Leland+ for MBA

Sample MBA Interview Answers

A comprehensive library of sample MBA interview responses across every major question category: leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, self-awareness, resilience, ethics, and adaptability. Each example uses the STAR method to show you exactly how to structure compelling, quantified answers you can adapt with your own experiences.

Sample Columbia Business School Essays

Stuck staring at the Columbia essay prompts? See exactly how admitted applicants pulled it off. This collection includes more than twenty complete essay sets covering every recent CBS question. Read across industries, geographies, and career stages to find approaches that resonate with your own story.

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.

MBA Scorecard: Rank Every Program to Find Your Fit

A personalized Excel scorecard for ranking every top MBA program that autopopulates based on key criteria you should evaluate in narrowing down your list to your top-choice programs. Weight only the factors that matter to you (e.g., specific career funnels, geography, cost, culture, academics), and score each program out of 100, and see your rankings update live. This includes a filled-out example as well so you can see what a final product looks like. Delete anything that isn't useful, and keep the rest so this search is custom-tailored to you.

MBA Self-Discovery Workbook: Unlock Your Narrative & Write Freely

This is a reflection-focused, 13-section workbook for MBA applicants to uncover and build your story before embarking on the complex, layered process of writing your essays. This resource is informed from my time in Stanford GSB's Interpersonal Dynamics (Touchy Feely), my time helping dozens of other GSB classmates find their voice as the Managing Editor for Stanford GSB's Paper (Nondisclosure), and in helping over 500 MBA applicants self-reflect in a way that feels genuine, personal and clarifying. I wrote this resource with just enough structure (but not too much), and with a practical eye towards covering the ground you'll need for your MBA apps. You'll go deep, but every question has a purpose. I also use this with everyone I work with, and it's something we'll cover at the very beginning of our process. My hope is that this resource, in addition to being a big help, feels like we're in conversation. The goal is just to get to know you a little better, one step at a time, in a way that feels natural, even enjoyable. Even if you're the only one who ever sees it, I've tried to write this in a way that I'd speak about this kind of thing with you. Because I think humans are the best way to help other humans see themselves a little deeper. And trust me, plenty of "coaches" could use more of that too ;) This workbook will cover your background, motivations, short and long-term goals, values, behavioral stories, and more. A PDF is attached here, but there's also a downloadable Word file I recommend using to make things much easier for you to fill out as you go. This took me about 20-30 hours of time to put together, and I suggest putting at least 5-10 into filling this out. Some go at it all at once, but most do it in a few sittings. Long walks are good to interperse between writing sessions, and I actually recommend you reflect and go back to this to update your answers several times throughout your MBA process. Save new versions as you go and you'll be able to see your application pixellate over this monthslong process. If you're reapplying, I'd push you to compare what you end up with here with what you submitted last time. The differences may be revealing. I hope ends up a real tool for you, and that it helps you find answers you might not have found otherwise. It also will give you a glimpse into what coaching together feels like. Don't hesitate to reach out if you feel like sharing this. Working on your writing and applications together is a natural byproduct of the kind of reflection you'll be doing here, and it's my favorite thing to help someone with. Happy writing :) -Ben

Deferred MBA M7 Series: Columbia

Applying to Columbia Business School’s deferred MBA program is a unique opportunity—and a uniquely competitive one. In this session, Melanie E.—a multi-disciplinary coach featured in Forbes, NBC, ABC, CBS, Business Insider, and TEDx—will break down exactly what CBS is looking for and how to position yourself as a standout candidate. With deep experience coaching applicants into top MBA programs and a coaching style tailored to each individual’s strengths, Melanie will walk you through how to craft a compelling narrative, highlight leadership potential, and approach Columbia’s essays and recommendations with clarity and strategy. Whether you’re early in your MBA exploration or preparing to hit submit, this session will give you actionable insights to strengthen your CBS deferred application.

2026-2027 Wharton MBA Essay Brainstorm Exercise

A fill-in-the-blank workbook that walks you through all Wharton essays. Brainstorm tables, story selection guidance, and ready-to-use outlines take you from blank page to first draft.

Get Started on Your Deferred MBA Panel: Actionable Tips from Experts

Kick off your Deferred MBA journey with a panel of top Leland coaches who have helped countless applicants earn admits to programs like HBS 2+2, GSB Deferred, and Wharton Advance Access. They’ll break down what you should be doing right now—from crafting your narrative to securing impactful recommenders—to stay competitive ahead of this year’s deadlines. You’ll leave with clear, actionable next steps to start your application strong.

Positioning Your Military Experience for an MBA

Military experience can be a powerful differentiator in MBA admissions when it is translated clearly into leadership, impact, and future potential. This session will show you how to reframe service roles into business-ready language, quantify outcomes, and connect your experience to post-MBA goals that resonate with top programs. We’ll cover essays, resumes, recommendations, and interview positioning, along with common pitfalls veterans face and how to avoid them.

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!

Building Your Path to Graduate School Success: 2-5 Years Out

Are you considering applying to graduate school in the next 2-5 years and want to ensure you're on the right path to success? Join me, Bri, for an insightful session on building a strategic approach to your graduate school applications, whether you're eyeing an MBA, MPP, or any highly competitive graduate degree. With firsthand experience as an admit to MIT Sloan, Booth, and Tuck, and a dual MPP/MBA strategy, I bring a wealth of knowledge on what top programs are looking for. My background in government consulting and cross-sector innovation allows me to help you craft compelling stories that connect your diverse experiences into a cohesive narrative. I've successfully coached applicants to M7 and top public policy programs, refining their personal narratives, clarifying post-graduate goals, and strengthening their essays, résumés, and interviews. During this session, we'll cover everything from application strategy and networking to financial aid and testing. Space is limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot and start building your path to graduate school success!

