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Are any MBA applicants truly “nontraditional” applicants?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky is joined by Jeremy Shinewald, the founder of mbaMission, to examine a common notion in MBA admissions: that of the “nontraditional” applicant. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Jeremy argues that applicants should not focus on whether or not their background is “traditional” but on identifying and showcasing the personal stories that only they can tell.

The conversation covers what overrepresented applicants such as consultants, bankers, and software engineers can do to stand out, and why Olympic athletes and other less-conventional candidates still have to prove classroom readiness. Harold and Jeremy also share practical advice for applicants who are still three to four years away from applying to business school: Figure out what genuinely interests you, invest yourself in it, and let the rest of the story build itself.

The episode highlights several mbaMission success stories, including a pharmaceutical sales rep who pivoted into healthcare private equity, a European hockey player, a small-town mayor, and a professional baker—all of whom illustrate the same point: What makes an applicant memorable is rarely their title but rather the impact they have had on the people and communities around them.

If you are thinking about applying to an MBA program or just curious about how admissions committees view differentiation, this conversation is well worth your time.

00:00 Why “Nontraditional” Is an Inaccurate Label for MBA Applicants

01:50 What Overrepresented Business School Applicants Should Do Differently

04:00 The Bakery Essay: Authentic Storytelling

06:18 Why a Unique Background Isn’t Enough

10:26 The Three- to Four-Year Applicant Playbook

15:09 What Impact in a Corporate Role Looks Like

17:30 Nontraditional Applicant Success Stories

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What role do informal letters of recommendation play in business school admissions decisions? 

Host Harold Simansky is joined by Melissa Blakeslee, an experienced MBA admissions consultant and former admissions director, to clarify what these endorsements are and why most programs discourage them. In this episode, Melissa shares firsthand insight into how admissions committees evaluate external outreach, helping candidates understand when an extra recommendation can add value and when it might instead cause harm.

Listeners will discover how to handle recommendation offers from well-connected executives, what makes a campus visitor endorsement credible, and how to use specific school initiatives such as Chicago Booth’s “Shape the Class.” The conversation also addresses the proper timing for submitting outside endorsements and how to employ the strategy effectively when waitlisted.

This episode is especially valuable for MBA candidates who are still determining their recommendation strategy or have been placed on a school’s waitlist. Listeners will learn how to identify appropriate individuals to provide an informal note, how admissions readers assess fit, and how an unsolicited letter can inadvertently signal a lack of judgment.

00:00 Introducing Informal Letters of Recommendation

02:14 Defining Informal Endorsements Versus Recommendations

05:51 Using Campus Visit Endorsements to Emphasize Fit

07:58 How Endorsements Vary Across Business Schools

09:56 A Strategy for Waitlist and Deferred MBA Applications

13:01 Examples of Helpful Versus Damaging Endorsements

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How can MBA applicants and business school students network effectively?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and Jessica Shklar, mbaMission Executive Director, speak with Jeff Yolen, CEO and founder of Career Connector, about how to network effectively to advance your career. Jeff explains why cold applications so rarely lead to offers, how referrals can improve your odds of landing a job, and why informational interviews are one of the most valuable tools in the MBA recruiting process.

They discuss how to identify the most valuable contacts, how to write concise outreach messages, what to ask for during a networking conversation, and how MBA students can start building relationships that support both their immediate professional goals and their long-term career growth.

If you are thinking about MBA admissions, MBA recruiting, or your post-MBA career strategy, this episode offers practical advice you can apply right away.

Contact Jeff Yolen: [email protected]

00:00 Networking and Post-MBA Career Opportunities

05:58 Why Cold Applications Fail and Referrals Matter

09:16 Where to Start If You Do Not Already Have a Network

13:20 The Real Goal of an Informational Interview

21:14 How Career Connector Helps Students Network Strategically

25:23 Jeff’s Best Networking Advice for MBA Applicants and Students

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How do you figure out what your post-MBA career goals should be when you only know you want change but do not yet understand what that change entails?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky speaks with Melissa Blakeslee, an mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant, and Rachel Beck, an mbaMission Managing Director, about how business school applicants can clarify, research, and articulate MBA career goals that will resonate with an admissions committee.

