Before MBA Protocol

Before applying to business school, I worked at a women-owned private credit firm, where I supported women in finance and invested in small businesses. I genuinely loved the mission-driven nature of my work, but my long-term calling had always been global health. My undergraduate studies, research, and early internships were all in global health, and I originally moved into finance because I wanted to understand how capital gets allocated and why so many important health initiatives struggle to get funded. My dream was to eventually return to global health and help bridge the gap between mission and sustainable financing.

Why MBA, why now

An MBA was always part of my long-term plan because I saw it as the best way to connect my finance background with my global health aspirations. I explored a number of adjacent opportunities, including venture debt, healthcare consulting focused on private equity, and other private credit roles, but none felt like the right bridge to my ultimate goals. At the same time, my firm was incredibly supportive of my MBA ambitions, and many of my mentors were MBA graduates themselves. Ultimately, I realized that business school would provide the network, credibility, and broader perspective needed to make a meaningful pivot.

My post-MBA vision is to return to the global health sector and help build sustainable financing models that can unlock greater impact. Throughout my time in finance, I saw firsthand how investment decisions shape entire industries, and I became increasingly interested in applying those lessons to global health challenges. The MBA helped me connect those experiences into a cohesive vision. Today, I'm excited about pursuing opportunities that sit at the intersection of finance, healthcare, and global development.

Why MBA Protocol

I first heard about MBA Protocol through a coffee chat with someone who had gone through the admissions process before me. She challenged me on my story and pointed out that while my experiences were strong, I wasn't yet communicating the deeper "why" behind them. She recommended MBA Protocol's storytelling resources, and after my introductory conversation with Heather, I felt understood in a way I hadn't with other consultants. Rather than seeing me as another finance applicant trying to pivot into impact, she immediately grasped the personal motivations behind my goals. That gave me confidence that MBA Protocol would help me tell a more authentic story.

The work we did together

The biggest shift was in how I approached storytelling. The modules helped me move away from writing essays that focused on accomplishments and toward essays that showed admissions committees who I was, what I cared about, and why my experiences mattered. Beyond the tactical aspects of the application process, the community was incredibly valuable. Having a cohort of people going through the same highs and lows made the process feel much less isolating, and it was especially rewarding to reconnect with many of them at admitted students weekends.

MBA Admission Results

I earned a 328 GRE (163 Quant, 165 Verbal) and received interview invitations from Harvard Business School, Wharton, Columbia, Yale, and Duke. I was admitted to Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School with a full-tuition scholarship, Yale School of Management with a full-tuition scholarship, and Duke Fuqua with a Forte Fellowship and $100,000 per year in scholarship support. I was also waitlisted at Wharton. Professionally, I was promoted to Senior Associate during the application process.

Advice to other pivoters

Start earlier than you think you need to, especially when it comes to testing and reflecting on your story. The strongest applications are built over time, not rushed together a few months before deadlines.

Be honest with yourself about why you want an MBA and whether it's truly necessary for your goals, because it's a significant investment of both time and money.

If you decide it's the right path, take full advantage of the opportunity and approach the process with intention.

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3 M7 Admits and $390K in scholarships as an unusual candidate

When I decided in September 2024 to apply for round 2 by January, it was a sprint. I had just a few months to study for the GMAT, get my applications in order, and make some magic happen. I was referred to Angela by my GMAT instructor, and I could immediately tell she was a great fit. She has a fascination for good stories, and having started three cannabis companies, and grown up across several countries, mine was anything but a traditional MBA path.

We signed the contract in early December and hit the ground running. Her process was incredible. The way she made me download what felt like my entire life into a structured brainstorming session, my accomplishments my personality, who I was as a person, it felt like no stone was left unturned. It’s a wild feeling to have someone analyze your life and come back with insights you never considered yourself. Experiences I thought were mediocre she called out as “rockstar” stories. It felt like she was helping me craft my autobiography, not just for work, but really digging into my personality and letting it show through in every application.

We were in a race against time, and our time zone difference was actually a huge advantage. I would work on essays late into the evenings, send them at 1am, and wake up to comments from her. Rinse and repeat.

