Brian Birdwell

I had the pleasure of working with Brian on my MBA application and was able to receive acceptance letters from both Wharton (UPenn) and HBS (Harvard)!
I ended up choosing to work with Brian because first, other firms that I’ve talked to felt very much like a factory, where I felt rushed to make a decision to commit to them. Many mentioned fees and deposits before being interested in my motivation behind applying to MBA programs. Secondly, I watched Angela’s YouTube videos and she was so energetic and I loved how she would call out that MBA is not for everyone. From her videos, I could tell that this firm would honestly tell me if this were not the right path, and they would tell me that my essay sucks if it does. Lastly, on the website I found information about how Brian (or any other coaches) will never change your wording, which I really loved. MBA essays are supposed to be an expressive piece of writing that incorporates who I am, but if I sound like an AI/ some mass produced essay, it will not do its job. I felt even more confident committing to Brian and Career Protocol after seeing this.
Throughout the process of working with Brian, he was very responsive and attentive. I loved the discovery process, where we walked through my entire life together and picked out some pivotal moments and lessons. Brian at some point was able to recite my life better than I could because that’s the level of attention to details he has given to my profile, LOVED the sense of deeper connection. He invoked some great questions to extract insights and I think this way of reflecting on my life events is a lifelong skill that I will continue practicing even after MBA applications. In editing the essays, Brian was able to recall any details or comments I have forgotten to edit and he will say that an essay needs more drafts when it does, regardless of how quickly the deadlines are approaching. His level of attention did not regress even after applications were submitted, so he helped me through interview preparations, as well as waitlist process.
I highly recommend 1) to get help with MBA applications to maximize the chances of getting into a program of your dream, and 2) if getting a coach, work with Brian. I enjoyed every single step along my MBA application journey with Brian and happy to have shared the results with him after 9+ months of hard work.

I had the pleasure to have Brian as my MBA coach. I had really high stress levels and was not confident at all with my profile (other MBA coaches rejected me because of my GRE), but he was able to calm me down and help me find the way to build a strong profile, increase my confidence, and have fun while doing it. With Brian’s way of giving feedback ( really objective, direct, and critical) I was able to bring out the best of me and reflect it in my application. At the end, I was able to achieve more than I expected, I got in to my dream school and I even got a 50% tuition scholarship ( in a school that doesn’t usually give scholarships). In addition to the amazing coaching experience with Brian, I was surprised by all the resources available in the Carrier Protocol platform. I found this a really useful tool that allows you to go as deep as you wish (and 24/7 availability) in learning how to strengthen your profile and abilities. This platform complemented Brian’s coaching in a perfect way.

I still can’t believe how meaningful and game-changer Brian’s counseling was for my MBA admission process. The bottom line: I got a scholarship of $70k at Haas and admission to my dream program at London Business School.

My MBA admission process started with another consultant who was very discouraging because of my low GRE scores. He told me not to even waste my time with LBS and suggested Florida instead…

But then I met Angela and Career Protocol. She matched me with Brian and my journey started. Working with Career Protocol and Brian was a transformative experience for me – they coached me to know myself better and my self-esteem grew a lot through the process. I started unsure of what value I would add to the class and I finished with a clear understanding of what matters to me and the value that my experiences have to offer to my classmates.

The Awesome Sauce call (or kick-off call), where Brian presented my life story back to me, was particularly meaningful. It helped me realize how much people mean to me, how passionate and also empathetic I am, and how one of my biggest strengths is in connecting with people.

Brian also gave me the best advice for handling the GRE and helped me stop going crazy with it.
During the whole process, he was optimistic and realistic. Not discouraging and not just a cheerleader for taking the biggest risks with the schools I applied to. Brian pushed me to chase my dreams and also to hedge with some other schools (though not Florida).

One thing I’d say to people getting started with applications is to change their mindset from “how can I make these adcoms like me” to “how can I be most myself”, and that was one of the most important mindset changes that I developed thanks to Career Protocol.

