In this replay of a past episode, Erika talks with Anthony Penna, a fellow SBC admissions consultant who spent 10 years with the Wharton School in Career Management and as Associate Director of Admissions for the full-time MBA program. As Anthony served on the implementation and design team for Wharton's Team Based Discussion (TBD) interview format, this episode focuses on his insight advice for MBA candidates who will be interviewing with Wharton.
Sep 25, 2024•22 min•Ep. 222
As many of our listeners already know, Kellogg recently updated its MBA application. For this episode, our host Chandler sits down with former Kellogg Admissions Officer—and longtime SBC Consultant—Caryn to talk about all the changes… and how to tackle them. Caryn not only holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, she also worked as an Admissions Officer for Kellogg before joining SBC. In this role Caryn read and evaluated thousands of applications. For this podcast Caryn touches on a ...
Sep 18, 2024•30 min•Ep. 221
Round 1 of the 2024-25 MBA application cycle is soon drawing to a close, and along with those deadlines comes a surge in self-sabotaging applicant behavior. This episode covers 3 things you should do before submitting, as well as 3 mistakes you should avoid making after your materials are in.
Sep 04, 2024•20 min•Ep. 220
In May, B-Schooled co-host Chandler returned to the Bay Area for his 20-year Stanford GSB reunion. During the weekend, Chandler kept a notebook at his side and wrote down a number of thought-provoking quotes and notes from classmates and friends. In the second part of this two-episode arc, Chandler shares 5 additional reflections related to his MBA experience and intervening 20 years. These reflections--coming both from his own experience as well as those of his classmates--touch on a range of t...
Aug 28, 2024•21 min•Ep. 219
In May, B-Schooled co-host Chandler returned to the Bay Area for his 20-year Stanford GSB reunion. During the weekend, Chandler kept a notebook at his side and wrote down a number of thought-provoking quotes and notes from classmates and friends. In the first part of this two-episode arc, Chandler shares 5 reflections related to his MBA experience and intervening 20 years. These reflections--coming both from his own experience as well as those of his classmates--touch on a range of topics, inclu...
Aug 21, 2024•21 min•Ep. 218
In this replay of a popular past episode, we discuss how your social media behavior could affect your MBA candidacy — both positively and negatively. We cover what admissions committees might be looking for that could be problematic, as well as what kinds of social media posts might actually end up strengthening your profile. We also talk about how reviews of your social media accounts don’t end with the adcom once you’re admitted.
Aug 07, 2024•21 min•Ep. 217
For the first time in more than a decade, Harvard Business School has updated its essay questions. In this much-anticipated series, we sit down with HBS alum and longtime SBC consultant Yvette to talk about each of these questions and share suggestions, tips and strategies regarding how best to approach these new essay prompts. In this segment, we tackle the third question: Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity a...
Jul 31, 2024•39 min•Ep. 215
For the first time in more than a decade, Harvard Business School has updated its essay questions. In this much-anticipated series, we sit down with HBS alum and longtime SBC consultant Yvette to talk about each of these questions and share suggestions, tips and strategies regarding how best to approach these new essay prompts. In this segment, we tackle the second question: Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you ...
Jul 24, 2024•37 min
For the first time in more than a decade, Harvard Business School has updated its essay questions. In this much-anticipated series, we sit down with HBS alum and longtime SBC consultant Yvette to talk about each of these questions and share suggestions, tips and strategies regarding how best to approach these new essay prompts. In this segment, we tackle the first question: Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the i...
Jul 17, 2024•38 min•Ep. 214
Perhaps more than any MBA acceptance pair, many applicants dream of being admitted to both the Stanford Graduate School of Business (the GSB) and Harvard Business School (HBS). In this three-part series, two GSB + HBS dual admits -- host Chandler and SBC consultant Dawn -- sit down for a series of VERY candid conversations about gaining admission to these two schools. In the first segment, our hosts start by sharing some important context for how this podcast should be used (and how it shouldn't...
