Before MBA Protocol

Right after I graduated from undergrad, I worked for a financial portfolio management company in portfolio reporting. It was a crash course in finance, and I learned a lot about investing, benchmarking, and Excel (lol). However, during undergrad, I knew I wanted to work in U.S. Mexico relations and specifically in trade. So, when the opportunity came to work for an international trade law firm, I took it! After eight years, I currently work as an Operations Manager and the lead senior international trade specialist at an international trade law firm in Washington, DC. In laymen’s terms, I am in management as a non-attorney, managing the paralegals and the economists on staff, as well as organizing the workflows and building structures to help build grow the firm.

Why MBA, why now

Outside of work, I have been volunteering at my local farmers market for the past six years. Ultimately, my professional experience working in global trade and my local experience working with farmers to expand food accessibility has inspired me to make a pivot into working for a values-led Food CPG company. I am interested in strategy and operations work and hope to join a leadership rotational program, but I hope to also recruit for brand-management internships to see if this role could give me the necessary skills I need for my long-term goal: to lead strategic initiatives in the CPG sector that expand access to nutritious, affordable food across borders.

Prior to Covid, I decided to ask for a new role at work that focused on operations management, so I could focus more on what inspired me most at my office: building firm-wide systems and initiatives that improve the flow of work, betters work quality and could help the firm grow. This position increased my exposure to our client’s operational issues while dealing with the uncertainties of duties and tariffs. Ultimately, through this position I found a new passion for management and operations.

In 2023, I attempted to make a career shift on my own into operations but had little luck. I knew I wanted to pivot but needed help. In 2024, I spoke with a friend who was graduating from her MBA program and realized that this was the next right move for me so I can make a big pivot into the Food CPG world.

Why MBA Protocol

I first met Angela through the Forte Launch program, where she led a presentation on the art of storytelling. I was so captivated by her presentation and it was the best one I had seen in the Forte Launch program so far (no shade to other presentations in the program). I knew that since my story wasn’t the typical one that the adcoms would read, and I wanted help to fully develop my story and pivot I wanted to make. Career Protocol was the best choice for me. They saw me for me, and helped me fully realize my story and my vision through the Discovery process. They even encouraged me to apply to schools that I thought were out of my range.

The work we did together

I learned so much with MBA Protocol, but the biggest lessons center on storytelling. Specifically, how to connect with someone whether it be through your elevator pitch, resume, or essays. Angela helped me immensely during interview preparation. I was so incredibly nervous because in the past I would get a bit of stage fright during interviews. She recognized it immediately and she gave me real tips and tricks to remain calm and be my authentic self and not this odd robotic professional version I think others want me to be.

Ultimately, I learned that presenting my story and being my authentic self will bring me to opportunities I never thought I could have obtained before. I also learned to believe in myself and my story more which will carry over to my MBA and life beyond!

MBA Admission Results

I applied to 9 programs and interviewed at 7. I was admitted to each program I interviewed with: Ross, UCLA Anderson, IESE, NYU Stern, Dartmouth Tuck, Duke Fuqua, and Chicago Booth and received a total of $275,000 in scholarships across all schools.

I am beyond thrilled with my results. I had taken the GRE four times and worked really hard but was worried that my scores would hold me back. When I got the call from Duke Fuqua, I was shocked for two days. The weight of this whole process was realized, and I was going to business school. When I heard the news about Booth, I sobbed and couldn’t believe I got into my Reach school. I poured my heart into my Booth essays and that translated into success.

Advice to other pivoters

My biggest advice for others attempting to make a big career pivot is to really carve out time and energy to understand your career journey. What motivated you to make certain decisions? What did you learn from your “failure” moments? This self-reflection is deeply coded into MBA Protocol’s process. In the beginning of my MBA application journey, I knew I wanted to work in the food industry but didn’t know the types of roles and opportunities. I used MBA Protocol ‘s advice and resources, speaking to many students and even Chat GPT about possible paths I could take. This led me to leadership development programs and possibly brand management. This then led me to uncover my skill gaps and what I need to accomplish my post-MBA goals. This helped while doing school research, essay writing, and interviewing.

