~~~ 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.

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!

Having gone through the MBA application process and achieved admittance to the five schools to which I applied (Booth, Darden, HBS, Kellogg, and Wharton), I know the dedication required to submit compelling applications that yield your desired result. In addition to this, I've helped a number of prospective MBAs think through their interest in business schools in general, as well as strategize to improve their candidacy. This has ranged from advice on taking specific courses to demonstrate capabilities in weak areas (e.g., 3-credit online, quantitative course to balance a humanities major or a low undergrad quant grade) to tactical tips on navigating a waitlist successfully and receiving an offer of admission. This has also included guidance on GMAT and GRE prep and big-picture thinking to investigate a targeted list of post-MBA career options. I came from a more traditional background at first glance (investment banking, private equity) but had a non-traditional major (Art History) coupled with a personal passion (sustainability) that I hadn't yet explored professionally, but was committed to pursuing in the future. Strengthening weak spots while weaving together my divergent experiences and interests (art, music, Italian language and culture, volunteer tutoring, environmentalism, finance) in my application and detailing my targeted career path (sustainable finance) was a challenging but rewarding experience. I'd love to help you think through links between the many diverse and seemingly disconnected experiences we often have when applying to MBA programs.

I am a Harvard Business School graduate and have helped over ten students through their application journey over the past couple years. I create a tailored coaching program to fit your specific situation and guide you through the application and interview process. As an international student with a finance background I know exactly what it takes to stand out among all other applicants. I look forward to working with you!

My clients have gotten into top business schools such as Harvard (HBS), Berkeley (Haas), and MIT). I am a Stanford GSB graduate and was accepted to every business school I applied to. I'm a former engineer turned PM; so I understand the non-traditional applicant's path.

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!

I applied for deferred MBA programs in 2021, and was accepted into Harvard Business School's 2+2 program. I feel passionate about helping individuals find their unique story to craft in their application, setting them apart with their own background and experiences. Since being accepted, I have helped countless others with questions about the process, and feel I can be a valuable resource in creating your own powerful MBA application.

I've spent many years coaching and mentoring peers and students throughout various academic phases and on multiple career topics. During my own MBA application process, I tapped my network of mentors and coaches to help guide me through a somewhat complicated admissions journey. I feel excited and equipped to pass down that knowledge & my own personal experience I've gained through the Harvard MBA. I'm also a Yoga teacher and am training to be an executive coach-- so I take a personal approach that entails active listening to ensure I am really getting to know you before trying to translate your story into an application format.

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.

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