28,622Leland Reviews

Michael managed a career development program I completed as a college student. A core memory of that experience was Michael sitting through a 1:1 call with me to help edit a capstone presentation. This call helped improve my slide deck design, storytelling, and research. His advice was honest and actionable - leading to me getting positive reviews on that presentation. The program he facilitated also put me in touch with employees at a major telecom, allowing me to land an internship the following summer. I can confidently vouch for Michael's mentorship, and he would be a great addition to the Leland roster.

Harikesh helped me prepare for my interviews and played a huge role in building my technical and behavioral skills. He walked me through concepts, shared his own experiences, and made sure I understood how to approach questions with confidence. Everything I know about the interview process started with his guidance.

Working with Madisen was one of the most pivotal parts of my GSB application journey as a first-gen applicant. She has a rare ability to help you uncover your story in a way that feels deeply authentic. She pushed me to reflect on who I am and why my experiences matter, and her thoughtful guidance helped me bring that to life on the page. She invests a ton of time in her clients, and you feel it from the very first call. I can’t recommend Madisen enough, and I’m genuinely grateful for having her as a coach and mentor.

Michael was a big part of my transition into tech. I had zero experience and decided to jump in head first in my early 40s from decades of bartending. He helped me immensly during my journey as well as offering support, encouragement, and useful advise when I was looking for a role after my course was complete. He and the team taught me and guided me in a way that allowed me to land my first job in tech with the actual word "engineer" in it. That was no easy feat. Today 4 years later, with the foundation Michael helped me build, I am 3 promotions in and covering one of the largest global system integrators (GSI) partners in the world, and have no intention of stopping there. Thanks Micheal for all the support, encouragement, and knowledge that are still given years beyond our time together. Whomever you are working with today is lucky to have crossed paths with you.

I had graduated from Howard University, enrolled in a Master’s program in Psychology, dropped out, and settled into a job that didn’t match my goals or my potential. I was a business analyst making about $50,000 a year. I reached out to David for coaching, and that decision changed everything. He walked me through the realities of my career path; the psychology behind my choices, and the long-term impact of each direction I was considering. He helped me see the bigger picture and showed me that returning to Howard to finish my degree in psychology was not only possible, but the best decision for my future. He reviewed every document, helped me strengthen my application, and I was accepted back into the program. After graduating, I talked to him again about what came next, and together we mapped out a path toward a PhD. Pursuing my doctorate felt intimidating at first, but with his guidance, strategy, and constant support, I completed my PhD, became a psychologist, and opened my own practice. Today I make more money than I ever imagined; I travel the world, and I live a life that feels aligned with who I’m meant to be. I’m also proud to say that I’m a Forbes Lister; something I would have never pursued without his direction and belief in my potential. I don’t usually make major life decisions without speaking to David first. His insight is unmatched, his honesty is grounding, and his guidance has shaped my life in ways I can’t fully express. I’m truly grateful for him, and I can’t recommend him enough.

I’ve trusted Dr. Castain for years, and he has been one of the most consistent sources of guidance in both my career and my education. When I told him I wanted to start giving back and building my professional portfolio, he immediately brought me into the David Castain Foundation as an intern and created space for me to contribute to meaningful community work. Since then, he’s helped me refine my resume, strengthen my positioning, and navigate every major career pivot I’ve made in the tech world, from interview prep to strategy to understanding my value. With his insight, I’ve landed roles at companies like Google and Meta, and every time I’ve needed counsel on challenges at work or decisions about my next move, he’s the first person I call. When I decided to pursue my MBA at Georgetown, he reviewed my materials, gave me clear direction, and wrote my recommendation letter, and I was ultimately accepted into the program. He has also advised me on my entrepreneurial interests, including e-commerce, branding, and social media strategy. Whether I’m building something new or stepping into a different stage of my career, his perspective has always helped me move with more intention and confidence. Dr. Castain has a way of seeing your potential before you fully recognize it yourself, and he guides you in a way that feels both empowering and honest. He’s been a mentor, a sounding board, and someone I deeply trust with my career development. Anyone who gets the chance to work with him is in good hands.

Harikesh is an incredibly talented and hard-working man who has been able to crack the industry with an incredibly unique and powerful approach. The fact that he has gotten so many job offers at various large corporate and within several different positions goes to show that he knows exactly what he’s doing and is why I chose to work with him. Before we started working together, I was struggling with even getting initial interview interviews. But within just a few weeks of working together, I was able to make it to my second round interview at an ideal dream position. I 100% recommend him to anyone looking to fast track their success in the corporate world. Thanks Harikesh!

Harikesh is an exceptionally insightful and effective coach. He knows case interviews inside and out and brings tremendous value when it comes to resume refinement and behavioral preparation. He helped sharpen the messaging on my resume, guided me through my behavioral responses, and coached me extensively on casing in the weeks leading up to my BCG interviews. One of Harikesh’s standout strengths is his computer science background. For candidates coming from non-traditional paths, this is incredibly helpful: he understands how to translate technical or unconventional experiences into compelling stories. His unique perspective also allows him to break down cases from multiple angles and teach them in an intuitive, structured way. I began preparing later than I should have and was extremely nervous, but his methodical approach took me from feeling overwhelmed to being a confident caser in a very short time. Thanks to his guidance, I was able to land a BCG internship with just 2–3 weeks of preparation. Highly recommend to anyone looking for clear, strategic coaching and fast, meaningful improvement.

Harikesh is incredibly knowledgeable and brings a unique, effective approach to preparation. His advice on networking and setting clear outreach goals, including how many people to contact and who to prioritize, helped me build connections with MDs and VPs at firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS, and many more. Those relationships turned into referrals and ultimately interviews. He also lays out exactly what to focus on for interview prep and conducts mock interviews with the questions I’m most likely to face. Whenever I follow his guidance, I land an offer.

Harikesh was an exceptional coach! With his guidance, I was able to manage and accrue multiple offers at top-tier companies, including Google. He was also instrumental in helping me significantly improve my behavioral skills, which was key to my success in the interview process. I highly recommend him as a coach