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Mission Accomplished - Brian Is The One!

12 months ago I was down in the dumps. After 8 years of riding the self employment rollercoaster my business was getting quiet once again. I had just lost a parent, I was lacking direction and knew I needed a factory reset. I was seeking a path to a more purposeful existence that offered stable employment and long term financial prospects.

I was a 32 year old immigrant with a BA in Communications from a European university and I had no direct corporate experience. I had worked in media production for 8 years taking whatever work came through.

After spending many nights going down rabbit holes looking for inspiration, googling “how to get a good job”, I discovered Career Protocols YouTube page and benefited from a wealth of information that I felt was leading me in the right direction. I had never heard of an MBA or a GRE!

I recognize the ridiculousness of pursuing a $150k degree without a specific career goal but the employment reports were promising and I knew with the right guidance this could be an opportunity to get back on track. I was open to new challenges but didn’t want to completely start from scratch competing with 22 year olds for entry level jobs. I was willing to make the investment in myself to learn new skills which would help me to compete for coveted roles at amazing companies that I currently had no access to. I rolled the dice, made contact with Career Protocol and was matched with Brian Birdwell, aka The Wizard.

Within the first week of working together I knew my investment with CP was going to pay off. The first round of essay edits opened my mind to a whole new way of storytelling and I can’t believe I ever thought I could do it alone. We did a deep dive into my entire background and not only did Brian identify the most impactful events of my life, he wove them into a framework that helped me rediscover my confidence, recognize my achievements and inspired me to reach for the stars.

Brian balances being an absolute professional while also being the chillest dude. He’s a sage and has an unbelievable memory - 2 months into the process he was still recalling details of my background that I had mentioned during our initial discovery call, making for an incredibly personalized experience.

Aside from my age, lack of corporate exposure and unclear career goals, I hadn’t taken a math test in 14 years. I self studied over the Summer and improved immensely but ultimately managed to score below average on the GRE. In hindsight I should have sought professional help here as well. I subsequently took the Executive Assessment, scoring above average, and I used that test score when applicable.

Brian helped to identify programs for which I was a competitive candidate but encouraged me to apply to a range of schools. Despite the initial challenges with my profile we stuck to the plan and I ended up getting admitted to Michigan Ross, NYU Stern, Georgetown, the University of Washington Foster with a scholarship and I was waitlisted at Columbia!

I am immensely proud of what we achieved, particularly because I crafted truly authentic, soul bearing stories that are entirely original and unique to my experiences. Before connecting with Brian I interviewed 2 other admissions consulting firms. One of them told me I didn’t have a chance at top programs and the other pitched a scenario where their team of writers would interview me once and then write my essays for me - a ludicrous proposition. During one MBA school interview the admissions director told me I was one of the best storytellers that had ever applied to their program - wow. Without Brian’s expertise that would never have been possible.

This service is so much more than just essay support. It’s part admissions consulting, interview training, resume refining, school selection, career guidance, community support and at times, therapy. I achieved what I set out to do and learned an arsenal of new skills that I will take with me into my MBA and beyond. I am eternally grateful to Brian, Angela and the Career Protocol community!

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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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Building your story -- not just editing your essay

I think it's safe to say that anyone seriously considering a top school is probably competent enough to write a decent essay (or two or three). With that in mind, it's tempting to unknowingly write off admissions consulting as an essay-editing service.

Admittedly, I too was unsure as to the value of hiring a consultant. It's not inexpensive, and it definitely adds a third party to an already complex and stressful journey. But I was fortunate to work with Angela Guido, whom I had known after having taken her GMAT and LSAT prep courses -- and she really made a world of a difference in my applications.

