MBA Admissions Consultants

Welcome! I am a coach and advisor who genuinely enjoys helping individuals achieve their MBA admissions goals. As a former member of the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS), I have firsthand knowledge of the admissions process and what it takes to build a compelling application. I've reviewed thousands of applications and completed hundreds of interviews with applicants across all backgrounds, geographies, and industries. I also have experience working with college students applying for deferred admissions (I was part of the launch and management of the HBS 2+2 Deferred Admit Program). I have worked as an independent MBA admissions coach, guiding clients to success at their top choice schools. Whether you need assistance with school selection, crafting your story/brand, essay/resume writing, selecting/preparing recommenders, or interview prep, I'm here to help you navigate the sometimes overwhelming and mysterious MBA admissions world. Let's connect and discuss how I can support you in reaching your goals. Rated "Leland Top 50 Coach" 2023 and 2024

Top-rated MBA admissions coach with 10+yrs experience and over 80% success rate to M7 MBAs. I draw on my deep understanding of what admissions look for and what essay questions are truly asking for to help you create an authentic story and ambitious goals that stand out. I challenge you to discover your leadership voice by placing you in the "interview seat", so it feels like you are already talking to admissions. Together we create a design session where we think deeply about personal and professional moments that show who you are. This leads to your strongest application, higher interview invitation rates, and admissions. →I work with a small group of international/US candidates each round from diverse backgrounds (tech, entrepreneurs, consultants, family business) and personalities. I am available for my clients within short notice, to do so I lessen sales calls. When I review your profile I am committing to partner with you to maximize your profile. I will not oversell you, we chose each other." -> Best-practice Gen AI guidance and tools - try at getmba.ai . I have evolved my in-person coaching to also include guidance on using AI effectively. For clients who see Gen AI as a tool to aid in brainstorming and writing essays, I provide guidance gathered after testing several models to ensure strong output similar to what can be achieved with my coaching. I can provide prompting support, or, if you want easy-to-use professional MBA AI tool, try at getmba.ai -> Most clients do not have clear goal when we begin working together, but end with clear career direction - and some have started companies based on the ideas we formulated together. → Skip the free intro call. The quickest way to plan your application, assess your chances, discuss your goals, and determine your ideal package is to get deep and personal by booking a paid 2hr session then decide how much more coaching you want - according to my reviews, it's a worthwhile investment. -> My interests: Looking to work with candidates with unique AI based goals - in particular big ideas that are not yet clear or tangible. ->Additional review by former admissions officer included in Start-to-finish school packages ->Hourly purchases will be credited toward start-to-finish school packages* ->Optional access to insights that mimic hundreds of successful essays via AI writing tool ->I apply my superpower as an innovator and storyteller to walk clients through a framework that helps connect the dots of past experiences and future aspirations. We get to your “aha” moment and get you excited (and less anxious) about your own fantastic and bold story - this in turn elevates your competitiveness in MBA applications and interviews. ->My expertise has been featured in Poets&Quants. ->I have advised professionals across 20 countries in complex industries including tech, finance, consulting, government, healthcare, biotech, entrepreneurship, renewable energy, military, and telco. Experience spans product management, strategy, operations, analytics, finance, sales, engineering and manufacturing. Areas of less expertise: Brand management, marketing, HR. ->Experienced with top 17 MBAs worldwide: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT, Booth, Columbia, Tuck, Haas, Yale, NYU, UCLA, Ross, Duke, Fuqua, London Business School, Insead ->Personality traits: I recognize that applying to competitive MBAs is a serious process for you on top of a competitive full time job. I inject my naturally open and humorous personality to make the process feel a little less like work. Nimble and grounded are other core strengths, I know when to guide to create urgency and when to give you room to explore your creativity. ->Experienced with MBA, EMBA, PT MBA, & deferred admissions. ->Experienced with dual degrees MBA/MPP(A) or MBA/MA product, design, engineering, education, biotech. **See My Reactions Video to Burning MBA applicant questions **Poets&Quants Article: https://poetsandquants.com/2024/08/07/tips-to-nail-new-harvard-mba-essays/?pq-category=sbc&pq-category-2=sponsored-blogs *Note: Only initial up to 3 hour purchases will be credited toward start-to-finish school packages as this is designed to allow you to experience our partnership before deciding on upgrading to a plan.

