How Angela Helped Me See the Bigger Picture (ending in $375k in Scholarships)

Working with Angela Guido and MBA Protocol was one of the best investments I made in my MBA journey. My admissions results went better than I ever thought possible, but the Career Protocol process fundamentally changed the way I understood my own story and career path which transcends this esoteric MBA application process. Coming into the MBA application process, I knew I wanted to pivot careers, but I struggled to explain why in a cohesive way. My background was unconventional compared to many MBA applicants: I had spent nearly eight years at an international trade law firm working with agricultural exporters on high-stakes trade cases while simultaneously building the firm’s operational infrastructure. Outside of work, I volunteered at my local farmers’ market, focused on expanding food accessibility programs. I knew these experiences were connected somehow, but I did not yet know how to articulate the thread between global trade, food systems, operations, and my long-term goal of working in Food CPG strategy and operations. That is where Angela completely changed my understanding of storytelling. What makes Angela different from other consultants is that she does not try to force applicants into a formula. She genuinely wants to understand who you are, what motivates you, and what kind of life you are trying to build. Through the Discovery process, she helped me connect experiences that I had previously viewed as separate parts of my life into one authentic narrative about food accessibility, operational leadership, and cross-border impact. One of the biggest transformations for me was confidence. I had taken the GRE four times and worried constantly that my scores would define my candidacy. Angela never dismissed those concerns, but she also never let me reduce myself to a test score. She helped me focus on presenting the strongest and most authentic version of myself across every component of the application. She was also instrumental in interview preparation. I tend to become overly polished and robotic when nervous, and Angela identified that immediately. She helped me relax, trust my own voice, and approach interviews like real conversations instead of performances. That shift changed everything for me. The results still honestly feel surreal. I applied to nine MBA programs and interviewed at seven. I was admitted to every school where I interviewed, including Dartmouth Tuck, Chicago Booth, Duke Fuqua, Ross, UCLA Anderson, IESE, and NYU Stern, and I received a total of $385,000 in scholarship funding across programs. When I got the call from Tuck, I was in shock. When I got into Booth — my reach school — I cried. I had poured so much of myself into the process, and for the first time I truly felt that my story had been understood. But beyond admissions outcomes, the biggest thing I gained from MBA Protocol was clarity. I learned how to communicate my experiences, understand my motivations, and confidently explain the kind of impact I want to make in my career and life. If you are someone with a nontraditional background, a complicated career pivot, or a story that feels difficult to package neatly, I cannot recommend Angela highly enough. She will help you find the thread that makes your story make sense, and more importantly, help you believe in it yourself.

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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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Work With Her!

In early 2021, with a little less than 1.5 years of work experience, everyone thought I was too early to be thinking about an MBA. I heard the words “average work experience 5 years” more times than I like to recall – and particularly from most admission consultants. I was in two minds when a friend suggested I speak to my coach – based on her glowing recommendations, I set up a call, and before the end of the meeting, I knew I had to work with my coach for my B-school journey. The entire experience, from school selection to essay brainstorming, to interview prep, became much more memorable for me, because I had the chance and the privilege to work with her.

Of the many factors that set my coach apart, the very first was her approach. In my experience, consultants usually have a list of parameters that they want candidates to check off, before applying for programs, which can often lead to half-hearted attempts to pad up one’s resume. She instead, refined my focus on my strengths. Through a series of essays, I delved into the minutiae of my life – wins, losses, goals, and values. It was an introspective process, and it did not end when my essays are done – she has taught me to keep reflecting and questioning and as a result, today, I have much deeper clarity on who I am, and who I want to be.

Another reason why it was a pleasure to work with my coach was that she never compromised on her student’s goals. Lots of consultants I had spoken to wanted me to apply to a larger number of safety schools, given my fewer years of work experience. She instead had me thoroughly research each school, and assess how it fit with my professional and personal goals. She motivated me to connect with students and alums – something I was initially apprehensive about – almost a year before my application deadlines, to gauge whether the school was a ‘cultural fit’. This comprehensive research culminated in me applying to seven schools I was strongly keen on, each of which had specific offerings that were aligned with my goals and would provide the exact kind of opportunities I was seeking.