After submitting apps I was genuinely proud of, the results were humbling. I went 0/4. But I wasn’t deterred. I retook the GMAT and improved my score by 100 points. The following September, I went back into the process armed with essays I’d already written, stories I’d already excavated, and a clearer strategic gameplan Angela helped me create for reapplying. I was much more focused in the stories I told, and my career vision more aligned to my experience. Angela checked in on me, helped me retool my narrative approach, and armed me with the tools to approach this cycle myself. Success! I received offers from Kellogg, Booth, and Columbia, with a total of $390k in scholarships! (After negotiating, of course.)

I truly couldn’t have done it without her. Her ability to identify and elevate great stories is unmatched, and her genuine investment in my success across two application cycles despite me only paying for one made all the difference. She has my strongest recommendation.

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My Coach Is EVERYTHING & MORE

Switching careers during the middle of the Pandemic from medicine to real estate finance, I knew I wanted to go to business school. I started as an executive assistant at my firm for the two co-founders and then earned a spot on the deal team after a year. Although I learned so much, it was a lot of DIY and googling. Given that I didn’t have a traditional finance background, I wanted to gain a more holistic understanding of business and finance as well as further my growth in real estate. I knew that business school would allow me to explore different sectors of real estate, give me the flexibility to see what my interests are and create an invaluable network. My goal post-MBA is to work at an institutional firm with a specialization in development and/or hospitality.

I started my MBA journey by first reaching out to a current MBA student and she connected me to her consultant. Let’s just say, I didn’t leave that intro call with the warm and fuzzies. So, I decided I could probably do without a consultant since I’ve had experience applying to medical school. However, as months of GMAT prep went by, I realized that I might need some help and I was lucky enough to connect with a different friend who just went through the whole process and did very well. That’s when my coach entered the chat. Within the first few minutes of speaking to her, I knew she was the one.

I knew that my biggest weaknesses within my profile were going to be my GMAT/GRE score and GPA. I was a chemistry / pre-med major at a top university and had a few grades in calculus, chemistry, and organic chemistry that fell short of my tiger mom’s expectations. But I knew my saving grace was going to be my story and I’d only have one chance to tell it right. I say this with my entire being, I could not have done it without my coach. I’ve always been a very confident writer and knew how to tell my story, but she knew exactly how to push me to dig deeper. After writing numerous drafts of something, it can be incredibly challenging to change the content or to develop the story further, but she somehow found a way to pull things out of me that I didn’t even realize existed. She helped me connect the dots not only for the essays but also for my self-discovery. She knew exactly what questions to ask to guide me to write the most powerful and meaningful essay I’ve ever written. I realized that this essay meant more than just an essay to get into school – it was my journey to finding who I am. The toughest part was sculpting each essay and figuring out where and how to cut since each word matters when you have a limit. Given that each phrase was written from my heart, I was very protective when it came to cutting. However, she was too. She knew exactly what was necessary to keep my voice. She found ways to make what I wanted to say more efficient and impactful. She helped me find the beauty in my weaknesses that I’ve always struggled to find.

As we nailed down my story, she helped me narrow down my schools. School research was daunting to me because I had no idea where to start. But she always had an answer. Her advice allowed me to be more targeted with my research, and it showed in my essays and interviews. I knew that if I could just get my foot in the door for an interview, I’d win the hearts of admissions. But my lifelong testing anxiety could prevent me from even having a chance. After working 12-hour days, I’d study for the GMAT until 11PM / midnight. Saturdays and Sundays were reserved for studying and practice exams. Despite the countless hours of studying, I never achieved my desired score. I took both the GMAT and GRE several times and fell short of 700 (GMAT) and 320 (GRE). Because of this, I was ridden with anxiety. I struggled to sleep for days on end. When you’re going through the process, even though you’re told by everyone that tests aren’t everything and you know it to be true, it is impossible to truly believe it. I was terrified that no matter how great the rest of my profile was, I might not even get a chance. But my coach helped me replace my shame with confidence by focusing on all my unique strengths.