Jun 26, 2024•29 min
Perhaps more than any MBA acceptance pair, many applicants dream of being admitted to both the Stanford Graduate School of Business (the GSB) and Harvard Business School (HBS). In this three-part series, two GSB + HBS dual admits -- host Chandler and SBC consultant Dawn -- sit down for a series of VERY candid conversations about gaining admission to these two schools. In part one, Chandler and Dawn start by sharing some important context for how this podcast should be used -- and how it shouldn'...
Jun 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 211
Perhaps more than any MBA acceptance pair, many applicants dream of being admitted to both the Stanford Graduate School of Business (the GSB) and Harvard Business School (HBS). In this three-part series, two GSB + HBS dual admits -- host Chandler and SBC consultant Dawn -- sit down for a series of VERY candid conversations about gaining admission to these two schools. In last week's segment, Chandler and Dawn start by sharing some important context for how this podcast should be used (and how it...
Jun 12, 2024•23 min•Ep. 212
If you know you want to pursue an MBA in the future, but that future is still at least a few years away, what could (and should) you do now to build a strong candidacy? This replay episode gives actionable advice for all aspects of an eventual-applicant's profile.
Jun 05, 2024•23 min•Ep. 210
This episode is specially designed for applicants from military backgrounds… but if you think this is JUST for applicants from military backgrounds, you are WRONG. This episode is for *anyone* applying to business school from a nontraditional background. Today our host Chandler will be joined by SBC Consultant Margaret who has been working with MBA applicants—with a special focus on military applicants—since 2000. Margaret has successfully worked with every type of client imaginable, with a very...
May 22, 2024•22 min•Ep. 209
This episode is specially designed for applicants from military backgrounds… but if you think this is JUST for applicants from military backgrounds, you are WRONG. This episode is for *anyone* applying to business school from a nontraditional background. Today our host Chandler will be joined by SBC Consultant Margaret who has been working with MBA applicants—with a special focus on military applicants—since 2000. Margaret has successfully worked with every type of client imaginable, with a very...
May 15, 2024•19 min•Ep. 208
In this replay episode, we welcome Stacy Blackman Consulting's EMBA expert, Bill Chinois, to discuss all aspects of executive MBA programs, including why someone might want to consider an EMBA over a part-time or full-time program.
May 08, 2024•25 min•Ep. 207
Are you considering transitioning from the private sector to the nonprofit/social sector? If so, this episode is for you! In this episode, Chandler sits down with Becki Last, whose career includes leading major initiatives for both Fortune 500 companies as well as leading nonprofit social enterprise organizations. In this engaging conversation Becki and Chandler share: Suggestions identifying the right social impact organization/role for you, Tips for “selling” your corporate skill set to a nonp...
May 01, 2024•34 min•Ep. 206
In this episode your host Chandler pulls together a range of suggestions from other SBC podcasts along with a range of new insights – to give you all the tools you need to not just survive your time on the waitlist but, hopefully, thrive. Insights from this episode include: What being on the waitlist means (and what it doesn’t), The importance of developing an individualized waitlist strategy, Specific guidance about following your school’s waitlist process (which varies from program to program)...
Apr 17, 2024•31 min•Ep. 205
This replay of B-School's one-year-anniversary episode features Stacy Blackman herself! Stacy will talk about her entrepreneurial career and how an MBA helped her (and continues to help her) start three companies. She'll also share advice for MBA hopefuls who are looking to run their own firms at some point after graduation, as well as for those who might be approaching the application process with entrepreneurial experience already under their belt.
Apr 10, 2024•23 min•Ep. 204
For this podcast Chandler sits down with SBC Consultant Dawn, who is no stranger to the podcast. Dawn graduated as a PepsiCo Scholar from Harvard Business School with concentrations in finance and marketing. Dawn was also admitted to the Stanford GSB. Outside of her work in admissions consulting, Dawn has experience at a wide range of companies, including Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Pepsi, the Carlyle Group and Warner Brothers. A few weeks ago Dawn approached Chandler with a unique podcast idea: in...