I will forever be grateful to Brian and Angela.

Thanks CP!

If you are reading this and debating whether you should work with Brian, let me save you the trouble and just say, sign up ASAP! If you don’t believe me, the results speak for themselves. I got admitted at Kellogg with a $20K scholarship and I’m still waitlisted at Booth and Columbia (I already know where I’m going :P)

I come from one of the most over-represented cohorts on the planet – hello, my Indian engineering brothers out there!- and being a reapplicant with just a 710 GMAT, I know that if it weren’t for Brian, I don’t think I would be going to Kellogg.

But beyond the admit, I’m most grateful to Brian for changing the way I write and express myself. It is something my friends and family have noticed about and is something I’m going to carry for the rest of my life. So, if you are in a time crunch and need to get to it, please set up and introductory call with Brian, if you want to learn a bit more about my journey read on!

I decided to give the M7 dream another shot this round, and I knew I needed help. Career Protocol caught my eye with their quirky website, but more importantly, I resonated deeply with their focus on authenticity. In our first call, it was clear that Brian had taken the time to understand me and my interests. I found talking to him was comfortable from the get-go, unlike some other consultants who offered templated answers.

I struggled to improve my GMAT score, but Brian’s optimism and unfiltered advice helped me keep my sanity. He encouraged me to switch to round 2 and switch to the GRE. It was uncomfortable, but his clarity and conviction convinced me it was the right move. He was my cheerleader, and eventually, I hit a 335 on the GRE. Suddenly, I felt like an M7 was within reach, something I wouldn’t have dared to apply to with a 710 GMAT.

Even though I’ve secured admission to Kellogg, I’m grateful to Brian for helping me change my storytelling ability and guiding me on writing in the right voice. I’ve learned so much about myself, becoming a more capable professional in the process. When my mom and sister read my final drafts and said, “you actually sound like a human being instead of a robot,” I knew I had a real shot.

From being a sounding board to a guiding light to helping me transform professionally, I truly thank Brian for being a part of my application journey. In this confusing space of MBA applications, he made sure that I crossed the finish line, motivating me when needed and providing clear, direct feedback.

I genuinely believe that Brian is an actual wizard! If anyone wants to make their MBA application journey truly worthwhile, do an introductory chat with him—I promise you’ll be in excellent hands. I couldn’t have done it without Brian!

I choose Career Protocol after speaking with several other consultants because of the welcoming and contagious energy that Angela has throughout the Career Protocol brand and her contents. When I spoke with Angela for the very first time, my hopes of getting in to the top schools jumped up way more than I thought initially. I didn’t feel this with other consultants.

Then I met Brian to start out the application process. Besides having an impressive and cool background himself, my favorite thing about Brian is that he is genuinely interested in people, and you will feel that he cares about you and your story more than anybody else. He gives you the floor to make you feel heard. Having somebody know your story is quite special. It felt like we were in this together, my story was being heard and that we were in this together, to win, and win we did! The essay revisions with him felt challenging and tough but when I saw the final draft, I realized the growth in my personality. I learned so much about the art of storytelling. I thought I had my goals figured out but working with Brian made my WHY so much more concrete that it boosted my confidence even more. This is exactly what you need in this difficult time. He has been a self-discovery architect to me, and I feel privileged to have known him and felt his energy as a coach and now as a friend.

I think one of the most special parts of this journey is filling out the Self Discovery document that forces you to self-reflect on your life, values, and goals. This is unique to Career Protocol and arguably one of the best things you will do at a pivot point in your life. The MBA journey is about more than just getting admitted to your dream schools. It is a self-development and self-brand journey and I truly believe that Brian and Career Protocol’s content have set me up with a strong foundation to face the challenges that lie ahead. I would do it all over again!

For reference, I applied to 8 schools, interviewed with 6, got accepted to 4 with 3 scholarship offers (including a full tuition at one), and waitlisted at 1.

