The mbaMission Podcast
Every Tuesday, The mbaMission Podcast delivers expert, unfiltered insights into the world of elite business school admissions. Hosted by Senior Admissions Consultant Harold Simansky alongside mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald, the show strips away the guesswork of applying to top-tier MBA programs. Through candid conversations, timely market updates, and exclusive interviews with top admissions directors and industry insiders, Harold and the team break down every piece of the application mosaic—from essay drafting and resume optimization to interview preparation and post-MBA career mapping. Whether you are a traditional candidate aiming to differentiate yourself or a unique applicant navigating the process for the first time, The mbaMission Podcast is your definitive, go-to resource for actionable strategies, data-backed advice, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to get accepted to your dream school.
Episodes
109 episodes
How to Avoid Business School Application Mistakes | Ep 109
In this episode, listeners learn how to optimize the formatting of their resume, strategically handle issues with their transcript, and make their short-answer responses effective.Host and mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald talks with E...
Understanding the Case Method with HBS Professor Joshua Margolis | Ep 108
What is the case method, and how does it work at Harvard Business School (HBS)? Plus, what should MBA applicants know before they enroll?In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission Executive Di...
Real Estate as an MBA Career Path with Frank Cohen | Ep 107
Is real estate a feasible career path for MBA students? And how can one break into the industry?In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald speak with Frank Cohen, a Bo...
Why “Nontraditional” MBA Applicants Don't Exist (And What Does) | Ep 106
Are any MBA applicants truly “nontraditional” applicants?In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky is joined by Jeremy Shinewald, the founder of mbaMission, to examine a common notion in MBA admissions: that of ...
The Truth About Informal Business School Endorsements | Ep 105
What role do informal letters of recommendation play in business school admissions decisions? Host Harold Simansky is joined by Melissa Blakeslee, an experienced MBA admissions consultant and former admissions director, to clarify w...
MBA Networking That Leads to Referrals | Ep 104
How can MBA applicants and business school students network effectively?In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and Jessica Shklar, mbaMission Executive Director, speak with Jeff Yolen, CEO and founder of...
How to Define Your Post-MBA Career Goals | Ep 103
How do you figure out what your post-MBA career goals should be when you only know you want change but do not yet understand what that change entails?In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky speaks with Melissa...
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Reapplying to Business School: MBA Admissions Strategies for Reapplicants | Ep. 102
Many successful MBA applicants were not accepted the first time they applied.In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Executive Director Jessica Shklar and Senior Admission...
From Rejection to Partner: 32 Years at Boston Consulting Group | Ep. 101
What does it really take to make partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and stay with the firm for more than three decades without losing yourself? Debbie Lovich, BCG managing director and senior partner, joins host Harold Simansky and mbaMis...
100 Episodes Later – Reflections, Lessons, and What Comes Next
In this milestone 100th episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission founder Jeremy Shinewald reflect on more than two years of MBA admissions insights. They share favorite moments, discuss what sets applicant...
Product Management as an MBA Career Path | Ep 99
Think product management is just a Silicon Valley thing? Think again. In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Managing Director Rachel Beck and host Harold Simansky break down one of the most in-demand post-MBA career paths that mos...
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HBS Professor on AI, Leadership and the Future of the MBA | Ep 98
What does the future of business school look like? Harvard Business School Professor Joshua Margolis joins host Harold Simansky and MBA Admissions Executive Director Jessica Shklar to explore how AI is reshaping the MBA experience.Joshu...
What Business Schools Really Want: The Truth About Extracurriculars | Ep 97
Business schools ask about your activities outside of work but what are they really looking for?In this episode, host Harold Simansky is joined by MBA Admissions Executive Director Jessica Shklar and MBA Admissions Managing Director Rac...
EP 96 | MBA Rejections Explained: Why You Got Dinged and How to Improve Your Business SchoolApplication
Getting rejected from business school can feel discouraging but it’s often a signal, not a setback.In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky is joined by Senior MBA Admissions Consultant Nisha Trivedi and MBA Admiss...
Ep 95 | Harvard Business School vs Stanford GSB
Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business sit at the very top of the MBA world—but the experience at each school can be dramatically different.In this episode of the mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky and J...
Ep 94 | MBA Reapplication Strategy: What Successful Reapplicants Do Differently
What should you do if your first MBA application cycle did not go as planned?In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald and MBA Admissions Managing Director Debbie Cho...
Ep 93 | What Makes a Great MBA Admissions Consultant? Experience, Strategy, and Expertise
How do you choose the right MBA admissions consultant, and what separates experienced advisors from newcomers to the industry?In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission founder Jeremy Shinewal...
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Ep 92 | Finance Applicants Beyond Private Equity: How to Stand Out in MBA Admissions
Private equity often dominates the MBA admissions conversation — but finance is far broader than PE alone.In this episode, host Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald and Senior MBA Admissions Consultant Julie-A...
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Ep 91 | West Coast MBA Programs You Are Probably Not Considering (But Should)
West Coast MBA programs offer more than just proximity to tech. In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky is joined by MBA Admissions Managing Director Debbie Choy to explore the distinctive culture, career pathways, and h...
Ep 90 | Navigating DEI in MBA Admissions: Advice for Today’s Applicants
DEI may be under scrutiny, but diversity hasn’t disappeared from MBA admissions — it’s evolving.In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky speaks with Senior MBA Admissions Consultant Nisha Trivedi and MBA Admissions...
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Ep 89 | Stanford GSB Interview Breakdown
What makes the Stanford GSB interview so different from every other MBA interview?In this episode of the mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky sits down with Senior Admissions Consultants Christine Patel and Julie-Anne Heafey to unpack Sta...
Ep 88 | Exploring the EMBA
In this week’s episode of the @mbaMission podcast, the team takes a deep dive into Executive MBA (EMBA) programs and how they compare to part-time, full-time, and mid-career MBA options. Jeremy Shinewald and Harold Simansky are joined by Senior...
Ep 87 | The US MBA Visa Maze
The U.S. MBA visa process can feel overwhelming for international applicants—but it’s far more navigable than many assume. In this episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harshad Mali, Harold Simansky, and Jeremy Shinewald break down the full U.S. M...
Ep 86 | When is the right time to apply to business school?
Timing your MBA application can be just as important as your credentials. Applying too early—or too late—can affect everything from your testing strategy to your chances in a competitive applicant pool. In this episode of the mbaMission podcast...
Ep 85 | Why Mid-career Pros Choose These Business Schools
Mid-career MBA programs offer a very different experience from traditional two-year MBAs—and for the right candidates, they can be transformational. In this episode of the mbaMission Podcast, hosts Jeremy Shinewald and Harold Simansky...