The admissions experts explain why so many candidates get stuck on the career goals question, how to transition from a vague desire for “more” and a credible post-MBA plan, and why schools care that candidates have goals that are both ambitious and achievable. The conversation also covers practical research tools—such as LinkedIn, school employment reports, student club leaders, and job postings—that can help applicants build a stronger, more realistic story.

If you are struggling to connect your past experience to your future objectives, this episode will help you approach the problem with more structure and confidence.

00:00 Why MBA Career Goals Trip Up So Many Applicants
01:50 Your Story Only Needs to Make Sense—for Now
03:59 What “Ambitious but Achievable” Really Means
06:12 Reflecting on What You Want from Your MBA
08:16 Researching Roles Through LinkedIn and Business School Resources
09:23 Using Business School Employment Reports to Test Your Assumptions
15:30 Frameworks for Narrowing Your Options
24:23 Why Unclear Post-MBA Goals Can Lead to Rejection
26:14 Final Advice for MBA Applicants

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

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Many successful MBA applicants were not accepted the first time they applied.

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Executive Director Jessica Shklar and Senior Admissions Consultant Melissa Blakeslee to discuss what MBA reapplicants can do to strengthen their candidacy and improve their chances of admission.

The conversation explores why admissions committees do not view reapplicants in a negative light, how applicants can identify weaknesses in their original applications, and what kinds of growth schools want to see from candidates before a second attempt. Harold, Jessica, and Melissa also share advice on improving one’s essays, recommendations, career goals, extracurricular involvement, and school research.

Whether you are considering reapplying to Harvard Business School, the Stanford GSB, UPenn Wharton, Northwestern Kellogg, or another top MBA program, this episode offers practical advice for moving forward strategically and confidently.

0:00 Why MBA Reapplicants Can Still Be Successful
1:53 How Admissions Committees View Reapplicants
5:46 The Biggest Reasons Strong Applicants Get Rejected
7:25 Improving Essays, Goals, and School Fit
13:01 How to Show Growth Before Reapplying
17:08 Reapplying Strategically and Expanding Your School List
19:17 Why MBA Rejection Does Not Define Your Future

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

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What does it really take to make partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and stay with the firm for more than three decades without losing yourself? Debbie Lovich, BCG managing director and senior partner, joins host Harold Simansky and mbaMission Executive Director Jessica Shklar for a candid conversation about her path through consulting.

Debbie became BCG’s fastest-promoted partner, achieving the position in less than six years. She was also the first woman on the firm’s executive committee. She later stepped away from the partner role to find work-balance before returning and making senior partner on her own terms.

This episode covers the unglamorous truth about work-life balance in consulting, why Debbie got rejected by BCG twice before being hired, how the “up or out” culture actually functions, and what she tells every MBA applicant who thinks they want to do consulting.

This episode is must-listen for anyone considering an MBA with consulting as their career goal.

📖 Debbie’s new book, Make Work Work: The 5 Daily Practices of the Employee-Centric Leader, will be released in November 2026. Preorder now: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/831079/make-work-work-by-deborah-lovich/

00:00 Introducing Debbie Lovich, BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner

07:48 The Path to Partner — Speed, Serendipity, and Purpose

16:01 Work, Life, and Finding Balance

24:41 Advice for MBA Applicants

30:49 Retiring from Consulting and Writing a Book

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.
 
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In this milestone 100th episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission founder Jeremy Shinewald reflect on more than two years of MBA admissions insights. They share favorite moments, discuss what sets applicants apart, and explore how AI and evolving trends are shaping the application process.

