Leland+ for MBA
Popular on Leland+
From Service to Grad School: Getting into an MBA Program
Transitioning from service—military, nonprofit, public sector, or community leadership—into an MBA program requires translating impact into a language admissions committees understand. In this session, you’ll learn how to position your service experience as leadership, quantify outcomes, and craft a compelling narrative that highlights readiness for business school. We’ll cover program fit, essays, recommendations, testing strategy, and common pitfalls unique to service backgrounds, so you can present a clear, confident case for admission.
Duke Contributions to the Fuqua Community Essay
Plans to drive social impact at Fuqua through technology, non-profit support, and student-led consulting initiatives.
Acing the Harvard Business School Interview
The HBS interview is a high-stakes conversation that tests clarity of thought, self-awareness, leadership potential, and impact under pressure. In this series, you’ll learn how Harvard evaluates candidates, how to prepare for the case-style discussion and follow-up questions, and how to communicate your story with confidence and precision. Whether you’re awaiting an invite or preparing for interview day, this workshop will give you a clear playbook to perform at your best.
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.
Great First MBA Interview Answer. Ready for Follow-Ups? Learn to be!
▶ Your first answer went well. Then the follow-ups started. And they didn’t stop. In many MBA interviews, interviewers drill far beyond your initial response. If you are prepared, this is where you shine. If you are not, this is often where an otherwise strong application quietly slips away. I have helped applicants succeed in even the most demanding interview formats. In this 30-minute live session, I will introduce and demonstrate one of the core techniques I use with clients, the Dual Lens Interview Prep method, a practical approach designed to help you prepare not just answers, but real interview conversations. 🚩Do not miss this event - you will not learn this technique anywhere else!🚩 ▶You will learn how to: ◆ Prepare for follow-up questions that dig beneath your initial response ◆ Step into the interviewer’s mindset to anticipate deeper probing ◆ Build a flexible story bank that adapts across questions and schools ◆ Practice effectively on your own using recorded responses and structured reflection ◆ Go multiple layers deep on a single story without sounding rehearsed or scripted ▶ What we’ll do live I will walk through an example of the Dual Lens method in action, showing how one core story can generate multiple rounds of natural, high-quality follow-ups. I will also show how to organize this practice using simple tools, how to evaluate your own responses, and how this method fits into the broader interview prep system I use with MBA admits each year. ✔ What you’ll leave with A clear, repeatable framework you can start using immediately, whether you are preparing solo, with friends, or alongside a coach. ▶ Register now to learn how to handle MBA interview follow-ups with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Writing
Many people have asked me a set of questions frequently. These questions will answer some of your questions quickly!
Start Now: Creating a Strong MBA Application Early
Starting your MBA application early gives you a major advantage. In this session, we’ll break down what strong applicants do months ahead of deadlines, from shaping a clear career narrative and school strategy to building relationships, test plans, and experience gaps. You’ll leave with a practical roadmap for how to use the early months intentionally, avoid last-minute stress, and position yourself as a compelling, well-prepared candidate when applications open.
Top 5 MBA Application Tips From a Former HBS AdCom
MBA admissions are highly competitive—and small strategic choices can make a big difference. This session shares insider insights from a former Harvard Business School admissions committee member on what truly matters in MBA applications. In this event, you’ll learn the top five factors that strengthen your candidacy, from positioning your story and selecting recommenders to crafting standout essays and avoiding common application mistakes. We’ll also cover how admissions committees evaluate applicants and what sets successful candidates apart. Whether you’re early in the process or polishing final submissions, you’ll leave with clear, actionable guidance.
Columbia Business School Interview Series
Columbia Business School interviews are a critical step in the admissions process—and strong preparation can set you apart. This interview series is designed to help you approach CBS interviews with confidence, clarity, and a compelling story. In these sessions, you’ll learn how to structure your responses, communicate your career goals effectively, and handle common behavioral and fit questions. We’ll also cover what CBS interviewers look for and how to highlight your strengths in a competitive applicant pool. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or refining your approach, you’ll leave with practical strategies and greater confidence.
Free
International Students & US Master's Admissions
Learn what Admissions Committees in the US look for in your graduate application.
From College to Stanford GSB: The Deferred MBA Strategy Session (Dec 11)
Getting into Stanford GSB’s Deferred MBA program is not about checking boxes: it’s about building a strategy years before most candidates even think about business school. In this exclusive session, Dr. Loubna Bouamane, former MBA Admissions Director and founder of Admission Concierge, will walk you through exactly how top students position themselves for Stanford straight from college. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling early-career narrative, select the right internships and leadership experiences, stand out academically, and avoid the most common mistakes that derail otherwise strong candidates. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior, or recent graduate, this session will give you a clear roadmap to Stanford’s deferred MBA pathway with real-world insights from inside the admissions process.
Chicago Booth Interview Series
Chicago Booth interviews are your chance to bring your application to life—and strong preparation can make all the difference. This interview series is designed to help you approach Booth interviews with confidence, clarity, and a compelling personal narrative. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or refining your approach, you’ll leave with practical strategies and greater confidence.
How to Create a Standout Deferred MBA Application
Deferred MBA programs look for future leaders with clarity of purpose, strong trajectory, and long-term potential, not just impressive internships or grades. This session breaks down what top programs actually evaluate in deferred candidates and how to position yourself early in your career. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling narrative, articulate credible goals, choose recommenders strategically, and avoid common mistakes that hold applicants back. Whether you’re just starting to explore deferred programs or actively preparing to apply, this workshop will help you build a focused, competitive application strategy.
Chicago Booth Personal Essay – Outside the Office
A personal essay on improv comedy, community, and how life outside of work shaped my adaptability and perspective.
Example Resume for Amazon Program Manager Application
This is the resume for an individual with an MBA and Product Management background who secured a Amazon Program Manager role.
Crushing Your Deferred MBA Applications
Applying to deferred MBA programs or curious about the process? Leland is excited to provide this FREE event to cover tips to help you get accepted into top MBA programs like Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Wharton, and more. This workshop is hosted by John K, CEO and Founder of Leland. He was accepted to Stanford GSB and HBS though their deferred enrollment programs and will share key tips and tactical strategies to help you submit an application you are proud of. If you are interested in applying to a top 10 MBA program, have questions about the process, or just want to receive valuable insight, join us. It's completely free!
Kellogg MBA Essay #1
This is an Example Kellogg MBA #1 essay from an admitted student.
Ace Your MBA Interview!
Congratulations on getting selected to interview! Now what? During this session, we’ll discuss everything you need to know to start preparing for your interviews. - Qualities your interviewer will be assessing you on - Common interview questions - How to structure your answers - Preparation techniques - Tips on conquering interview anxiety
5 Mistakes That Tank Deferred MBA Applications
Deferred MBA applications are evaluated with a different lens, and small missteps can have an outsized impact on outcomes. This session breaks down the most common mistakes that weaken deferred MBA candidacies, from unclear career narratives to misaligned school fit and timing errors. You’ll learn how to avoid these pitfalls and strengthen your application by presenting a clear, credible, and forward-looking story.
MIT Sloan Interview Series
MIT Sloan interviews are a key step in the admissions process—and strong preparation can make all the difference. This interview series is designed to help you approach your interviews with confidence and clarity. You’ll learn how to structure strong answers, communicate your goals effectively, and handle common behavioral and fit questions. Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or refining your approach, you’ll leave with practical strategies and greater confidence.
