At the level of exceptionalism it takes to get into a top business school, your success comes down to a strategic and compelling story the admissions committee can't forget. I help you tell it. I graduated with an MBA from Wharton and a BS in engineering from Columbia, and I have worked in consulting, banking, retail, and tech at companies like PWC, Evercore, and Peloton. I started my MBA Admissions consulting journey as a coach with the Young African MBAs Business School Prep program. My coachee was applying to business schools for the third time, and working together, he went from 5 rejections to 5 acceptances and over $250,000 in scholarships. He enrolled at Booth and was admitted to other top schools like Tuck, SOM, and Darden. I launched my MBA Admissions Consulting practice in 2022 after receiving my Master Certified Professional Coach certification. I leverage that coaching training, my storytelling expertise (which I have shared as a TEDx official speaker), and relationships with top school alums and admissions directors to provide the best service for my clients. I follow a structured process that keeps us accountable and that I then customize based on each client's unique needs. I love to build a highly responsive and trusted partnership with my clients and provide best-in-class support right from the free intro call! If this feels like a match, I would love to meet you!

My applicants have been admitted to schools including GSB, HBS, Wharton, Sloan, Kellogg, Ross, Cornell, Booth, Haas, Columbia, & Rice. Across first-time applicants, reapplicants, and deferred applicants, they have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships. Aside from my experience coaching MBA candidates, I have spent my post-GSB time consulting for founders, early-stage startups, and investors across for-profit and non-profit spaces globally. This has allowed me to uniquely guide current or aspiring entrepreneurs and investors throughout the application process and, for numerous clients, beyond as I’ve continued to be a resource helping to navigate questions regarding financial aid, maximizing the MBA experience, internships, and post-MBA careers. The application process is not easy and for most, including myself when I applied, it’s straight up stressful. I work closely with a limited number of clients, creating bespoke coaching experiences for each, building trust and bringing clarity to an opaque process. I believe this approach has helped my applicants be successful. Whether you’re coming from a traditional background or not, regardless of your test scores or application ‘gaps,’ if you’re interested in showing the best version of you possible and having someone fully on your team along the way please reach out.

My coaching journey naturally began with my own experience applying to MBA programs both within the US and globally, and I have been able to leverage my unique knowledge to enable students to put their best profile forward for admissions committee. My mix of international and US applications gives me a broader experience base both for students looking to go abroad, or coming from non-traditional US backgrounds. When applying for my MBA, I was dead set on the idea of living abroad and was accepted to Oxford and London Business School in England. A turn of events in my life led me in later application rounds to apply to the Wharton School of Business, a top 3 business school, where I ultimately attended. My successes at these schools, paired with my rejections from Harvard and MIT, enables me to sympathize with your application process and offer real insights based on both the successes and bumps in the road. Another important point is that I myself worked with a third-party coach in preparing my applications, so the dynamic of coaching is not new to me and has enabled me to refine my approach and materials thanks to hundreds of reviews by other experts. My broad experience across schools, and expert-reviewed approach, enables me to truly understand each step they are going through and to empower the students I work to bring forward their best selves.

I am a 2021 Wharton graduate, with 2 years of professional MBA coaching experience. During my MBA, I coached 15+ MBA students with career guidance, resume critiques, and interview prep. I first encountered MBA coaching when I was applying to matriculate as an MBA in 2019. At that time, I realized how important an MBA coach could be, not only for the specialized toolset and knowledge base, but also for the encouragement during a high pressure application process. I am motivated to be that source of calm and focus during what can otherwise be a stressful application process. I am excited to dive into your background and help you uncover a narrative that will help you show you stand out to top MBA programs.

Hi, I'm Maria! I just finished my MBA / MS Sustainability degree at Stanford and am still up to date on all the ins and outs of the application process and the qualities that top business schools seek in their students. I got into both Stanford and Wharton MBA programs on my first try as a non-traditional, international applicant. I worked with one of the most seasoned MBA coaches (25+ years experience) in the industry to craft my application - I know what it takes to build a killer MBA / dual-degree app. Before becoming a Leland coach, I worked with two coachees who both got into their dream programs (MIT and INSEAD). I also helped 4 GSB/HBS admits negotiate $200k+ in financial aid. At the GSB, I worked as an Admissions Ambassador, held countless coffee chats with prospective applicants, led sessions at the GSB admit weekends, and interacted with 100+ MBA applicants from all over the world. I find it especially rewarding to help non-traditional / international students / climate-oriented folks stand out to gain admission to competitive MBA and scholarship programs. Whether you need help on big-picture essay framing, interview prep, general application strategy or nitty-gritty details, I'm excited to work with you!

I'm a Stanford MBA student who received admission to Stanford and Wharton. I provide unique coaching because I do not come from a traditional consulting or finance background, and I was accepted with my partner who is also a current GSB student. I'm so excited to help you identify why you want to go to business school by crafting your story and bringing your experiences to life. Prior to the GSB, I was a technical product manager at Capital One where I led frontend and backend product strategy for the Capital One credit card application for all customers applying for a credit card. As an MBA admissions coach, I will help you dig deep to identify your pivotal experiences and core strengths to create your story. Together we will thread them throughout your application -- from application strategy to recommendations to interview. More specifically, I can provide the following services: - Initial application strategy - Essay brainstorming, essay editing, and final essay review - Recommendations strategy - Final application review - What to expect in an interview / mock interviews - Waitlist strategy - Strategy for applying with a partner I have helped many students and professionals craft their applications, prepare interviews, and receive offers at their target companies and institutions, and I look forward to helping you do the same!

* Former Admissions Reader & Evaluator for Berkeley Haas, for 2Y | Evaluated 500+ applications * Former Admissions Interviewer | Interviewed 50+ candidates * Award-winning journalist | Wrote 100+ articles for The Star Tribune, The Telegraph, GQ, Time Out, Boston Magazine * 20+ 100% 5-star verified reviews from Poets and Quants from clients from USA, UK, China and India * International & Domestic Background | Lived and worked in Singapore, Hong Kong, London, New York, Bay Area, Midwest (Minneapolis)

Getting into business school is tough. It requires self-awareness, attention to detail, strong test taking abilities, and most importantly, a knack for telling compelling and authentic stories. Those are skills that I brought to my own MBA applications and that I further honed as a writer, soldier, GMAT instructor, and life coach. Now I use them to give my clients the best possible shot at their target school. I focus on military applicants, who face an even tougher admissions process than usual. Not only do they have to translate their stories into language that resonates with the admissions committee, but they also have to plan their future in the unfamiliar world of business. 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. Since then, I’ve also gained experience in many industries that veterans target, including consulting, investing, and tech. So if you’re a veteran or military applicant, let’s work together to give you the best possible transition into civilian life!

I was accepted to Harvard Business School and will be attending this fall. My background is in banking, corporate development, and strategy roles. I have spent the last few years of my career at the rapid delivery service Gopuff. I majored in English at Brown University, so I love writing and editing essays. Let's work together to get you into your dream school!

I really enjoyed the MBA admissions process and want to help guide candidates through a fulfilling process of deep introspection.