Under my coach’s mentorship, I received interview invites to all seven schools, and received offers from five of them. She pushed me to delve into the depths of my story, and share my narrative in an empowering and authentic way. Multiple mock interviews with her helped me better articulate my journey, and boosted my confidence for the actual interviews. Most importantly, her unwavering encouragement has been a pivotal motivator in this journey. As I head to NYU Stern, with a merit scholarship, and as a Forte Fellow, I am anchored by my vision and my values, and for that, I will always be deeply grateful to her.

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BEST... COACH... EVER... When I first heard about Admission Consultants, I was unsure about if I needed an admissions consultant to help me with my application. It was an expensive choice that I wasn’t sure would payout. As I evaluated and researched the different options, I was drawn to the way Career Protocol helped their clients. Their focus on being not just an Admissions Consultant, but a Career Coach for pre-MBAs, is the mindset that eventually sold me to work with Career Protocol and my coach.

I was the first person in my friends and family circle to get my MBA, and my coach was incredibly helpful and patient as he guided me throughout this process. His focus on my professional and personal growth throughout this process, not only as an admissions consultant, but also as a career coach, helped me focus and prepare for what I wanted out of my MBA and make a plan for how I would get there.

He pushed me outside my comfort zone to think through what I actually wanted to do in my life and to start building my network. This journey of self-discovery was invaluable in my application process and the lessons I learned this past year will be ones I’ll keep coming back to in the future.

Even after the application process, he provided support as I decided between amazing choices (Yale with a scholarship, Booth with a scholarship, and NYU with a full ride).

My coach goes above and beyond to help you put your best foot forward in your applications. I’m incredibly thankful for him, without whom I don’t think I would be going to an M7 school in the Fall.

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Absolutely Best Decision - My Coach Is Amazing!

There are a few key people that have helped me reach my goals and my coach is one of them. I could have not gotten this far without her support. She was my admissions coach during my application process at NYU. I had been trying to apply to grad. school for several years but the application process was not easy for me. My coach and the Career Protocol admissions prep program helped me organize the elements of my application and focus on getting it done the right way. We completed my application in less than 5 months and got accepted as soon as I applied since the executive MBA program I applied to reviewed applications in a few weeks and I was able to successfully share my story with the admissions team through my work neatly captured in application. After applying to my first school choice I felt I had covered all the areas that I could cover in the application. Having her support was crucial for me. She helped me perform a complete self-reflection and understand what was really being asked in the interview and application questions. She took the time to get to know me and did a thorough review of my key accomplishments and areas of opportunity that I needed to improve on in my application. She was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire engagement and understood my specific situation. She helped me apply during the months in which the Covid outbreak made it very difficult at work and home. I felt I could always reach out for help and that I had a friend who I could lean on. She also helped me double the size of the scholarship I had been offered for which I am so thankful. Throughout the whole process, I felt supported and empowered. I still do. I was also grateful I always had someone there to help me think through and navigate the steps in the application process (interview, recommendation discussions, work discussion regarding time commitment, conflict resolution for roadblocks that came up). English is my second language plus writing essays for the application didn’t come easily for me and I was just so grateful for my coach’s support in helping me tell my story in a concise manner. A final thought regarding my experience is that I feel supported beyond the admissions process thanks to Career Protocol’s belief in never-ending growth. I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to work with her and for all the care, support I received and growth I have gained through her work. I can’t find words to express my full gratitude and all she’s done for me. Thank you!!!

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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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Angela is the best!!!

Angela is incredible! I cannot thank her enough for all the assistance she had provided with my NYU Stern application. My deadline was May 15th. I started in late March and finished everything in less than two months. I would never have done this myself as I was also working full time and preparing for the GMAT in these two months. Angela was very patient, she worked with my schedule and helped me in every possible way.

With Angela's assistance, all my essays shaped up really well. She also helped me with my resume, work history, achievements and every other aspect of the application. With her assistance I was able to present myself at my best.