Hi! I’m a first-generation college grad, Stanford alumna (MBA, BA Economics & Communication, Phi Beta Kappa) and writing/career coach who has found my calling in helping others to pursue their educational dreams. I provide personalized, knowledgeable, trusted support to diverse US and international students at every step of the admissions process. By working together, you’ll: • Access deep admissions expertise gained from years of direct experience: interviewer, applications reader, Stanford minority admissions advisory representative, pro bono admissions consulting, member of professional educational consulting organizations, quoted by US News. I’ll demystify college admissions and help you to make informed choices. • Create crafting authentic, insightful personal statements that uniquely reflect your background, values, experiences and goals and enable you to stand out. You don’t need to love writing. I’ll help you to identify not only what to communicate, but also how to communicate clearly, concisely and compellingly. • Chart your career vision. Perhaps you’re still considering your career options. I’ll serve as a knowledgeable and supportive sounding board and mentor. • Chart your career vision. Perhaps you’re still considering your career options. I’ll provide a knowledgeable and supportive sounding board and mentor. Together, we’ll identify strategies and actions you can take to achieve your academic and career goals (admissions committees want to know this!). I’ve personally enjoyed diverse, non-traditional work opportunities spanning international business, tech and marketing, strategy and communications at startups, nonprofits and corporations in the US, Europe and Asia. I draw on my experiences and extensive network and bring a “can do,” non-judgmental, strategic approach to helping you to achieve your goals. • Build a customized, balanced list of schools where you can thrive. The question we’ll focus on isn’t whether you’ll get into a great program (trust me, you will!), but rather, how do we identify a short list of schools where you will thrive. I tap deep roots in the Stanford community where I’m an active alumna, pro bono alumni consultant, minority/DEI initiative leader, and class secretary who’s been honored for my volunteer service by Stanford. • Benefit from personalized, responsive support at every step of the application process. I work closely with a limited number of diverse, motivated US and international clients each year. Working together, you will be able to: o Identify strategies and action plans for preparing your strongest candidacy o Write essays that elevate you from being a qualified applicant to a compelling one o Navigate the admission process with less stress and uncertainty and better outcomes

Welcome to your next inflection point! I'm a dual degree MBA + MIA candidate at Columbia Business School and SIPA, with a nontraditional background that bridges government, policy, and business. I've been in your shoes -- navigating complex applications, telling a compelling story across disciplines and audinces, and breaking into top programs without a "typical" profile. Now, I help others do the same. Whether you're building your strategy from scratch or putting the final polish on essays and interview prep, I bring structure, insight, and momentum to help you stand out -- and get in. Let's get to work!

As a former M7 Admissions Director, I help you craft authentic, powerful applications that stand out and get results. Since 2017, I’ve helped hundreds of MBA-hopefuls get accepted to top MBA programs across full-time, executive, and part-time programs — and I look forward to helping you do the same. 93% of my clients achieve MBA success — and more than half secure scholarships averaging $180K. I served on Columbia Business School’s admission committee, where I reviewed countless applications, interviewed candidates, managed the world-wide interview program, served as a waitlist manager, and managed the dual degree programs for the Law, Medical, and Journalism schools. Thereafter, I transitioned into finance, with stints at a hedge fund, a large bank, and in venture capital. Yet, even as I built my career, I missed the part I loved most — helping candidates craft their stories. I returned to the admissions world as a coach. On the other side of the admissions journey, I saw critical gaps in the application process: limited guidance around testing, the challenge of telling narratives within the confines of a few essays and a resume is challenging, and how admissions committees can seem like a black box. My mission reflects these gaps - offer best-in-class advice, work closely with a small number of candidates, and provide personal partnership to every client.

I got my MBA from HBS and was also accepted to Wharton, Kellogg, and Booth. What I love most about coaching is taking a really collaborative approach. I've worked with several clients already and get energy from brainstorming application strategies, helping you nail your personal statement, and prepping for interviews. I'm here to help you tell your story in a way that gets admissions committees excited about having you in their program and help you evaluate which programs might be the best fit for you.

