting, big tech, product management, engineering, or another highly represented background, this session is designed to help you better understand how to stand out in one of the most competitive areas of MBA admissions.

Nailing Your Wharton Essays [6/3/2026] (Recording)

Are you ready to craft compelling essays for your Wharton MBA application? Join me, Sabrina, a Wharton MBA alum and former admissions fellow, for an insightful session on how to nail your Wharton essays. With my experience as a co-host on the Wharton Fintech Podcast and leadership roles in various clubs, I have honed the art of storytelling and personal branding. During this event, I'll share strategies to help you articulate your unique narrative and stand out in the competitive application process. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insider tips and elevate your application. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot!

Professional CV - two Masters and three Doctorates + work experience!

For anyone looking for a clean, simple, thorough CV template! Includes my background of multiple undergraduate degrees, two Master's degrees, and three Doctorate degrees, along with research bibliography and work experience. Translatable for those entering MBA, Masters, PhD, medical school, dental school, physician's assistant and more.

2026-2027 Columbia Essay Brainstorm

The complete brainstorming workbook for Columbia's 2026-2027 essays. Inside: step-by-step exercises for every prompt, from short answers to Essay 1 goals to Essay 2 collaboration stories to Essay 3 "co-create" arguments, with structured charts to help you organize your stories, research, and outlines before you start drafting.

MBA Application Week Kickoff [6/1/2026] (Recording)

GIVEAWAY DURING EVENT: Join for the chance to win $300 of coaching credit! Starting your MBA applications can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure how to prioritize test prep, school selection, and your overall story. This kickoff session is designed for prospective applicants who want a clear roadmap for the week ahead and a sharper understanding of what top programs are actually looking for. You’ll walk away with a structured plan for tackling your application components, a framework for evaluating your candidacy, and guidance on how to get the most value out of each upcoming session. Attending live gives you the chance to ask questions about your goals and get real-time direction on where to focus first. The speaker works closely with applicants and will share the patterns they see across successful candidates, along with what they look for when evaluating readiness. If you want to start the week with clarity and momentum, it’s worth showing up live.

MBA Application Week Kickoff [6/1/2026] (Recording)

GIVEAWAY DURING EVENT: Join for the chance to win $300 of coaching credit! Starting your MBA applications can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure how to prioritize test prep, school selection, and your overall story. This kickoff session is designed for prospective applicants who want a clear roadmap for the week ahead and a sharper understanding of what top programs are actually looking for. You’ll walk away with a structured plan for tackling your application components, a framework for evaluating your candidacy, and guidance on how to get the most value out of each upcoming session. Attending live gives you the chance to ask questions about your goals and get real-time direction on where to focus first. The speaker works closely with applicants and will share the patterns they see across successful candidates, along with what they look for when evaluating readiness. If you want to start the week with clarity and momentum, it’s worth showing up live.