Keep in mind, I was a less-than-ideal candidate: decent but not stellar GMAT, strong but not save-the-world-type work experience, white male from the 'burbs. Oh, and a sub-3.0 undergrad GPA. The deck was stacked against me in some really big, important ways.

Angela's strength -- which turned into my advantage -- was to help me craft an entire narrative about myself. To uncover strengths that I didn't realize I had. To articulate the differences I had made in the lives of others. To really get to the heart of what challenges, motivates, and perplexes me. Angela helped me through a lot of introspection that enabled the true "me" to translate within my entire application "suite" -- my resume (don't underestimate the importance of this!), essays, interviews, and more. I can barely recognize my initial drafts against my finished products, and I have her to thank for that.

Angela also kept me on track. I'm a serial procrastinator, and being accountable to an agreed-upon schedule ensured we had ample time to bounce ideas off one another, draft essays, and prepare for interviews. She was always available, whether by email (the easiest for both of us) or frequent calls. Even with what felt like dozens of items on my plate, she made my life easier by being a sort of "advocate" along my way.

In short, I emerged a far more confident applicant than I ever would have been without this help. And in the end, this humble 2.79-GPA-er was accepted to Ross and McCombs; waitlisted at Booth and Johnson; and will matriculate with nearly full scholarship at Kelley. I don't think any of this could have happened without Angela's guidance and support. '

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$460,000 in Scholarships

I started working with Angela when I was 18 for behavioral interviews in college and reconnected with her again and all of MBA Protocol for my MBA applications. MBA prep is a beast of its own, and I did need some hand-holding at times, which they provided in exactly the right way. The number of resources and guidance available is endless, and what I found most helpful was how they kept me on track with a timeline and helped me figure out my story.

Timeline-wise, it was really easy for me to get overwhelmed with everything there is to do from numerous resume and essay revisions, to attending MBA events, working with recommenders, and the GRE, but MBA Protocol laid it out in a way that felt manageable, with a clear agenda and path. My coach would even nudge me when I was starting to fall behind, which I needed. I was also able to talk through whether this was the right year for me to apply while juggling other things I had going on personally.

For the story discovery process, that was really the foundation for every MBA essay I wrote, even for the schools I applied to on my own. Talking through my experiences helped me connect dots I didn’t see myself. For one of my schools, we finalized everything, and two weeks prior to the deadline, we completely scrapped an essay and started from a new angle and it’s the essay I’m most proud of because it shows a side of me I never would have thought to show otherwise.

I applied to 6 schools and got 4 interviews. When I began the interview prep process with Angela, I already felt a lot of confidence in my story. We practiced answers to key questions from my target schools to ensure I was ready for anything.

I am happy to report that despite a below average GRE score, I was admitted to Yale, Ross, and Booth with a total of $460,000 in scholarships, setting me up to make the career pivot I’ve been dreaming about for years now.

Overall, MBA Protocol not only helped me get into business school, but they helped me get scholarships that I never would have expected. It has completely paid off for me. There are many other ways they helped me with such as providing my recommenders with great materials on the best way to write a recommendation, connecting me with GRE tutors, and even after application submissions with tips and tricks to navigate waitlists. I couldn’t recommend Angela and MBA Protocol enough, especially if you want someone invested in your outcome.

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I’d Buy T-Shirts with My Coach’s Name On Them & Distribute Them For Free! :)