As a professional MBA Consultant, I deep dive into who you are to craft a first-rate application for acceptance to a top 20 MBA program. From typical applicants who need to stand out to unconventional applicants who need to fit in, we succeed together. I have helped 100% of my full-service clients gain acceptance to the top 30 MBA programs, with an impressive 95% acceptance rate to the top 20 programs. This does not mean I only work with applicants with high test scores, great academic records, and exceptional resumes. I have assisted many people with below-average GMAT/GREs, subpar GPAs, and hard-to-quantify work experience to get into top MBA programs. In addition to M7 and other top American programs, I have extensive experience and success in helping applicants gain admission to all top European schools. I also welcome international applicants, having guided many to successful admissions at both American and European institutions. The key to this success lies in getting to the heart of who you are. It’s a simple sentence but not a simple process. We both need to invest time and energy to objectively explore your past, core beliefs, current position, and future aspirations. We then use this life theme to create a profile that enhances your personal and professional narratives, ensuring you effectively showcase your distinctive strengths and experiences. Many clients have remarked that after this journey of self-discovery, they feel they know themselves far better, bringing a fresh sense of enthusiasm and inspiration into their lives. I have developed many tools to keep you on track during the often-taxing challenge of building a successful MBA application. Documents like the MBA Application Roadmap, MBA Application Schedule, and the Dual Lens Interview Preparation Chart guide and support you between our highly productive meetings. BONUS: My business and life partner, M (https://www.joinleland.com/coach/m-g/mba), is also a professional MBA admissions coach, and we regularly review each other’s clients’ applications. This means you’ll benefit from a second expert perspective at no extra cost. We may work on a case-by-case basis or cover all of the following in my all-inclusive package. • Profile optimization as described in the paragraph before the last. • Tailor your school selection, application timeline, round strategy, and more to your profile and goals, ensuring a targeted approach to your MBA journey. • Craft compelling and impactful MBA essays that truly resonate with admissions committees. From initial outlines to multiple draft revisions and a meticulous final edit, we will ensure that your story is memorable for all the right reasons. • Structure and refine various MBA application components, such as work experience descriptions, affiliations, achievements, certifications, research, publications, and awards. My systematic approach results in a cohesive and compelling application package. • Elevate your resume to meet the rigorous standards of MBA applications. Constructive critiques and expert edits will help you present your accomplishments and qualifications successfully. • Secure strong letters of recommendation that amplify your strengths and potential. I can guide you in selecting the right recommenders and obtaining compelling endorsements. • Evaluate every component of your MBA application in a meticulous final review to guarantee coherence, accuracy, and impact. This last layer of polish is crucial to submitting an application that not only meets but significantly exceeds admissions standards. • Ace your MBA interviews with confidence. Realistic school-specific mock interview sessions, tailored feedback, and personalized coaching will help you refine your presentation, responses, and overall interview strategy, guaranteeing you make a lasting impression. • Navigate the critical decisions after your MBA interviews with expert guidance. Whether you're weighing multiple offers, seeking to move up from a waitlist, or deciding on the best school for your goals, I provide strategic advice to make sure you enroll in the perfect MBA program for you. I limit my full-time clients to five per application round (this number may increase or decrease slightly depending on the round and the amount of assistance my clients need), ensuring dedicated and personalized service. My expertise lies in working with international applicants and helping them navigate the challenges of applying in a second language and to a different educational system. This ‘About Jesse’ section may seem as if it’s more about you than me, but that’s the point. You are the star; I am here to help you shine. Let's work together to create the best application possible and secure your spot in a top MBA program.

Worked with three top firms since 2002 (Stacy Blackman Consulting, MBA Prep School, Menlo Coaching) as well as independently. Chosen for Rematch Tiger Team, Client Liaison, and Second Reader roles at one firm, which involved rematching and providing exceptional service for applicants who were dissatisfied with their original consultant, advising consultants on various content-related and client-satisfaction challenges, and providing essay feedback for applicants who were unable to make further progress with their assigned consultant. Delivered best-practice essay development workshops for firm's entire team (~100 coaches), and advised on improvements of service offerings for multiple firms. Worked with Stanford Admissions Committee as Alumni Interviewer. Mostly recently, chosen as panelist for Leland Admissions Week.

With nearly 30 years of undergraduate and graduate admissions and consulting experience, few consultants have read as many or as diverse a subset of applications as Christine. Her experience at Chicago Booth, London Business School and Yale School of Management, in particular, have enabled Christine to collect one-of-a-kind expertise that has proven invaluable to helping countless clients gain admission to the world's elite global business school, and top-ranked undergraduate university programs, amongst others. While most coaches have undergraduate and graduate degrees from top program and have guessed why they were admitted, Christine and her a very small subset of former admissions officer peers have actually crafted classes, and know why and how people are admitted. With all this experience, you may be surprised to learn, Christine didn’t come to private consulting naturally. As a first generation college student committed to student service and helping those with less traditional family/education/professional pedigree, she has always felt like a bit of a traitor moving into private consulting after her years committed to serving students on the University side. She crossed over to admissions consulting to stay committed to helping people tell their stories, find what differentiates them, and guide people on their journey to finding a program that is the ideal match for achieving their goals. While she always loves a strong finance candidate, consultant, or marketer, she admits to having soft spots (and a bit of a niche) for international, first generation, low income, military, non-traditional, women, and diversity applicants. Christine is a tell-it-like-it-is, no-nonsense, realist who will help you craft an accurate story of yourself instead of spinning a story from something that isn’t there. She has deep knowledge of the application process beyond just essay crafting. She is committed, responsive, helpful, and invested in her client’s success. She has curated a unique skillset with a diverse domestic and international perspective few have and might be just what you are looking for!