She was the best cheerleader I could have ever asked for – so much so that at one point I wondered if she was just telling me what I wanted to hear haha! However, come interview prep, I realized that everything was genuine and she’s not afraid to give you tough love when you need it. I was lucky enough to get interviews from Columbia, Cornell, and UCLA. I’ve always been good at interviews, so I thought it was going to be a breeze. However, after practicing the “Tell me about yourself” question (arguably the MOST important question of your interview) with her, I realized I was maybe a little too confident. She stopped me halfway through my spiel and helped me realize that I’ve essentially told her nothing about who I am and what impact I’m going to make on my community. This further solidified what I already knew – I could not have done it without her. Her pointers allowed me to choose my words wisely so everything I talked about would showcase how I was going to move the needle.

I feel so lucky and honored to have been accepted to Columbia, Cornell, and UCLA. At Columbia, I received the Forte Fellowship with a $50,000/year scholarship. At Cornell, I received the Forte Fellowship with a $30,000/year scholarship. At UCLA, I received a full-ride scholarship. Thanks to my coach, I will be attending my dream school. She is more than just a consultant – she is a friend, therapist, mama bear, and cheerleader. Anything is possible with her by your side.

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Brian Birdwell & Career Protocol - Best No-Regret Decision I've Made

Personalized introspective MBA application experience with stellar outcomes.

One of the amazing things about Brian and the Career Protocol team is that they helped me whittle the many vast ideas in my brain down to concise essays that got results. Results including acceptances from 7 out of the 8 programs I applied to, with 5 of them offering me scholarships totaling $500,000. I went from worrying about not getting in anywhere to getting in virtually everywhere I applied. Acceptances included: Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Ross, Johnson, Fuqua. Brian helped me through the process end to end, and I wholeheartedly recommend Brian Birdwell at Career Protocol.

But since essays are done, here are some bullet points that describe how amazing it was to work with Brian: • When I initially decided to apply to MBA programs and work with Brian and the Career Protocol team, I didn’t know what I was getting into but took a leap of faith. I am so glad I did. • When I decided to go forward with applying to MBA programs, I felt behind. Brian accelerated my process to apply to 8 schools during ONE ROUND. He helped me through the journey by meeting me where I was at. He knocked it out of the park. • Brian keeps it real. He is very down to earth and easy to talk to. This was so helpful for me to be able to be authentic with him, the process, and my applications. • He was firm when needed and encouraging when I felt down. • Brian knows and has in-depth experience with the application process, enabling him to help me maintain the right mindset and avoid overthinking. • Brian is organized, thorough, sharp, and really knows his stuff. He’s extremely talented and smart. He kept the process lighthearted, which helped me relax. I definitely needed the humor and those laughs! • He is RELIABLE. I would hear back from him quickly with updates. Communication felt easy. • Scheduling video calls was easy, even with my busy schedule. Him being based in the United States / the time zones worked well for me. • He was one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout this process and helped motivate me to keep pushing forward. This helped me cross each hurdle, especially when it came time for interviews. • He focused on me and who I am rather than using a school focused lens throughout the process. It helped me reframe my thinking toward what I have to offer and who I am vs. trying to say things that I think the school wants to hear. He genuinely cares. • He offers great practical advice that I took to heart. Also, lots of great wisdom that I’ll cherish. • As we combed through the details of my life, the ups and downs, and dug into who I am as a person, I noticed his incredible attention to detail and story crafting abilities. When we would brainstorm together, he would bring up things about me that I was sure that he wouldn’t have remembered. Goes to show how much he cares and how personalized they make this experience. • Somehow Brian knew the right way to support me… pumping me up when I’m down, reminding me that I really don’t have to be so self-critical, also sharing KEY ADVICE to act as if each interview is my only interview…. Totally immerse myself in the school’s program for the 48 hours prior to the interview and only think about that school (because he noticed I was getting distracted thinking about other schools). SERIOUSLY such good advice that stuck with me and I adhered to it!!!! • Truly listened to me. Got to know me and focused on looking at this as the whole package. • Built my confidence to meet people, talk to admissions, talk to other candidates. Made friends!!! • Networking, campus visits, school research… guided me through it all! All the materials were so helpful. • Resume – killer job helping me with one of the things I dreaded and put off THE MOST. • Stories – many times I wanted to give up. But we kept going. • Knew how to cut the right corners for me and focus on the right things at the right times. • Brian offered encouragement and praise where he saw I was progressing. It may sound funny, but not only did it help motivate me, but it also demonstrates how much he cares and how much attention to detail he is giving. To be able to comment on someone’s improvements takes time and it takes knowing the person to have something to compare against. • Brian offered critiques and was a straight shooter when I was way off (e.g., stories, essays, video essays, interview mindset & approach) • Short responses / mini essays – they sneak up and can be a lot. Did a great job working through this with me and really the whole package end to end. • Interviews + Mock Interviews – practiced interviewing with Brian over video calls. Very helpful to get in the right headspace and think about how to approach it. By the time interviews came around, we had done so much self-reflection and digging deep into my values as a person that the interviews were an easier lift than I expected. And more enjoyable 🙂 • I had some atypical interviews but rolled with them. Brian would check in on me, provide his thoughts on my reflection, etc. He was there every step of the way. • Strategized applications together for 4 schools that I applied to independently. Got into all of them! Got into 3 of the 4 I worked closely with him on. This was where the real leg work was done. • This process revealed a lot about myself and pushed me to grow. I didn’t know how hard it would be. I also did not know how much I would get out of it with them. Truly 10/10. • These are good people that I trust. I have already recommended them to my friends.

