-Have worked with 600+ MBA applicants from all over the world, with admits to schools including HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Sloan, Kellogg, Columbia, Booth, INSEAD, LBS, and many, many more. -85%+ success rate; 99% satisfaction rate, as people have a great experience with me regardless of their outcome. -Story-driven partnership approach to find and tell the best-possible narratives to differentiate and win. -"Magic" is common word clients use to describe my help. -I treat clients how I would want to be treated when paying for a premium service.

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.

I love mentoring and coaching students and applicants - I regularly volunteer my time with the Berkeley Haas entrepreneurship program by providing course content, speaking opportunities, mentorship hours, and coaching. I also regularly support incoming MBA and MPH students with application review, interview prep, and more. While at Haas, I worked with the MBA & MPH admissions committees for a year and picked up a bunch of tips and tricks to hack the process! My journey: pre-med undergrad > biotech scientist > healthcare management consulting > grad school > healthcare entrepreneurship & venture capital

I have supported Admissions interviews for candidates in to the Chicago Booth part-time MBA program so I have a strong sense of what it takes to gain successful admission. During my application process, I only considered 2 part-time programs (Booth & Kellogg) and was able to attain admission to both. In addition, I TA'd Negotiations courses at Booth so I have significant experience negotiating offers and scholarships. I enjoy helping others achieve their goals and look forward to working with you!

🎉 Multiple candidates I've worked with have got into HSW & M7 🎉 ⏳ Fair, honest pricing: 4-6 hours for one school, 8-12 for 3+ is typically sufficient⏳ 💰 Automatic discounts on 3+ hours booked, or ask me for 50% off your 1st hour 💰 My story: I was 23. My GMAT was an uneven 710: 99th percentile verbal, 55th(!) non-verbal. My major was English literature. I was at a non-MBB consulting firm with 0 US brand recognition. I only had 3 years of work experience. I couldn't afford an admissions consultant. And yet... I got in. How? Because I'm an expert-level storyteller. And telling your story is >50% of your application. A bad story can kill an otherwise-great application. A GREAT story can make up for a mediocre GMAT, work experience, etc. Beyond your qualifications and institutions, you have several short- and long-form essay/answer prompts, and 2 letters of reference. Together, these present you with an opportunity to craft a COMPELLING, HOLISTIC narrative for why you belong at the business school of your dreams. What got me over the line and won the heart of my AdCom reviewer was that I treated these answers not as distinct opportunities to shine, but a tapestry through which I wove a singular, compelling narrative thread. On Leland, I help others achieve the same. I am confident that any life, no matter how mundane-feeling, carries a powerful growth story. I will help you tell that story in a way that feels authentic and inspiring, making your offer a no-brainer to AdCom. I work with candidates for any school, and have a range of approaches based on your specific focus points & needs. I particularly love to work with international applicants - the US has a specific culture and set of values that I've had the privilege of adopting, through the lens of both a Brit (where I grew up) and a Russian (where I was born). No need to message ahead - my calendar is up to date. Schedule an intro call anytime!

Welcome to my profile! As a current MBA student at Harvard Business School and Admissions Fellow, I bring firsthand insights into the MBA admissions process. I am interested in coaching and mentoring because I have greatly benefited from mentors who have helped me with MBA application. I am therefore eager to pay it forward to others currently going through the application journey. The process can be overwhelming and I look forward to helping you throughout your journey by creating a customized approach. I have helped numerous friends and mentees apply to MBA programs successfully. My background: As a nontraditional applicant to MBA programs, I have successfully secured admissions to 12 top MBA programs, including 4 full-ride scholarships. Having successfully coached over 50 clients, I specialize in helping applicants craft compelling narratives and strategies to stand out. Let's work together to make your MBA dreams a reality—reach out to start your journey today!

HBS '23 (MBA with Distinction) | Cambridge MPhil | Non-Traditional Background Coach (Former Diplomat) | Former International MBA Applicant | Coached ~60 people in last decade | My MBA admissions insights are shaped by personal rejection and success across two cycles. Former consulting coach & tutor at HBS. ------------ I bring a unique perspective to MBA admissions, having experienced both rejection and success firsthand. After initially being unsuccessful in my applications, I reapplied and secured admission to Harvard Business School (HBS) – without the help of a consultant. Through significant effort and independent research, I gained the insights needed to stand out. Looking back, having a mentor like myself – someone who understands the process and how to succeed – would have made the journey far more efficient. I hold a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Warwick, an MPhil in Development Economics from Jesus College, University of Cambridge, and an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School. As a non-traditional candidate, I became a diplomat at just 25 and served in five High Commissions and Embassies, giving me a unique perspective on navigating the admissions process outside the traditional MBA applicant pool. Over the years, I have mentored numerous aspiring MBA candidates, guiding them through every step of the process, from crafting outstanding applications to excelling in interviews. My proven strategies, built on real-world experience and a track record of success, equip me to help candidates from all backgrounds achieve their MBA aspirations. I know what it takes to succeed because I have lived it – and I am here to help you do the same.

Coming from a non-target undergraduate institution and non-target work place I secured admission at MIT and Harvard and know how difficult it is to do so. I can help you tell your story and really stand out. I make things accessible and break them down into bite sized goals to help you put your best foot forward. While in my MBA program I worked at Bridgewater Associates and then had offers from Goldman Sachs TMT SF and Morgan Stanley Tech Investment banking groups. I also won the P.D. Soros Fellowship for New Americans (1% acceptance rate, $90,000) and the Zuckerman Fellowship (full ride at Harvard + Stanford), which helped fund a large part of my graduate degree.

I graduated with an MBA from Stanford in 2022, and have coached over a dozen MBA applicants. With my background in customer research and storytelling I can help you share your unique story with the admissions committee through both essays and interviews. I also support on resume writing/ updating and complete application strategy. I have had a global career and love working with international applicants. Prior to my MBA I had a global career focused on product management and innovation. I now run my own impact-focused business, which I founded at Stanford.

I'm Stanford GSB MBA/MS alum who has excelled in climate and impact work across roles spanning social entrepreneurship, climatetech and renewables consulting and development, and investing. I've also uniquely been through the process of applying to top schools from abroad (Mongolia). I know what it takes to pivot, to do a dual degree program, to apply to the U.S. from abroad, and to articulate the values that will make your application stand out. I have experience helping U.S. and international coachees with unconventional backgrounds gain admissions to top programs and get selected for life-changing scholarships. I am especially passionate about working with people who are focused on climate change and the environment. I want to help you uncover and authentically showcase your strengths so you can make moves toward a career that makes you tick. Whether you need help on big-picture essay framing or nitty-gritty details, I'm excited to work with you!