The initial brainstorming session was excellent. Angela pushed me to think out of the box to come with great ideas for my essays. She helped me to extract the hidden qualities in me which I never thought existed. Also she guided me to edit the essays and point out the mistakes. Being from a technical background my essays were initially looking very technical. She helped me to correct it in a way by avoiding all the jargons so that it look friendly to the adcom.

Because of my short timeframe I received a low GMAT score, a little below the mid 600s, which was not enough being an over represented demopgrahic, but i still decided to apply with the score. I'm proud to say that I got admitted in Stern even with the low score! I'm starting school this fall :) The main reason for this is because of the other aspects of my application, especially my three essays, for which I will give the full credit to Angela. She is very open and appreciates the good work but at the same time points out things that needs improvement.

If you are really serious in getting in to a business school and you don't have enough time to do your research/study for months and months, it is good to seek some professional help. You will be amazed to see how much difference it makes especially with somebody like Angela.

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Angelia Guido: Honest Feedback, Personalized Approach, and a Great Investment

I took a very rigorous approach in choosing the consultant I wanted to work with. I emailed most all the top firms, and few individual consultants that came recommended from my network or online reviews. In closing, I probably held about 8 informational interviews. I was fairly ready to go with another consultant, but my last call was with Angela, and I couldn’t be more grateful that was the case.

It’s easy to get sold on some other consultancies. I spoke to former admissions committee members at GSB and Wharton, and although I don’t doubt they are extremely competent, the value in an admissions consultant is derived less from their past experience and more from their ability to understand where you’ve come from, where you are now, where you want to go, and how to weave all that together in a personalized brand and story – in short, an ability to connect with you. Luckily, Angela is one of the best story tellers out there.

After five minutes of speaking to Angela it was clear that she was a foot more empathetic, understanding, and interested in my background and story than the other’s I had spoken to. But what most impressed me was the rigor with which she questioned my goals, my strategy, and my motives. You will speak to plenty of “yes people” during this process who tell you how great your profile is and how they can definitely get you into some top programs. Angela was clearly more interested in me as a candidate than having my business, as evidenced by the honest and direct manner with which Angela evaluated my application. This inspired me to work harder, have a greater understanding of myself, and not settle for an essay I wrote that was “good enough.” I can only speak for my experience with Angela, but I suspect she pushes, challenges, and is more direct with her clients than others, which is something I wanted. I suspect there are many admissions consultants who will let an average or good idea slip through to the final application – Angela is not one of those people.

After giving Angela an idea of my story and strategy for the applications, Angela made some crucial tweaks, additions, and omissions that were necessary to get the best information across with the limited word count we are all constricted to. As a disclaimer, none of these accredited firms are going to write your essays for you – that’s not how it works, or how it should work. As expected, these essays were written by me. But Angela’s thought process, guidance, insight, and challenging line of questioning pushed all my stories in a better, or different, direction that didn’t resemble my original drafts – in content, polish, effectiveness, and tone. One specific example stands out which highlights how connected Angela is to her client’s work. We had gone through about four drafts of an essay for a school that was one of my top choices. Although it was a relevant and insightful story, that may well have been good enough, Angela told me we had to scrap it and start over with a new idea. At first I was concerned that we were changing directions with three weeks until the deadline, but upon reflection I agreed - the essay just wasn’t great, and wasn’t going to ever be great because the experience I was writing about just didn’t mean that much to me. To this day I am grateful that Angela pushed me from “good to great,” as the next draft was infinitely more personal and relevant, and I was accepted into the school for which the essay was written.

Overall, I was very pleased with the results. I consider myself a “unique” candidate, as I worked a very different job right out of undergrad (it wasn’t even in the business field) and I had a GPA that was well below the average for all the schools I applied to (although I was a business major). A 730 on the GMAT probably helped my chances, but I definitely needed help in bringing my story together. I basically applied to all schools in the M7 except for MIT, Columbia, and Wharton, and then Stern as well. I got into Kellogg and Stern, and will be attending Kellogg in the fall.

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