Last words. I had the rare opportunity to work with both Brian Birdwell and Angela Guido. You both amaze me. The speed at which you’re able to think, your relaxed demeanor, the enthusiasm you have. I hope it never dies for either of you. You are both such wonderful, talented, kind people. I can never share my appreciation enough.

Thank you both for taking a chance on me. Brian, I really cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness, wisdom, kindness, empathy, enthusiasm, and downright hard work. You really went above and beyond for me when I know you didn’t have to.

I remember showing my significant other one of your emails, and him being really impressed. Several times he has mentioned that it seems like I’m getting exceptional value for the investment.

You both always have people’s best interest at heart.

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Before MBA Protocol

My current title is Executive Director, HRIS, and I work in Higher Education. I have been in my position for over a decade and have been with the institution for over 25 years. I had actually planned on staying in my position and retiring early (i.e., early 50s)

Why MBA, why now

I had attended a Women in Leadership conference through Columbia Business School that was sponsored by my department. It was an incredible experience to see the impact that these women in leadership have made in their industry and organizations. That experience showed me that I still had a lot to contribute and it inspired me to pursue an EMBA so that I can accelerate my path to the next step. Eventually, my ultimate goal is to be part of the Executive Leadership of the university focused on operations.

I wanted to have a solid grounding in the business fundamentals. I feel like this is the missing piece to helping me be a more well-rounded leader. The EMBA will also help accelerate my path forward.

Why MBA Protocol

I was looking for MBA consulting firms to work with as I wanted to give myself the best possible chance of getting into business school. I stumbled upon Angela’s videos on the sister channel, Career Protocol. I loved the colorful videos, the upbeat music, and the UNICORN! The videos were fun and serious at the same time. Angela has solid frameworks that really helped me get to my core story. I don’t particularly enjoy talking about myself and I feel that MBA Protocol really helped me find my voice.

The work we did together

MBA Protocol helped me home in on my story and helped me convey that authentically. My coach, Heather, was especially a great resource. It’s been over 25 years since I was on the other side of the interview table and Heather did a mock interview with me that shifted my perspective. It allowed me to be less nervous and be confident in myself and what I accomplished.

Heather really cared about me and helped me communicate my story. She was able to plug in the gaps in my essays or help me convey it in a different way that made things land much more emphatically. She was always willing to answer any questions I had and was very supportive through the entire process. When I shared feedback that I got from Angela at the LFG huddles, she incorporated those into our one-on-one sessions. She was also willing to help my supervisor with the recommendation for the program. She was one of my biggest cheerleaders and I am very grateful to have her as my coach.

MBA Admission Results

I only applied to one school - Columbia - and I was admitted to the EMBA Class of 2028!

Advice to other pivoters

It’s a big decision - not just for you but for the people around you. Make sure you have your support team behind you (spouse, family, and friends) to help you through the rough parts and celebrate with you through your successes.

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MBA guru & genius motivator!

