Top Expert
Work with Sherri
About
Customer favorite
In the top 10% of MBA experts on Leland
Today, I am dedicated to assisting professionals in not only elevating their own lives but also benefiting the world. As an admissions coach with over 15 years of tremendous success helping 1000+ traditional and non-traditional candidates - including hundreds of successful admits to M7 programs - I am uniquely qualified to help MBA candidates from all career paths and backgrounds to achieve success in their applications to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT, Booth, Columbia, and others. My ultimate goal is to empower professionals to maximize their MBA journey, shaping meaningful, purpose-driven futures that resonate with their values and aspirations, while contributing positively to the world. However, the life journey I took to become a top MBA admissions coach helps me appreciate and respect my clients' breadth and range. Growing up in the vibrant and culturally rich environment of Chicago instilled in me the values of hard work, reliability, and the transformative power of education. From an early age, I witnessed how perseverance and learning could open doors and create opportunities. These principles guided me through my time at the University of Illinois, where I pursued a degree in materials engineering. While juggling rigorous academics, I also worked in an R&D lab to fund my education and served as director of a Presidential award-winning student-run corporation that championed community volunteerism. After graduation, I ventured to Southern California to launch a career in aerospace manufacturing and materials research. Leading a product development team deepened my fascination with business decision-making, prompting me to earn an MBA at the Merage School of Management in Irvine. This expanded my career into diverse roles, spanning aerospace product management, IT product management, rapid prototyping business development, intrapreneurship, entrepreneurship, and consulting. Along the way, I became captivated by empowering individuals to align their MBA education and future careers with their creativity and passions. I joined one of the pioneers in the MBA consulting industry and, after 17 years of success, am thrilled to be working with future business leaders at Leland!
Sherri’s MBA Qualifications
Coaches professionally
100+ MBA clients
Sherri has helped clients get into these schools:
With 17 years of admissions consulting experience at a top-ranked firm, advising more than 1,000 candidates and guiding hundreds to M7 and other top-20 MBA programs, I offer a strategic partnership grounded in clarity, efficiency, and long-term career architecture. I have worked with candidates from every background and career path, and I understand how personal and high-stakes this process can feel. My work begins well before essays are drafted. Drawing on a 40-year career spanning engineering, corporate strategy, product leadership, and entrepreneurial ventures, I help you think through not only where you can gain admission, but where you can build meaningful, lasting leverage. Rather than focusing narrowly on one or two programs, we thoughtfully evaluate Full-Time, Part-Time, Executive, and alternative pathways to determine what truly aligns with your goals and life circumstances. I invest deeply in front-end strategy: clarifying your demonstrated strengths, modeling realistic career trajectories, and developing a clear positioning thesis. When that foundation is strong, the writing becomes more natural and efficient. I do not believe in endless cycles of edits. I believe in doing the hard thinking upfront so the messaging reflects who you genuinely are and what you bring. Whether you are a traditional applicant or come from a less conventional background, I serve as both strategic advisor and steady project partner. You can expect candid feedback, structured planning, and focused refinement that surfaces your authentic value. I will not write your essays for you, but I will challenge and support you in ways that help you see your story more clearly than you have before.
Sherri can help with:
Application Strategy
Cover Letters
Ding Analysis
Editing
Essays
Financial Aid & Scholarships
General Exploration
Interviews
Networking Strategy
Recommendations
Resume
School Selection
Secondary Review
Supplementary Materials
Waitlist Strategy
Why do I coach?
I have always found profound inspiration in the transformative power of human connection. Throughout my personal, academic, and professional journey, I have been blessed to meet individuals who, at pivotal moments, shared their wisdom and guidance, propelling me forward when I stood at a crossroads. These experiences not only shaped my path but also ignited a passion for helping others in the same way. My superpower is helping people look beyond the obstacles or uncertainties they may currently face. I guide them to discover the best parts of themselves, craft a compelling vision for a more exciting and fulfilling future, and equip them with the tools to communicate their aspirations confidently. For clients seeking admission to top MBA programs, I focus on helping them authentically tell their story in a way that demonstrates their unique personality, fit, highlights their long-term value to their programs of greatest interest, and resonates with admissions committees. Coaching isn't just a profession for me; it's a calling to empower others to realize their enormous potential.
Work Experience
Principal Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting
November 2007 - August 2025
Provided personalized application strategy, school selection guidance, essay advice, resume preparation, and interview training for aspiring professionals seeking admittance into top-tier MBA programs.
President
Divine Products
2005 - 2009
Hiring Manager
Launched High Performance, Eco-Friendly Materials Sales Company Serving Hospitality, Cruise Line and Restaurant Design Marketplaces
Director, Business Development
Spectrum 3D
2003 - 2005
Hiring Manager
Privately-held Stereolithography, Rapid Prototyping and Limited Production Manufacturing Company servicing Defense Contractors, Consumer Electronics and Biomedical Device Manufacturing Markets.
Product Manager
Choice Point
1998 - 2000
Directed 15-person matrix team that developed and launched flagship Web-enabled database and generated periodic software and data releases. Established project scope, milestones, budgets, and deliverables. Oversaw release management, and sales/service training.
Materials Engineer
McDonnell Douglas Launch Systems
1987 - 1995
Led research and development initiatives for advanced materials and processes on missile defense programs. Supported design and manufacturing efforts for Delta and Titan launch vehicles and Space Station Program.
Education
Paul Merage School of Business
MBA, General Management
1991 - 1994
Activities and societies: Beta Gamma Sigma
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
BS, Materials Engineering
1980 - 1984
Activities and societies: Volunteer Illini Projects - Director 1982-1984 Student-run corporation that coordinated efforts of student volunteers for community service outreach activities such as blood drives, senior citizen care, meal distribution to the disabled and inmate GED tutoring and pen pal programs.
5.0 average review
54 reviews
Overall rating
Sherri has helped clients get into these schools:
Sherri’s Leland+ Resources
Access expert resources from Sherri and hundreds of other coaches on Leland+
MBA Application Sprint (September 30-October 2) Kickoff
20 views
How Top MBA Applicants Nail “Why MBA” and “Why Now”
0 views
Beyond the MBA: Building a Career Story Schools Want to Invest In
2 views
Get Into Your Dream School: Writing Powerful MBA Essays Panel
12 views
No posts yet
When Sherri posts, it will show up here.