In my previous life, I was a Division 1 athlete. I know well that the best coaches can help the bottom of the barrel, average, and the best athletes become world-class champions. This is Brian. He has helped many people (no matter their ability level) get into the very top MBA programs including Harvard and Wharton. He helped me overcome a major weakness: my GRE score. Many other consultants and GRE tutors told me I wouldn’t be able to get into the top 10 MBA programs. Brian didn’t blink. He was honest but also believed he could help me reach my goal. For that, I’ll forever be grateful. The result was more than I expected, I had choices to make and each school I got into offered me great scholarship amounts.

In addition, Brian not only helped me achieve my dream but also helped me grow as a person. I wasn’t going to work with any consultant, however, when I met Brian, I knew I would gain something more than an MBA admission to a top program. Brian helped me work through challenges I had at work, coached me on how to advocate for myself, and taught me how to convey my results with confidence yet humility. All are skills I will use to build a successful career beyond my MBA.

His feedback was amazing. He asked me a lot of challenging questions, which made me think deeply about my past experiences and life events. It helped me put to words past successes and failures. In addition, it really helped me understand how my past has shaped where I want to go in the future. It also helped me appreciate my most painful moments as I grew the most during those times. The essays we produced are something I’m proud of and will read happily again in the future as I reflect back on this process.

Lastly, he helped me believe in myself. He believed in me when I didn’t and encouraged me to keep going. This process is tough and to have someone in your corner who deeply cares about your success was something I’m beyond grateful for. I couldn’t have done it without Brian!

I began working with Brian at a vulnerable point in my life. I was recently unemployed with no expectations of getting a new job before applying. I also didn’t have a test score yet, I had no recognizable brands on my resume (schools or employers), I knew my post-MBA goals would need a lot of fleshing out and explaining, and that I’d only attend business school if I got a large scholarship.

What I did have was a lot of free time and a unique life story that I thought could lead to good results. I spent weeks interviewing a dozen or so of the top-ranked consultants on this site. A few told me what I wanted to hear to try to get my business. Most didn’t want to work with someone who had such a messy story. One of the most prominent groups went as far as to say that I probably wouldn’t get into any T15 schools and that I had a “0% chance” at M7 schools.

When I met with Brian, he didn’t say anything about potential results. All he promised was that we’d work tirelessly to tell my story in a compelling and authentic manner. Recognizing that that’s all anyone can promise, I signed up and never looked back.

Our first task was to go through my entire life and career to date, diving deep into stories that I had never thought would be relevant for applications. It didn’t take long to realize Brian is otherworldly intelligent (780 GMAT/99th percentile GRE and LSAT). But he’s not just intelligent in a fill-in-the-bubble kind of way. He’s intelligent in a pierce-through-the-nonsense (like my initial essay drafts which were flowery garbage) kind of way.

Brian quickly connected the dots between my life events in a way that I hadn’t connected in my head, and together, we worked on a story arc that fit my school’s essay prompts.

When writing this review, I looked back at the very first essay I ever sent Brian and then at the final draft of that essay that I submitted months later. There were eleven revisions in between. And, goodness, I’m surprised it only took eleven revisions. The difference between the two essays is enormous.

About seven or eight drafts in, I really thought the essay was done, and that it couldn’t get any better. It would’ve been easy for Brian to agree with me and for him to move on with his day, but he didn’t. I’d be shocked if Brian has ever used the phrase “it’s good enough.” Brian’s high standards, while tiring at times, led not only to incredible results (more on that later) but also taught me to communicate better which has been valuable even outside of the application process.

Brian is unique in that while he’s not laid back with the work itself, he’s very laid personality-wise. I didn’t realize how important this would be when I was interviewing admissions consultants. The application process is long and stressful, and it’s super valuable to have someone in your corner who doesn’t add to that stress.

I worked with Brian on three schools, two M7s and one T10. I got full rides from all three. I also applied to eigh schools on my own and got into six of them with five full scholarships and one-half scholarship. In total, I received $1.4M in scholarship offers and will be attending an M7 school on a full ride this fall. None of this would have been possible without Brian. Working with him changed the course of my life and I’ll always be grateful for that.