After one conversation with Angela, I knew she was the perfect MBA coach for me. I initially had doubts about being a minority candidate with an average GRE score, but Angela’s familiarity with each school and her confidence in my story was all I needed to apply to only M7 schools. In fact, she never even asked me what my GRE score was. While other consultants were worried about checking the boxes on my test score and GPA, Angela focused on helping me submit the most well-rounded application possible.

Her ability to shine light on my greatest strengths really helped me create amazing essays; but it’s also what gave me confidence through this tough process. At the school events I attended, when I saw other people freaking out about their test scores and backgrounds, I was totally calm because I knew my application was a holistic view of my journey. I ended up with a GRE score 10 points below what other consultants said I needed, but I got into Columbia and Wharton with a 310. It just goes to show that Angela was right, and it was my story that schools cared about. I was content with every application after submitting and was not surprised to be admitted. She even sent me a bottle of champagne to celebrate!

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Not just a consultant, but a friend

I’m an international student with a terrible GPA, no blue-chip companies on his resume and an OK GMAT. Despite all these weaknesses in my profile, thanks to my coach, I got admitted to CBS, Tuck, Kellogg and Booth, all with scholarships.

I found my coach from P&Q among many other consultants and had a quick call with her. On that short review call, I could tell she would be there for me no matter what, which is quite unique compared to all the other people I talked to in this process. She may be one of friendliest and lively people I’ve ever met.

She used a special framework to highlight the key themes I can use in my essays. This was super helpful since I wouldn’t have been able to do this on my own. As part of this framework, she showed me which schools would be reach/target/safety for me. I used her framework and school suggestions throughout the entire application period. With one exception, she nailed the selections!

We worked on pre-application networking, school research, essays, interviews, waitlist strategies and even scholarship negotiations (I never would have though I’d need that).

I’m sure there’s a ton of things I can talk about, but to me, the best part of working with my coach, was getting motivated by her. At times I’d feel defeated by the essays or the process, but after a short call with her, I’d feel like I can take on the world. Honestly, a year ago today, I would have never thought I’d be accepted to any of the top 20 schools, but here I am and I don’t think I could have done it without her help.

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You Want My Coach in Your Corner! If you are serious about maximizing your B school application potential, look no further. My experience with my coach was truly lifechanging – and helped me gain acceptance to my M7 dream school I initially thought was well out of reach!

When I set out to begin the MBA process, I had no idea where to start. Having gained acceptance to a company scholarship in August, it was clear I was already behind the curve to even make round 2 application deadlines. I had not studied for the GMAT/GRE, started essays, networked, or even done much research on the application process (I come from an industry that typically does not get to do this). In short, I was lost. Fortunately, I discovered Career Protocol via a friend who spoke highly of how it was helping him (he would late be accepted into his dream M7). I was set up with my coach – and the rest is history!

She knew right away how compressed my timeline was for round 2 applications, but never once sounded the panic alarm. To provide some context when it was all said and done – I took several GMATs and GREs (including one GRE in December) to get the scores I needed. During this “chaos”, she was supportive, optimistic, and kept me on track with everything else for my applications. Her ability to identify my strengths and then market those in my essays and resumé was nothing short of remarkable. During our brainstorming calls, she would provide the needed perspective to “dig deeper” and find what I was truly trying to convey. She knew how to break down some of my industry specific jargon and how to market it so anyone could understand. I should note, this sort of help goes well beyond B school!

My coach kept me on track. I would tell her, “just give me a timeline for these essays that I should be meeting.” She took this to heart, drafted me up a timeline for the entire essay process, and held me to it! It forced me to work on all aspects of my application instead of getting locked in on test scores. Her feedback on essays is no-nonsense. If they do not meet the mark, she lets you know it! With that being said, the dialogue is never negative and there is always a clear way forward. You know when you are hitting submit that you have the best product possible!

When it was over, I successfully submitted applications for several schools on time. Later – when interview invites started to arrive in January, my coach immediately provided the best interview prep I have ever had in my life. Upon showing up to my interviews, I felt confident and ready. Career Protocol’s Wharton TBD prep was perhaps the most valuable experience during my entire process! With my coach’s help, I was accepted into Wharton, CBS, and UVA. As someone who went from being totally lost on the entire process in August – to hitting submit on applications in January, I can state with a fact it would not have been possible without her and the Career Protocol process. My life is now forever changed for the better.

Thank you!

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