B-Schooled: Get Your MBA Admit

The CEO & the Intern: A discussion with 2 Stanford MBAs at Woz AI: B-Schooled episode 284

In this installment of our Paths Less Traveled series, Stacy Blackman talks with both the CEO of AI firm Woz (withwoz.com) and Woz's intern. Ben Collins, the CEO and co-founder of Woz, is also a Stanford GSB alum and discusses the details of his career, how Woz differentiates itself, and why he chose current GSB student George Lankas to intern at his firm despite George's lack of technical background. And George shares why he was interested in working at Woz in parallel with his MBA studies, as well as how his Stanford experience is going so far. This episode also includes details about Stacy Blackman Consulting's new Woz-powered service -- SBC Lab -- and how 5 lucky applicants can pilot this AI-driven MBA-applicant differentiator. Apply before April 13 at https://www.stacyblackman.com/Lab/ !

One MBA, Two Paths: Stanford MBAs on Building Impact Across Business, Wellness & Global Investing with Terry Cumes & Tristen Langley: B-Schooled episode 283

In the second installment of our Paths Less Traveled series, Stacy Blackman interviews Terry Cumes and Tristen Langley, a married couple who share how the same Stanford GSB foundation led one to global wellness entrepreneurship and the other to top-tier technology investing — and what this says about career optionality, partnership, and long-term impact. Here are the full bios for these amazing interviewees: Tristen Langley has over twenty-three years of experience in venture capital, operations, M&A and equities research with leading international investment and technology companies. Langley sourced, led and was operationally involved with private investments that have returned over $5 billion to investors. Tristen Langley holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She completed her graduate studies in software engineering at the Fraunhofer IESE, Germany. She earned a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honors) from the University of New South Wales and was the recipient of the University Medal. Tristen is now the Executive Director and Cofounder of Amalfi Capital Management, Limited. Terry Cumes is an international executive who has built, launched, and managed several global travel and education businesses. Terry is currently the CEO of Willka T'ika Essential Wellness, Peru's original luxury wellness center located in the Sacred Valley. Under Terry's leadership, Willka T'ika welcomes scores of groups each year from around the world. Each group is unique with programmatic themes ranging from yoga and mindfulness to transformative leadership in business. In 2022, Willka T'ika was included in "9 of the World's Best Wellness Retreats" by CNN and nominated "Best Digital Detox Retreat" by Vogue Magazine.

Strategies for handling one of the biggest MBA dilemmas: B-Schooled episode 282

In this episode we discuss 4 things MBA candidates should consider when facing the "Bird in Hand" dilemma: meaning, when they have been admitted to at least one program, but are considering not claiming their spot, forgoing the sure thing and taking the risk of trying again in the future in the hopes of getting into a program they're even more interested in.

Negotiating MBA Merit Scholarships: B-Schooled episode 281

This episode discusses how accepted MBA candidates should go about asking for an increase in merit aid; the four situations a candidate might be in and their associated negotiating tactics; and detailed advice for approaching such an ask over the phone vs. email.

Paths Less Traveled: Paul Earle, Kellogg MBA, Kellogg Faculty Member and GOODLES Cofounder: B-Schooled episode 280

For years, MBA applicants have asked some version of the same question: "What job will I get after graduation?" It's understandable. Recruiting is a visible and important part of the MBA experience. But after decades working with business school graduates, Stacy Blackman has noticed something more interesting: the most meaningful MBA outcomes rarely follow a straight line. That's the premise behind Paths Less Traveled, a new B-Schooled podcast series launching this week. Each episode features conversations with MBA alumni whose careers evolved in unexpected directions over time. These aren't "first job after school" stories. They're about optionality, reinvention, and what happens when you treat the MBA as a long-term foundation rather than a short-term placement service. The series kicks off with Paul Earle, a Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management alum and Stacy's former classmate, who went on to found one of the fastest-growing emerging consumer brands in the U.S. His company, GOODLES, reimagines mac and cheese as a better-for-you product, and his current obsession is the Thrilled Cheese variety. But the conversation goes deeper than product launches. Paul reflects on what business school actually gave him: "I barely remember the technical classroom frameworks and methods and models. I vividly remember the friends I made and perspectives I gained and world I discovered. One of the best things I have ever done." It's a perspective that reframes what ROI on an MBA can actually look like, and one that applicants don't always encounter early in the process. If you've been thinking about the MBA primarily in terms of your first post-graduation role, this series is worth your time.