Leland+ for MBA

Introduction to MBA Narrative Brainstorming

Learn to uncover and articulate your personal and professional story—clarifying what drives you, what you’ve done, and where you want to go—to form the foundation for your MBA applications.

Your Problem Statement: The Most Significant Issue You Care About Solving In Your Career

Identify the problem or opportunity that most motivates you and articulate how it connects to your long-term goals.

The Application Mindset That Changed Everything: My Path to Stanford

Most school applications sound the same: "I've always dreamed of attending your prestigious program because..." But what if there's a completely different approach that admissions committees actually want to see? In this free session, I'll share the exact mindset shift that transformed my application strategy and led to my Stanford acceptance. You'll discover: - Why traditional application advice often backfires - The critical perspective change that makes you stand out instantly - How to demonstrate value to programs (not just desire to attend) - Real examples from my Stanford application materials Whether you're targeting top-tier programs or finding your best-fit school, this session will fundamentally change how you approach your applications.

Introduction to MBA Narrative Brainstorming

Learn to uncover and articulate your personal and professional story—clarifying what drives you, what you’ve done, and where you want to go—to form the foundation for your MBA applications.

Your Narrative Arc: Current Path vs Dream Career vs Disconnect

Map your current trajectory, envision your dream career, and identify the gap that an MBA can help bridge.

MIT Sloan: Example Video Essay

An example of a video essay for the MIT Sloan MBA application.

Deferred MBA Deep Dive: What You Need to Know Now

​In this panel, join admissions experts Justin K., Kelsey K., and Siri G. who will break down everything you need to know about deferred MBA programs so that you have a concrete strategy going into application season. You’ll learn how these programs work, what top schools are looking for in college seniors and early-career applicants, and how to start building a strong application now. ​Check out their profiles here: ​Justin K. - Former BCG consultant and MIT Sloan MBA student with a strong record helping candidates land MBB offers and top MBA admits ​Kelsey K. - Former M7 Admissions Director and Columbia Business School Admissions Committee member with a 93% client acceptance rate and $180K average scholarship awards ​Siri G. - Accepted to deferred MBA programs at Harvard and Wharton from a non-target school through authentic, story-driven applications

GRE Geometry - Calculating Slope

Watch as a coach breaks down an example of how to calculate slope in a coordinate plane for a GRE geometry question.

Wharton TBD Example Pitch 3 - 2024

This is an example of a successful Wharton TBD pitch from 2024

How to Create a Winning MBA Application

​Getting into a top MBA program is more than strong test scores and a polished résumé—it’s about telling your story in a way that resonates. In this session, you’ll learn from Rifat M. (HBS), Ben L. (GSB) and Rob R. (GSB, admitted to all M7 schools) about what schools are really looking for and how to approach each part of the application, from essays to recommendations to interviews. ​Whether you’re early in the process or gearing up to submit, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to showcase your experiences authentically and put together an application that stands out.

Building a Kellogg-Ready Resume

Transform your resume from a job summary into a leadership showcase that highlights collaboration, impact, and growth potential.

Kellogg Essay Walkthroughs

Detailed breakdown of Kellogg's core essays, how to structure your responses, and what they’re truly assessing.

Essay 2 Brainstorm & Structure Worksheet

A guided worksheet designed to help you brainstorm impactful stories, identify key themes, and structure your Kellogg essay 2 with clarity and purpose.

GMAT, GRE & English Tests

Test options, typical target scores by school tier, TOEFL vs IELTS vs Duolingo

Leveraging AI for MBA Applications (while also not cheating)

How can you make the most of GenAI tools to leave no stone unturned in your MBA process? What are the right and wrong ways to be leveraging AI as you build out your applications? I'll help you lower your anxiety around this topic, and help you use AI to complement your thinking on other critical questions like: - "How do I know what programs are the best fit for me?" - "How do I even go about researching my target programs?" - "How can I use it to level up my writing? What pitfalls do I need to avoid?” - "How can I map out my timeline for applying to MBAs?" - "How can I use AI to complement my live interview prep? - "How can I be sure my AI-based research is accurate?" The idea behind this session is twofold: 1) lending you tactical tips to raise the quality of your MBA applications in a world of limited time. (2) helping you think in ways that go beyond the specific questions we cover, so that you can generate plenty questions of your own. As someone who advises people on everyday-life-AI and has also worked with a handful of startup CEOs and investors on layered, complex research requiring heavy AI use, I'll help you make the most of our latest tech without compromising the integrity of your applications. I hope you leave feeling this whole MBA project is something doable, with a few AI-powered arrows in your quiver that can simplify your life as you get there. If you’re interested in 1:1 coaching, you can always drop me a line through my Leland profile. See you soon.

Power Verbs for MBA Applications

A curated list of impactful action verbs to help you write stronger, results-driven essays and resumes that convey leadership, initiative, and impact.

Core MBA Story Worksheet

A step-by-step worksheet that helps you articulate your core MBA story to connect your past experiences, goals, and values into a compelling narrative.

Final Application Checklist

A step-by-step checklist to help you review and finalize every component of your Kellogg application.

MBA Recommendation Letter Example

MBA Recommendation Letter Example