MBA Admissions Consultants, Events, & Resources

I was admitted to HBS and Stanford GSB through the deferred/2+2 program. After that, I founded Deferred MBA Consulting and have helped hundreds of clients with their applications. Ultimately, learnings from Deferred MBA laid the foundation for Leland. Since most of my time is spent building Leland, I'm best working with clients who don't need intensive coaching in a short amount of time. I love working with clients who have strong backgrounds but just need a few hours of time on application strategy, essays, recommender selection/prep, and interviews.

Candidates, especially ones from common or overpopulated demographics, need to stand out. We will work together so that you are not a one-dimensional candidate in the eyes of the Admissions Committee but one who adds something special to the entering cohort. I have been interviewing candidates as a Kellogg alum since 1993. I recruited Executive MBA candidates for Kellogg throughout Latin America and ran information sessions on the fulltime program while a Kellogg director. Later, I worked several years at two of the larger players in the MBA admissions consulting industry before deciding to offer the same services independently. Clients love my authenticity, enthusiasm, and sense of humor. But while a confessed porphyrophile, I have also helped clients get into a wide range of Top Twenty programs, including the M7.

Applying to business school is all about storytelling. Where did you come from? How did that shape who you are? Who do you aspire to be? What do you hope to accomplish? And finally, how does the MBA connect your past to your future? As an MBA coach, I help applicants weave a coherent, compelling story through their resume, essays, and interviews. My approach is informed by my winding journey through the intensity of the Army Special Forces, the fast-paced and hyper-competitive of world Silicon Valley, and most recently, the endlessly fascinating world of coaching. I focus on military applicants, who face the added challenge of translating their stories into language that resonates with the admissions committee. That’s where I help the most. I’m intimately familiar with the service to school transition because I’ve done it, gaining admission to my three target schools – Stanford, Berkeley, and MIT – all while still on deployment.

I graduated Harvard Business School in 2018 and one of the favorite parts of school was serving as an admissions representative and helping prospective students navigate the admissions process. I am passionate and excited to help clients pursue their business degree in the way and place that best fits their needs. Before business school I worked as a marketing engineer at Texas Instruments (yes, the calculator company) in a role that was a liaison between our sellers in the field and engineers at corporate. It was a great job but I knew I wanted to learn more about business through an MBA. I quickly realized telling my story and background was tricky for a business setting because of how “non traditional” it was. Thus began my hate-affair with the phrase “non traditional”. I believe anyone and everyone regardless of your background has something to contribute to and can benefit from a business education. Thinking through what that could look like for clients and sharing what I’ve learned from my research and experience is why I coach in my spare time. After graduating HBS, I received a full time off from my internship in strategy and operations at Google and now work in the office of the CTO at Verily. During my time at Google, I helped Google Cloud scale with the growing industry and also worked part time in our internal incubator, Area120, on an AI integrated home fitness platform startup and now do chief of staff/strat ops functions for Verily's tech org. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and dogs, scuba diving, teaching fitness classes, and watching college football.

Over the past several years at Leland, I’ve personally chatted with thousands of prospective MBA applicants, attended hundreds of free admissions events, and participated in dozens of MBA classes and bootcamps. These experiences have given me a unique lens into the evolving landscape of business school admissions and what it takes to craft a powerful, compelling application. I specialize in helping candidates navigate the MBA admissions process with strategy and confidence. I was admitted to both Kellogg and MIT Sloan, and while at Kellogg, I served on the Student Admissions Committee—interviewing prospective students and gaining firsthand insight into what top programs value most. Since then, I’ve coached dozens of applicants to successful outcomes at M7 and other top-tier programs. Whether you're refining your personal story, tackling essay drafts, or preparing for interviews, I’d love to help you put together an application that truly stands out.

I've helped hundreds of candidates navigate the CBS admissions process. I know exactly what you need to craft a strong profile, develop your story, and write killer essays. If you bring a decent GPA and strong test scores I can help you get to the next step of securing an interview. As an undergrad English major I'm well suited to help you craft strong stories in your essays that will make you standout from the crowd. While a lot of my coaching is for students applying to CBS, I've helped candidates with essays for every top program including: HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU, McCombs, Darden, LBS, and so on. I've worked for & with colleagues that have gone to every top school and have visited most of the campus locations myself during my own application cycle so I know what the different programs are looking for and can help you work that into your story. Please reach out to see how I can help you strengthen your profile and get into your dream program!

MBA Deferred Admit to Wharton Business School, MIT Sloan, and Yale SOM. My university is a non-target school for top graduate programs with around a ~67.6% admission rate and an unranked business school by USNews. The total student population of CSUF's business college is around 9,000+, and I was successful in differentiating myself and being the very first deferred MBA admit out of my university. I have had experience coaching/tutoring friends and family for years and love helping others through the platform Leland has built! I also coach for management consulting and undergraduate admissions on Leland. Top Coach 2026 - https://start.joinleland.com/top-coach-2026/management-consulting https://start.joinleland.com/top-coach-2026/college Please contact me directly for scheduling; only partial availability is shown on Leland.

After my own journey applying and interviewing for MBAs, from rejections to full-time offers with scholarships, I can personally attest to the challenges, frustrations, and difficulties in determining the right school and executing to receive an offer. I visited 12 business schools in 5 countries in the US, Europe, and Asia in my own research and decision-making process. I've helped numerous applicants on essays, school strategy, narrative development, overall applications, etc. Would be pleased to share learnings and support other applicants in their own trajectories towards success. I've studied in 7 universities and lived in 9 countries, so I uniquely understand different education systems across borders.

Hey there! I'm Shane a graduate of Harvard Business School (MBA), with a strong foundation in engineering and music from Northwestern University. My professional journey includes impactful roles at McKinsey & Company and a in venture capital. I've successfully coached many individuals, helping them navigate the competitive MBA admissions process and secure spots at top programs. My experience spans strategic consulting and engineering, equipping me with a unique perspective to guide you through your unique journey. Excited to support you in your application journey!