Get to B-School

Today’s guest is Alec Cutler, an MBA candidate at INSEAD with an ambitious goal: building a career in professional soccer, whether that's working for a club or one day owning one himself. In this conversation, Alec shares why INSEAD was the perfect fit for his global aspirations and what makes the program unlike almost any other MBA in the world. We discuss what INSEAD looks for in applicants, how...

Today’s guest is Bara Sapir, the CEO of MindflowSpeedReading.com CityTestPrep: CityTestPrep.com MBA program search: https://www.joinleland.com/search/school/mba/traditional-full-time-mba?via=67a30d Free MBA events: https://www.joinleland.com/school/mba/events?via=67a30d

Today’s guest is Anthony Palomba, a professor at the Darden School of Business who challenges his students with a simple but powerful idea: be undeniable to yourself. In this episode, we get into the real questions around business school. Why go, why not go, and how to think about the decision honestly. Anthony makes it clear that while there are great reasons to pursue an MBA, it is also an expen...

In this episode, I sit down with Paul Clancy, an MD-MBA student at the University of Virginia who is also the founder of Admissions Academy. Paul is one of the most structured and driven people you will meet, and this conversation is packed with practical insight on what real productivity actually looks like. We talk about building systems that help you move the needle, not just stay busy. Paul br...

Today’s guest is Matt LoLordo, an Evening and Weekend MBA student at Kellogg, and someone who brings a refreshingly practical perspective on how to make the most of business school without burning out. I’m joined by Doug Michalak as a co-host for this conversation, which made for a fun and dynamic discussion. Matt shares how he thinks about getting involved at Kellogg in an efficient, intentional...

Today’s guest is Hunter Wortmann, whose path to business school is anything but typical. Before pursuing her MBA, Hunter spent five years working with marine animals, training dolphins, orcas, and more. After that chapter, she made the bold move to enroll at Bond University, where she has found a close knit academic experience (with small class sizes of just 9 to 12 students!). In this episode, Hu...

Today’s guest is Skyler Almquist, a Kellogg MBA who has spent the last few years exploring entrepreneurship through acquisition. In this episode, Skyler shares: How and why he moved from banking to PE and then into the search fund and ETA world What he wishes he had known before committing to an MBA and before jumping into a search fund The tradeoffs between traditional finance paths and entrepren...

Today’s guest is my good friend, Oscar Kersey, a career switcher who made a bold call after being accepted to top law schools. Instead of following the expected path, Oscar realized he did not actually want to be a lawyer and pivoted toward business school. In this episode, Oscar shares: Why he chose to walk away from law school offers and pursue an MBA instead His framework for approaching life a...

Today’s guest is Carolyn Schafer, a Kellogg MBA student with a deep background in global health and public service. Before Kellogg, Carolyn earned a Master’s in Public Health and worked across Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Sierra Leone on global health and youth mental health research, including projects with former child soldiers and their families. After several international roles were cut short by...

Today’s episode features Campbell McGavin, a dual–degree engineer turned MBA candidate who chose Chicago Booth over Kellogg, and is very glad he did. Campbell earned two bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and computer science, and he’s now using that technical foundation as he recruits for consulting. At Booth, he’s fully embracing the social side of the MBA experience while diving into...

Today’s guest is Benedict Ashiedu, a proud Nigerian and newly minted graduate of Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. His MBA journey is a masterclass in clarity, resilience, and proving fit. Benedict applied to several programs, but Fuqua was his clear first choice. When he was placed on the waitlist, he didn’t sit back. He doubled down. In this episode, he shares how he fought his way off the waitli...

Today’s guest is Craig Wortmann, a beloved professor, master storyteller, and the driving force behind Kellogg’s growing Sales Institute. After earning his MBA from Kellogg and spending years teaching at Chicago Booth, Craig returned to Kellogg with a mission: to elevate sales education and help students learn to sell themselves and their ideas with clarity and confidence (all while running his co...

Today’s guest is Scott Peterson, a Wharton MBA candidate whose story blends global focus, personal discipline, and a deep sense of responsibility toward the future. Scott is part of Wharton’s Lauder Institute, where he’s preparing to work at the intersection of global economics and post-war reconstruction, specifically in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. His academic path is purposeful,...

