Traditional Full-Time MBA Admissions Experts

Full time admissions coach; client successes across Wharton, GSB, Kellogg, INSEAD, and many more; GSB graduate (dual masters with the Graduate School of Education); admit to Kellogg, Wharton, and MIT; seasoned management consultant at Bain & Company

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. 96% of my clients achieve MBA success and more than half secure scholarships averaging $240K. 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.

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

🚀I'm a top full time MBA admissions coach with 11yrs experience and 85% success rate to H/S/W + Top 15 global MBAs. 🥇Being a top coach means I have high coaching EQ and guide with frameworks derived from: 1️⃣ A deep understanding of how admissions officers think - I am rated more effective than coaches who are former admissions officers 2️⃣ Direct experience in the roles you seek, relevant to tie your experience and goals together 3️⃣ Technical startup mentality that allows me to coach you how to showcase your innovative side by pitching creatively 🤖AI Slop detector at blog.getmba.ai/slop-detector 🤖AI Usage Guides at blog.getmba.ai - built from 200+ admits and 30,000+ essay reviews 🥇Why don't I have a Leland Supercoach badge? It's awarded based on content creation on Leland+, not coaching experience. I don't contribute to content here on Leland as I post on my Youtube/IG @MBACoach 🧙🏼‍♂️ Expert working with highly technical industries/roles: Enterprise AI, product management, consulting, health&wellness, gov, infrastructure, real estate, fintech, engineering 🌍 Middle East, Europe, Latin America experience derived from working/living in different countries 👉🏼Through our conversations, I challenge you to discover your leadership voice by placing you in the "interview seat" from our first call. 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. 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. 🤖 Expertise in prompting generic ChatGPT/Anthropic AI to get non-generic admissions caliber feedback. I evolved my 1:1 coaching to include guidance on using AI effectively for clients who see it as a tool, but continue to provide traditional coaching for those who don't want it. I have developed prompts that remove the generic responses that general use AI tools provide, to make them essay specific and in your voice. Try this formula that works: Invest in 2-5 hours of quality coaching to unlock your core stories. Then use getMBA.ai to accelerate the iterative writing process—turning weeks of grunt work into days. 🌍 I work with a small group of international/US candidates each round from diverse backgrounds (tech, entrepreneurs, consultants, family business). I am available for my clients within short notice. Get started right away with intro 1-2hrs foundational call - according to my reviews, it's a worthwhile investment. 👉🏼 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. 👉🏼Unlimited Coaching package includes additional review by a second coach (you get 2 in 1 coaches!) 👉🏼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. 👩🏻‍💻 IG: MBAcoach 👉🏼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 👉🏼Experienced with MBA, EMBA, PT MBA, & deferred admissions. 👉🏼Experienced with dual degrees MBA/MPP(A) or MBA/MA product, design, engineering, education, biotech. 📣 Poets&Quants Article: https://poetsandquants.com/2024/08/07/tips-to-nail-new-harvard-mba-essays/?pq-category=sbc&pq-category-2=sponsored-blogs 👩🏻‍💻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. *Note: only up to 3 initial hourly purchases will be credited toward upgrade to Unlimited Coaching packages

I've been coaching MBA and EMBA applicants since 2006 — which means I've worked through more admissions cycles, essay prompts, and school pivots than I can count. Poets & Quants has recognized me as a Top Consultant three times. Clients have called the work "transformative" and "the best help I never knew I needed." What I actually do: I help people find their story. Not the version they think they're supposed to tell, but the one that's true and specific and stops an admissions reader cold. That's harder than it sounds, and it's where most applications fall apart. My background is unusual for this field. I'm a Columbia MBA and a Columbia English major — and a former magazine editor. I'm also an ICF-certified leadership coach. That combination means I bring genuine writing craft and genuine coaching depth to every engagement, not just admissions strategy. My clients have come from consulting, banking, medicine, the military, entrepreneurship, filmmaking, and family business. They've gone on to HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, and programs across Europe and Asia. I work in English and Italian.

I have firsthand experience crafting compelling applications to top business schools and believe in strategic differentiation to stand out amongst the crowd (without appearing risky) in your MBA application. Key reasons I'm qualified to provide support: Professional Experience: I have work experience at MBB consulting firms, tech startups, and mature companies. I understand how to position these experiences to demonstrate viability for an MBA, having personally received admission to 3 M7 schools. Education: I hold a Bachelor’s degree in both English Language & Literature and Economics from the University of Chicago, with extensive coursework in personal writing. Admissions Insight: As a former member of the UChicago Undergraduate College of Admissions, I have behind-the-scenes insights into how candidates are reviewed and evaluated. Technology Expertise: I have a deep understanding of how you can maximize AI and digital tools to enhance your application.

I have extensive experience coaching across all aspects of MBA admissions: 1. I have helped 30+ students get into top MBA programs, including HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, etc. I also have experience helping several students get into top executive or non-traditional programs (Stanford MSx, Wharton EMBA, etc.). 2. I am a former professional writer, and I have helped almost all of my students brainstorm, recraft, tune, and edit their essays. This is primarily what I help with for MBA applications. 3. I spent years tutoring standardized tests (GRE, GMAT, SAT). While I no longer offer tutoring services, I can help you develop a study plan and tackle weak points. 4. I am a professional resume reviewer for both MBA admissions and consulting applications. 5. Additionally, I was part if the Student Admissions Program for the Wharton MBA program

Welcome to my profile! As a Columbia Business School MBA graduate and former Senior Associate at McKinsey & Company, I bring a wealth of experience in strategic operations and business development. My diverse background, including roles at NBCUniversal and Frame.io, equips me with unique insights into the intersection of business and creativity. I have successfully coached numerous clients through the MBA admissions process, helping them craft compelling applications that stand out. Whether you need guidance on application strategy, essay writing, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you achieve your MBA goals. Let's connect and start your journey to success!

From Wall Street to the gourmet chocolate world, from New York to Brussels (and many awesome places in between), the INSEAD MBA was pivotal to my triple-point change of function, industry & geography. Since it changed my life, I’m passionate about helping you get into INSEAD and global business schools, especially those located outside of the US. Since 2018, I’ve worked with candidates to gain admissions into top schools, including INSEAD, LBS, Wharton, HEC Paris, IESE, Cambridge Judge and Oxford Said. I’m committed to working with you and getting to know you, your story, your goals – in order to guide you in crafting your strongest applications possible – so that your application is both true to yourself and tailored to your dream business school. We’ll have some fun along the way too :) A bit about my background: Born and raised in New York to immigrant parents --> if you’re first-generation, I can certainly be understanding to your situation and meet you where you’re at! Attended Amherst College, where I had the freedom of learning – for the sake of learning! --> if you enjoy learning, no matter what schools you attended, I think we’ll work well together :) Love international diversity, so much so that I’m currently living outside of the US --> if you’d like to pursue a future career move outside of the US one day, this would also be a great opportunity for you!

I'm a London Business School alumnus and interviewer who started A1 MBA Consultants (A1mba.com). I have helped 120+ students, including ex-Formula 1 Race Driver Nicholas Latifi, get into their dream MBA program at schools such as HBS, Stanford GSB, Columbia, Wharton, Kellogg, London Business School, INSEAD, Oxford, Cambridge, and many more. I adopt a comprehensive and much more hands-on approach than your typical consultant, leveraging my insights into what adcoms want that I gained from being an interviewer. Partner with me and I will work to make your business school application journey a successful one.