They also highlight the long-term value of an MBA, from career outcomes to lifelong connections, and look ahead to what comes next for the podcast.

00:00 Celebrating 100 Episodes and Podcast Milestones

01:15 Growth, Reach, and Impact of the Podcast

02:18 The MBA “X Factor” and What Sets Applicants Apart

03:43 Favorite Guests and Most Memorable Episodes

06:38 AI in MBA Applications: Opportunities and Risks

10:47 MBA Experience Today: In-Person Learning and Global Exposure

15:49 Changing Applicant Profiles and Career Planning Advice

18:19 On-Track by mbaMission, Admissions Strategy, and School Research

21:33 Interviews, Emotional Intelligence, and Final Reflections

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

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Think product management is just a Silicon Valley thing? Think again. In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Managing Director Rachel Beck and host Harold Simansky break down one of the most in-demand post-MBA career paths that most applicants overlook: product management.

Rachel defines the product manager role as that of a “mini CEO” who sits at the intersection of engineering, operations, marketing, finance, and strategy. She explains why the role has expanded far beyond big tech and where candidates with nontechnical backgrounds can find their footing. The conversation covers the AI era and why strategic thinking gives MBAs a decisive edge, the realistic career trajectory from product manager to chief product officer, which MBA programs best prepare candidates for PM recruiting, and why experiential learning is nonnegotiable for this career path.

If you have ever thought “I want to be a product manager” without knowing exactly what that means, this episode is for you.

New episodes of The mbaMission Podcast are released every Tuesday on all major streaming platforms.

00:00 What Is a Product Manager?

03:52 Project Manager Beyond Silicon Valley

06:59 The MBA as a PM Jumping Point

08:59 PM Career Path to Chief Product Officer

14:11 Programs That Excel in Product Management

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.
 
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What does the future of business school look like? Harvard Business School Professor Joshua Margolis joins host Harold Simansky and MBA Admissions Executive Director Jessica Shklar to explore how AI is reshaping the MBA experience.

Joshua Margolis is the James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and the Unit Head for the Organizational Behavior unit. He is also Faculty Chair of the Program for Leadership Development. His research and teaching revolve around leadership and ethics, spanning courses on Leadership and Organizational Behavior, Leadership and Corporate Accountability, Authentic Leadership Development, and FIELD Immersion Experiences for Leadership Development.

Whether you are applying to business school or already in the workforce, this conversation offers honest, practical insight into leadership, learning, and the evolving value of an MBA.

00:00  Introduction: Three Paths to Business School
02:51  Finding Your Story Through-Line
04:15  From Research Assistant to HBS Professor
10:45  Managing Human Beings in the Age of AI
13:21  How HBS Students Are Using AI in the MBA Classroom
15:33  The Ethical Line: When AI Use Goes Too Far
17:15  Why the People Side of AI Is Harder Than the Technology
21:52  Closing Thoughts

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.
 
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Business schools ask about your activities outside of work but what are they really looking for?

In this episode, host Harold Simansky is joined by MBA Admissions Executive Director Jessica Shklar and MBA Admissions Managing Director Rachel Beck to break down how MBA admissions committees evaluate extracurricular activities. They explain why who you are as a person matters just as much as your professional story, what counts versus what doesn't, and how to find meaningful experiences you might already have, without fabricating anything.

Whether you're a high-hours professional wondering if you have time, someone worried they have nothing, or just want to understand what MBA programs really want to see, this episode will change how you think about your application.

0:00 Why Business Schools Care About Your Activities Outside Work 

2:13 How Are You Connected to Your Communities? 

5:37 Family Responsibilities, High-Hours Professionals, and "Nothing to Share"

7:32 Turning Small Moments Into Big Essays 

12:20 What Makes Activity Descriptions Credible to Admissions 

16:33 Non-Traditional Activities and Why Authenticity Wins 

25:13 Business Schools Want to Know Who You Are as a Person

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.
 
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