Why I Coach—Mary Li
Mary L., an expert Leland coach and Harvard MBA, outlines why she chooses to coach and what it means to her.
By Mary L.
Posted March 6, 2025
I moved from China to the US when I was 11. As an immigrant, education has transformed the trajectory of my life. Through education, I was able to obtain opportunities that I never would have dreamed of as a young girl. I want to create the same access for others so they can also experience the transformative power of education and elevate the direction of their lives.
Over the last fifteen years, I’ve spent extensive time providing pro-bono and volunteer services for various education non-profits, working to increase the quality, accessibility, and affordability of education. Furthermore, most recently, I worked at an ed-tech startup based in San Francisco that provided 1:1 live English lessons to students from 190+ countries all around the world.
I coach because I personally struggled through my business school application process, and I want to make the experience better for others. I remember the process as if it were yesterday. Even before I applied, I was convinced that I wasn’t going to get into any schools. “I’m so average,” “I don’t have real strengths,” and “there are so many more qualified candidates” were frequent thoughts I had. I eventually started working with a coach who helped me feel confident in my candidacy, understand my strengths, and surface my unique qualities in my applications. Without my coach, I would never even have thought to apply to Harvard Business School. Since being accepted and now graduated, I am committed to paying it forward.
I know the application process can be nerve-racking, and I would love to help make the process as enjoyable and painless as possible for you. As your coach, I will be your biggest cheerleader and help you discover and showcase what makes you a compelling candidate to the school of your choice! I love that Leland makes finding a coach more affordable and accessible. I am excited to get to know some of you on this platform!
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Interested in working together on your MBA application? Click here for my Leland coaching profile.
Written by Mary
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I graduated from HBS (Class of '18), and I am passionate to help clients get into their dream school. Last year in 2021, I was one of Leland's Top 15 Coach.😊 Over the last six years, I’ve also helped countless number of clients with their applications and acceptances into HBS, GSB, Wharton, Sloan, Kellogg, Haas, etc. I want to first congratulate you for thinking about applying to business school and investing in yourself! 🎉🎉 An investment in yourself will always pay off! 🤓 Having gone through the business school application process myself, I know how scary and nerve-racking the process can be. I've spent hundreds of hours studying for the GMAT and applying to different business schools! I experienced imposter syndrome and went from someone who didn’t think I would get into any schools to becoming a graduate from one of the top business schools, Harvard Business School. As a coach, I will work with you to help you gain confidence and clarity on who you are as a person and what strengths you can surface in your applications to WOW the admissions committee. Not only will I shepherd you through the process, I will always be your biggest cheerleader! Life is about the journey, and I will most definitely encourage you to enjoy the business school application process as much as possible! You will be surprised at the things you can learn about yourself along the way. I’d be honored to work with applicants of all backgrounds - traditional, non-traditional, immigrants, etc. My style is direct, honest, compassionate, and encouraging. I'm excited to help you achieve your dreams! A bit about myself: I immigrated to the US at 11 to receive a better education. Prior to business school, I worked in investment banking and the airline industry. Post business school, I worked in FinTech and EdTech/Education. In my free time, I volunteer with education and sustainability/green organizations. I enjoy being in nature and outdoors, where I get most of my inspiration from! To make my coaching accessible to everyone, please reach out if you are experiencing financial hardships and I'd be happy to offer a discount!
Mary has helped clients get into organizations like:
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Harvard Business School
The Wharton School (UPenn)
Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern)
Columbia Business School