When I first began the process of applying to business schools, I was extremely unsure if it was for me. I did not know if my GRE score was in the ‘safe’ zone for an Indian applicant and I wasn’t sure if the admissions committee would like my story, because of my unusual career trajectory. When you see your peers from traditional backgrounds with incredible experiences and realize that you are an outlier in the career path you chose, often it can be difficult to own your story and the risks you took. I found it challenging to tell my story with authenticity but also in a manner that would be palatable. My coach is a gifted storyteller, the best I know personally. She is not a typical consultant. She is a friend and a mentor who will immerse herself in understanding your story and your world. I was so comfortable sharing some deeply personal accounts with her candidly and she helped me weave them and connect the strands that I had overlooked. Talking to her helped me see my story in a new light, one that gave me confidence to share it with the world. If you’re like me, you probably spend a lot of time thinking about the skills/qualities you are yet to work on, and don’t often pause to look back and appreciate how far you have come. I remember she once stopped in the middle of her sentence and said, “Do you realize that the product you created for rural India does not exist in any other emerging country in the world? Can we just let this sink in?” I hadn’t seen it that way before. My coach helped me believe a bit more in myself.

She rooted for me (and boy you’ll need it when you’re down!) as I worked on the weaker aspects of my application. I could get by failures (and there will be plenty!) because she constantly inspired me to fight the good fight.

When working on the interviews, she focused on the finer aspects such as body language, confidence, mindset and being a charismatic communicator. She was always available for my SOS requests. I religiously pinged her each time I hit ‘submit’ on an application and she’d promptly reply with ‘Yay! I’m now doing my happy dance for you!’ The process can be long and exhausting. Working with someone with so much positive energy, a big bright smile and a great sense of humor always helps :).

I’m grateful to my coach because what I learned in the MBA application process from her added value that will serve me lifelong. I got admission at Wharton and Ross and was waitlisted at three of the top 10 US business schools. I’m headed to Wharton this fall and she has been an integral part of my journey.

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Angela the Unicorn

If you want the best, go with Angela. I would choose MBA Protocol over and over again. With their support, I was admitted to Booth, Kellogg, Yale, Berkeley, and Ross, with over $400K in scholarships.

I started seriously considering doing an MBA almost 3 years ago. That’s when Angela spawned in my YouTube algorithm with her energetic, candid, and refreshingly honest videos. I learned about other MBA consulting firms later on, but it was immediately clear that Angela’s approach and level of care were on a completely different level.

We had our very first call 3 years ago. Even though I was still early in the process, Angela already saw my candidacy clearly. She helped me identify the values that would eventually define my story, and we talked not just about schools, but about what an MBA could truly mean for my life and long-term goals. That early belief in me and the clarity she brought made it obvious that Angela and her team were the right partners to help me achieve my dreams.

When I officially signed up for my MBA Guided Quest Package this year, I was welcomed by the whole MBA Protocol community – creating something truly unique. Beyond working 1:1 with my coach, I fully took advantage of the huddles and office hours held by other coaches, as well as exchanging advice with the other clients who became an extended part of my journey. The chance to interact with multiple people gave me continuous fresh perspectives, inspiration, and ideas to keep going and improve my apps every single day. The level of care and attention I received was simply beyond expectations.

Plus, I got the chance to work with Angela herself – from reviewing my career game plan to refining resume bullet points. This is the real competitive advantage of MBA Protocol: you’re never alone. In fact, you’re surrounded by experts who actively support you at every step in a community of peers that inspire you to aim higher.

You really cannot go wrong with this company. Choosing Angela and MBA Protocol was one of the best decisions I made in this journey, truly a unicorn in the MBA admissions world.

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Angela Was The Key To Success On My MBA Journey!

Angela is inspiring, authentic, and truly cares about the people she works with. From the very beginning, she gave me candid and realistic feedback on my candidacy, specifically around my low test scores. What impressed me most about her is that she didn't push to make a sale. Instead, she recommended that I spend my time and resources getting my weaker test scores up, even though she knew this meant I could afford less of her time. On top of that, she referred me to an amazing tutor who helped me gain points on both the quant and verbal sections.

Her coaching is inspiring, her resources are extraordinary, but the reason you should work with her is that she puts the best interests of the client first. She is truly on your side. Ultimately, Angela was instrumental in my admittance to Tuck and Michigan Ross. I'd highly recommend Angela to anyone looking for support on their MBA journey!

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