I'm a Ross MBA (University of Michigan) with admissions committee experience at Ross. I've spent the last 14 years successfully coaching MBA applicants through the admissions process independently and with top-rated consulting firms (Stacy Blackman and mbaMission), and have helped clients earn spots at HBS, GSB, Wharton, Booth, Ross, Kellogg, Fuqua, Columbia, Haas, Stern, Darden, Tuck, Johnson, Darden, INSEAD, and many others. As a coach, I'll partner with you on any and all parts of your application. I've collaborated with a range of candidates, and have had great success with those from more traditional backgrounds seeking a way to stand out among a sea of qualified peers, as well as those from non-traditional backgrounds who need guidance articulating how their talents and aspirations will fit into an MBA class. If you're looking for a seasoned, professional coach who's seen it all and can help guide you through the whole process, let's work together!

Top-rated admissions coach at elite Ivy Advisors MBA consultancy, the Harvard Kennedy School Admissions Office, and Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Career program. I am a good fit for deferred, dual / concurrent degree, underrepresented / BIPOC, investment banking-focused, and traditional profile candidates (e.g., consulting, banking) looking to differentiate themselves in a crowded field. By leveraging the introspective nature of MBA applications to effectively convey each client's unique narrative, I have gained recognition as a highly-skilled coach. In my 10 years of coaching, some big wins include helping an individual with a 3.2 GPA and 145 (Quant GRE) / 158 (Verbal GRE) secure admission to a top 5 MBA with 60% tuition scholarship and negotiating another candidate's M7 waitlist offer to admission with 100% tuition funding. Given my client-facing experience, I am extremely responsive and usually take no more than 24 hours to turn around materials. My coaching approach is guided by extensive admissions committee work and the fact that I went through this process myself. I was personally accepted to 5 M7 MBA programs with over $1 million in scholarship offers. Some of the fellowships and scholarships I've participated in include: Forte Foundation MBA Fellowship, MLT MBA Prep, Toigo MBA Fellowship, LunaCap MBA Scholarship, SEO Career, AmeriCorps, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and Upward Bound. I am especially helpful to: ◉ applicants from established pre-MBA careers (e.g., consulting, banking) hoping to differentiate themselves in a crowded field ◉ international applicants looking for guidance on the U.S.-specific nuances for MBAs ◉ non-traditional candidates without cookie-cutter GPAs or test scores looking to highlight strengths in other areas ◉ deferred candidates looking to show their future *potential* through storytelling ◉ candidates seeking scholarship funding ◉ underrepresented minorities, especially Queer BIPOC, who want to work with someone with a shared lived experience ◉ joint / concurrent degree applicants ◉ candidates who want to make a great impression during interviews. I take special pride in one of my interviewers saying I was the best-prepared applicant he had seen in 10 years :) ◉ waitlisted or rejected applicants who want to make a compelling case for their candidacy through informal channels

I love coaching & have helped applicants get accepted to Booth (full time & part time), Kellogg, and Dartmouth.

As a highly qualified MBA coach with years of experience, I have a deep understanding of the MBA admissions process and post MBA career recruitment. I've successfully helped many individuals get into top MBA programs, leveraging my insights to stand out in the competitive landscape. I provide tailored coaching and interview preparation, guiding clients to develop the best narrative for their MBA applications. Let's work together to elevate your career and unlock your path to success!