Today’s guest is Sarah Qiang, a Kellogg MBA student whose journey is a masterclass in adaptability, drive, and keeping perspective when life throws a curveball. Sarah started in Kellogg’s Evening & Weekend program, but after “life happened,” including unexpected visa challenges at work, she made the bold move to transition into the full-time program. In our conversation, Sarah shares: 🎮 Her e...

Today’s guest is Shawn Butler, MBA Marketing Director at BYU Marriott School of Business. Shawn’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and perspective. After losing his job at Home Depot, he built and sold a successful sports agency company, but when the buyout came, he felt a pull toward something bigger. That calling led him to BYU, where he now helps future MBAs chart their own paths. In our co...

Today’s guests are Pamela (MBA @ Columbia) and Laura (MBA @ Ross), the co-founders of MBA Pathfinders - a coaching team dedicated to helping applicants not just get into business school but thrive beyond it. After discovering a shared passion for coaching and helping people achieve their dreams, Pamela and Laura built a practice focused on clarity, goals, and long-term growth. In this episode, the...

Today’s guest is Sam Olmsted, whose story blends heart, humor, and a whole lot of wisdom. We talk about his time living in New Orleans and how the city left a lasting mark on how he sees the world. He also introduces us to his three-legged cat and his dog, Tom, and shares about some of the awesome client events he’s helped organize, including a Cubs event (RIP to the Cubs season). At the core of t...

Today’s guest is Allie Kronthal, one of Leland’s top MBA coaches who has helped more than 200 applicants gain admission to top programs across the M7. Allie completed a dual-degree program at Harvard and Wharton, and she brings that same depth of insight to her coaching. Her unique approach which she calls “b-school therapy” (or “excavating”) focuses on uncovering what truly drives each applicant....

Today’s guest is Andrew Park, a Yale Executive MBA candidate whose career spans chicken, fashion, and a whole lot of frequent flyer miles. When he’s not in class, Andrew is running one of the most successful Chick-fil-A locations in Southern California and building his own luxury men’s fashion brand, Urbane and Gallant (link below). Every other week, he flies cross-country from Los Angeles to New...

Today’s guest is Eric Lucrezia, a certified MBA admissions consultant based in Paris who has been coaching candidates for over 20 years. Eric has worked with applicants targeting everything from M7 programs in the U.S. to top schools across Europe, giving him a truly global perspective on the admissions landscape. In this episode, Eric shares: 🔹 How to use AI tools effectively in applications — a...

Today’s guest is James Holm, my good friend and former startup teammate back in our college days. James never thought he’d pursue an MBA, until a series of experiences and conversations shifted his perspective. What started as a “wouldn’t it be crazy if…” chat with his wife quickly turned into two MBA applications in just a week and a half. The result? Admission to both programs he applied to. Now...

Today’s guest is Ben Lazaroff, one of Leland’s top MBA coaches and a Stanford GSB graduate. Ben’s career has been anything but linear, from working at McKinsey helping prisons improve rehabilitation outcomes, to diving into politics, to supporting chess startups, his experiences are as diverse as they are fascinating. After struggling through the MBA application process himself, Ben became driven...

Today’s guest is Petar Nestorovic, a recent Tuck graduate whose MBA journey is as inspiring as it is personal. Originally from Peru, Petar shares how his time at Tuck deepened his connection to his home country, even while studying thousands of miles away. In this episode, Petar talks about: 🔹 How conversations with Tuck alumni convinced him the school was the perfect fit 🔹 Why authenticity and...

Today’s guest is Oren Margolis, a Stern graduate and seasoned admissions consultant. Having read thousands of essays during his time with the Stern's admissions team, Oren knows exactly what schools are really looking for — and what applicants often stress about unnecessarily. In this episode, Oren shares: 🔹 How he helps candidates demystify the MBA application process 🔹 Why he’s refreshingly un...

Today’s episode of Get to B-School is a first. We’re bringing on an admissions coach! Our guest, Yash Gupta ( book him on Leland here! ), has sat on both sides of the process. He was accepted to both Harvard and Stanford through the 2+2 program, ultimately choosing Stanford GSB, where he had an incredible experience. Now, alongside his career in sports, media, and entertainment VC, Yash helps aspi...