Apr 03, 2024•18 min•Ep. 203
This replay of a two-part series of episodes outlines 12 things that admitted MBA applicants should do between now and matriculation. This week's Part 2 covers budgeting for your MBA, planning to relocate, and figuring out how to best spend your time between now and matriculation (when you aren’t attending to all of the other to do’s!). As a reminder, last week in Part 1 (episode 201) we discussed how to head off possible issues with your background check after you’re admitted. If that’s somethi...
Mar 20, 2024•19 min•Ep. 202
This replay of a two-part series of episodes outlines 12 things that admitted MBA applicants should do between now and matriculation. Part 1 covers To Do's related to an applicant's current and future networks, as well as other important actions to take before leaving a job. We also discuss how to head off possible issues with your background check after you’re admitted. If that’s something that concerns you, be sure to check out (on our website under "Work With Us").
Mar 13, 2024•23 min•Ep. 202
Four our special 200th podcast episode we are sitting down with an early SBC client – Stephen Frayne, Jr. -- who worked with SBC almost 20 years ago. Chandler and Stephen talk about a number of important topics of interest to any MBA applicant, including: How to think about the value of investing in working with an MBA consultant, The ways in which an MBA consultant can serve as a mentor, Advice from a re-applicants who don’t get in the first time… but ended up getting into his dream school the ...
Mar 04, 2024•24 min•Ep. 200
For the past two years our co-host Chandler has ended each of his podcasts with the same 9 words: “Be authentic, be brave, and have a solid plan”. In the first segment of this series Chandler talked about WHERE YOU ARE NOW as an applicant what you have learned thus far in life. In the second segment he discussed how to articulate bold goals for where you ultimately WANT TO BE. In this critical third segment we connect the dots by discussing how to you GET FROM HERE TO THERE in ways that are spec...
Feb 21, 2024•31 min•Ep. 199
For the past two years our co-host Chandler has ended each of his podcasts with the same 9 words: “Be authentic, be brave, and have a solid plan”. In many ways, these words summarize so much of Chandler’s entire MBA application philosophy. In this three part series, he will dive deep into authenticity, boldness, and career planning—and how each of these relate to MBA applications. In this episode Chandler talks extensively about how to be bold in your MBA applications. Among other things, Chandl...
Feb 14, 2024•23 min•Ep. 198
For the past two years our co-host Chandler has ended each of his podcasts with the same 9 words: “Be authentic, be brave, and have a solid plan”. In many ways, these words summarize so much of Chandler’s entire MBA application philosophy. In this three part series, he will dive deep into authenticity, boldness, and career planning—and how each of these relate to MBA applications. In part one, Chandler talks extensively about authenticity and aggregates a great deal of free resources related to ...
Feb 07, 2024•13 min•Ep. 197
Are you in the extraordinarily enviable position of having to decide between two or more MBA programs? Are you nervous about your choice or unsure of how to go about making such a huge commitment? This episode pulls together advice from the entire Stacy Blackman Consulting staff on how to approach this decision and what factors to consider (both short-term and long-term).
Jan 24, 2024•22 min•Ep. 196
Today’s guest is Hanson Li, Founder and Managing Partner of Salt Partners. Salt Partners is a restaurant industry focused investment and operating company. Since 2014, Salt has been involved with of 8 significant restaurant companies—including 4 restaurants with Michelin stars. Salt Partners has also invested in 15+ technology and branded companies in the food and beverage industry. Prior to Salt, Hanson spent 10 years as Managing Director at The Hina Group, a China focused private equity firm a...
Jan 17, 2024•37 min•Ep. 195
This episode offers insight into Harvard Business School's unique type of MBA interview, as well as advice on how to best prepare.
Jan 10, 2024•23 min•Ep. 194
In this episode we sit down SBC’s test prep expert Anthony to talk about critical reasoning questions on the GRE and GMAT, with a special focus on the one logical fallacy that every test taker should be prepared for. In this episode, Anthony shares: General tips for critical reasoning questions, Specific advice about one critical reasoning question type that trips up many test-takers, and Suggestions for how to tackle these problems so that you won’t be caught off guard on test day. In this epis...
Jan 03, 2024•34 min•Ep. 193