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.

~~~ I'M OFFERING 70% OFF HOURLY COACHING. USE DISCOUNT CODE melanie-e-222888 ~~~ MELANIE has 8 years of experience in MBA admissions consulting with proven results in M7 programs (including HBS and GSB), Top 20 Programs, and Executive MBAs. She pairs her ex-McKinsey consulting toolkit with her sharp communication skills and EQ as an Executive Coach. This rich blend of skills allow Melanie to be an excellent admissions consultant with an eye for detail and heart for crafting her clients’ unique stories. Additionally, as a trained Voice Actor represented by CESD Talent, Melanie provides a unique perspective on admissions interviews and creating executive presence. • Coaching and Mentoring: One of my callings is coaching and advising others, and I have 8 years of experience in coaching and mentoring roles for sophisticated individuals. Firstly, I have been an MBA Admissions Consultant since 2015 and have worked both for firms as well as for myself. This experience has spanned top American and European programs and a track record of success with M7 schools including HBS and GSB. Secondly, I have been an Executive Coach for several years working for my own business Espeland Enterprises, where I’ve had the opportunity to serve senior level professionals across iconic firms such as Google, Morgan Stanley, and KKR. • Writing and Editing: With both my MBA Admissions clients and executive coaching clients, I have gained extensive experience ideating, writing, and editing professional documents such as essays, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles. My writing abilities include tone, grammar, syntax, word choice, style, flow, format, transitions, effective introductions and conclusions, and responsiveness to the essay question. Additionally, I have written blogs, articles, and speeches for myself including my TEDx talk on executive presence. • Excellent Communication: I am a people person who can “talk to a wall” as the adage says and can quickly build rapport with new clients. I am comfortable working with individuals of diverse backgrounds including non-traditional career paths.

MBA COACHING, WRITING EXPERTISE & GMAT WORK • Stanford GSB Alum, Class of 2021 -- see relevant experience sets below: • Coaching | Advised multiple admits into Stanford GSB, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, INSEAD, Haas, and more (see >20 Leland reviews), while teaching multiple courses through Leland • Professional Writing | Speechwriting in public policy & political environments, Lead Editor for Nondisclosure (Stanford GSB's magazine) and Managing Editor for the Stanford International Policy Review • GMAT / Test-Taking | Scored in the highest percentile of GMAT test-takers, but more importantly I've honed my ability to help others extrapolate top test-testing strategies in the areas they're weakest • Interview Training | I'm interview-trained for McKinsey, allowing me to give high-quality mock interviews for MBBs and any MBA program • Additional Writing | Crafting op-eds, ghostwriting for major publications, developing a fictional short story collection, policy deep dives, a book on chess applications to life, and application essays of all sorts CAREER • What I'm Doing Now | Based in NYC working on a stealth, marketplace startup while continuing various forms of advisory work • Public Policy | Prior to Stanford, worked on the Policy Team for the Chicago Mayor's Office under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, focusing on 5G infrastructure policy, criminal justice policy, and citywide corporate/economic development deals • McKinsey | Before policy, worked at McKinsey & Co , with casework focused on job training for the formerly incarcerated and workforce development for at-risk youth • PE / VC / Startup Advising | After Stanford, worked in Bain's Private Equity Group on various due diliegences, managed deals with several venture capital firms, and advised multiple startups on growth and go-to-market strategy

I graduated from Harvard Business School and have nearly a decade of experience mentoring and coaching students. I have been a freelance coach for college and business school application processes and have successfully helped clients land their dream outcomes; I was hired by the University of Michigan career center to coach students applying for investment banking jobs and have reviewed hundreds of resumes, cover letters and mock interviews; I have also spent many years working with non-profits such as Synergist to mentor college women interested in business and finance. I take a hands-on approach and strive to help every one of my clients reflect their best true potential.

Stand out from the crowd as I coach you to admissions successes at M7 and T10-25 Business Schools. Previous clients have gained admission to Wharton, Columbia, Booth, Harvard and Yale. Adcoms want your uniqueness to shine! You already have what it takes, lets make sure you show it! Experience in end-to-end admissions consulting and essay guidance for powerful storytelling that will differentiate your application. Getting into a top MBA program is all about the package. I am an international that has made his way into a top MBA program, investment banking, PE and FAANG. I have worked as an admissions essay reviewer, interviewer and work with 3-4 candidates a year to get admissions into their top choices with $$ attached. I will help you package your story, resume, application into one that resonates with an adcom. As an MBA graduate from Yale School of Management I bring a breadth of firsthand knowledge and insights to the table as an MBA Admissions Coach. I will never ask or pressure you to choose a lower tier school because it makes my job easier or makes me look good. I will work with you to identify schools that work for YOU.

As an Associate Director of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern, I actively recruited domestic and international applicants, reading 400+ candidate files and interviewing 100+ applicants, annually. I left in 2015 to start my own consulting firm, and have since advised 250+ applicants into their dream schools. As I enter my eighth season, I have seen it all: successful reapplications, last minute waitlist pulls, and sub-3.0 GPA’s getting into M7 schools. I have also helped clients secure over $5M in scholarships. Coaching is my full-time job, not a side hustle. I take the role seriously, and promise to care about your application as much as you do.