Starting Your GRE Journey: An Introduction to the GRE General Test [5/14/2026] (Recording)

Starting your GRE prep can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure what the test actually involves or how to begin. This session is for anyone looking for a clear introduction to the GRE General Test and how to approach it effectively. You’ll learn how the exam is structured, what each section tests, and how to build a study plan that sets you up for steady improvement. Join live to ask questions about your starting point and get guidance on how to approach your prep with more confidence. The speaker is an experienced GRE coach who regularly helps students navigate the early stages of preparation. They’ll share the patterns they see across successful test takers and the foundational strategies typically covered in 1:1 prep sessions.

Consortium Example Essays

These essays helped an ally be admitted to Consortium and to UC Berkeley Haas and UCLA Anderson. They stand out due to the clarity in career goals, specific ways the applicant supported unrepresented groups, and multi-faceted plans for involvement and support in the future.

Crafting an MBA Essay That Actually Stands Out [5/12/2026] (Recording)

FREE LELAND + FOR 1 MONTH FOR ALL LIVE ATTENDEES. Strong MBA essays aren’t just well-written, they clearly communicate who you are and why you belong at a program. This session is for applicants who want to move beyond generic advice and craft essays that genuinely stand out. You’ll learn how to develop a focused personal narrative, avoid common mistakes that dilute your story, and align your essays with what admissions readers are actually looking for. Join live to hear from MBA admissions experts and ask questions about your own essay ideas. The panelists regularly work with applicants on essay development and will share the patterns they see across successful submissions. Expect practical feedback and insights similar to what’s covered in 1:1 coaching conversations.

What AI Can’t Do in MBA Admissions [5/18/2026] (Recording)

Artificial intelligence has transformed how applicants brainstorm, draft, and prepare for business school applications, but the strongest MBA applications still require far more than polished prose. This session will break down where AI can help, where it often hurts, and the critical aspects of strategy, reflection, and storytelling that technology cannot replicate. Attendees will learn why top admissions committees continue to reward authenticity, judgment, and narrative depth, and how to use AI as a tool without allowing it to dilute what makes an application compelling.

Targeting M7 Schools? What It Really Takes [5/20/2026] (Recording)

1YR FREE LELAND+ GIVEAWAY FOR LIVE ATTENDEES ($119 VALUE). After this session, you'll know how to assess whether your profile is genuinely competitive for M7 schools and where the real gaps tend to appear. We'll cover how admissions committees at these programs actually differentiate candidates at the margin, what a strong post-MBA narrative looks like for the most common applicant profiles, and how to decide where to apply given your specific background and goals. Attending live means you can hear how experienced coaches thinks through cases like yours in real time, context a recording simply cannot replicate. These coaches work with M7 applicants daily and will share the patterns that separate candidates who get in from those who fall short at the final round.

Haasome (ie. Awesome Haas) Essays

These winning Haas essays show a clear vision of the applicant's career, a plan for how to make the most of her time at Haas, and the self-awareness and personal growth that Haas values. Talking points for the "What Makes You Feel Alive When You're Doing It" video essay are also included.

8 Steps to an MBA app: 1) Life Story, Timeline, & MBA Resume

Applying to business school can feel overwhelming! You have dozens of moving pieces: essays, short answers, video content, resume, recommendations, outreach, research, and more. This workshop is the starting point of a structured 8-part MBA Identity Mapping series designed to take you from fragmented tasks to a clear plan of action. In this session, you will build your foundational Life Timeline of all your key stories and begin transforming your resume into MBA format. These sessions walk you step by step through building one fully aligned MBA application. In every workshop, you will be assigned tasks to complete over the next two weeks, keeping you organized and accountable. By the end, you will have strong, authentic essays and a cohesive narrative that runs consistently through your resume, goals, recommendations, school strategy, and interviews. You are absolutely welcome to attend individual sessions if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. Event 1 identifies your significant experiences and reshapes your resume into MBA format: • Understand the full trajectory of the 8-phase MBA Identity Mapping process and how each piece connects. • Build a comprehensive Life Timeline that captures the raw material of your life. • Begin transforming your professional resume into MBA format. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international programs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Clients consistently describe it as transformative because it replaces scattered effort with forward momentum and strategic clarity. If you are ready to stop juggling tasks and start building an organized, cohesive MBA application, this is where you begin. (Please message me if you would like a copy of the super helpful free resource mentioned in the video: MBA Resume Transformation Guide.)

REAL INSEAD MBA Interview Mocks

Multiple INSEAD mock interview sequences, based on real questions clients reported in interviews. Use these sequences to practice and ensure you convert your INSEAD interview into an admit.

How to Strengthen Your Deferred MBA Story Before the Deadline

Deferred MBA programs look for candidates with clear potential, thoughtful career vision, and evidence of leadership early in their careers. If you’re planning to apply this cycle, the months before the deadline are when strong applicants refine their goals, sharpen their narrative, and ensure their experiences clearly support why an MBA makes sense for them. In this session, you’ll learn how to clarify your long-term story, highlight leadership and impact effectively, and strengthen the core themes that run through your essays and application materials.