I really enjoyed working with Brian. Even though honestly it can be costy to work with an admission consultant or coach, I have absolutely no regret signing in up with Brian for this daunting journey. The results speak themselves – I got admitted into 3 out of the 5 schools (no “safety school”) that I applied to, with $$ from one of them. Later on, Brian helped me draft a letter to get a scholarship from my dream school (a M7), and we made it!

I chose to work with Career Protocol because their philosophy aligns with my value. I wanted to stay authentic in the application, and let the schools decide whether they wanted me. Before deciding to work with Brian, I researched about him online. He didn’t go to b-school and never worked as an AdCom member. Some people might think it’s a downside. However, he has very diverse experience in life and career. I personally believed a coach like him could help me better extract the essence of my stories and ensure connections to my true self, instead of trying hard to fit me into a box that looks pretty to AdComs. And I was right. Brian fully respected my voice. At first, I worried that I didn’t have great stories to tell. But he helped me dig deeper to reveal my value and highlight the leadership potential in me by asking critical questions. During assay writing, I learned how to make a bridge between my stories and who I am and connect them with the qualities that schools are seeking in applicants. This skill is valuable beyond b-school application.

In addition, as a person who tend to amplify all the little imperfection and possibility of failure, I was extra stressed and anxious working on applications. Brian acted as my anti-paranoia pill. If he told me to not worry about something, even my below average GMAT score, I was able to have a more peaceful mind and focus on more important things. And later the reality proved that he was correct. The confidence I gained by talking with him carried more weight, as he didn’t sugarcoat anything. I probably wouldn’t be able to stay mentally healthy as I did, if not because of him.

Personalized introspective MBA application experience with stellar outcomes.

One of the amazing things about Brian and the Career Protocol team is that they helped me whittle the many vast ideas in my brain down to concise essays that got results. Results including acceptances from 7 out of the 8 programs I applied to, with 5 of them offering me scholarships totaling $500,000. I went from worrying about not getting in anywhere to getting in virtually everywhere I applied. Acceptances included: Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Ross, Johnson, Fuqua. Brian helped me through the process end to end, and I wholeheartedly recommend Brian Birdwell at Career Protocol.

But since essays are done, here are some bullet points that describe how amazing it was to work with Brian:
• When I initially decided to apply to MBA programs and work with Brian and the Career Protocol team, I didn’t know what I was getting into but took a leap of faith. I am so glad I did.
• When I decided to go forward with applying to MBA programs, I felt behind. Brian accelerated my process to apply to 8 schools during ONE ROUND. He helped me through the journey by meeting me where I was at. He knocked it out of the park.
• Brian keeps it real. He is very down to earth and easy to talk to. This was so helpful for me to be able to be authentic with him, the process, and my applications.
• He was firm when needed and encouraging when I felt down.
• Brian knows and has in-depth experience with the application process, enabling him to help me maintain the right mindset and avoid overthinking.
• Brian is organized, thorough, sharp, and really knows his stuff. He’s extremely talented and smart. He kept the process lighthearted, which helped me relax. I definitely needed the humor and those laughs!
• He is RELIABLE. I would hear back from him quickly with updates. Communication felt easy.
• Scheduling video calls was easy, even with my busy schedule. Him being based in the United States / the time zones worked well for me.
• He was one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout this process and helped motivate me to keep pushing forward. This helped me cross each hurdle, especially when it came time for interviews.
• He focused on me and who I am rather than using a school focused lens throughout the process. It helped me reframe my thinking toward what I have to offer and who I am vs. trying to say things that I think the school wants to hear. He genuinely cares.
• He offers great practical advice that I took to heart. Also, lots of great wisdom that I’ll cherish.
• As we combed through the details of my life, the ups and downs, and dug into who I am as a person, I noticed his incredible attention to detail and story crafting abilities. When we would brainstorm together, he would bring up things about me that I was sure that he wouldn’t have remembered. Goes to show how much he cares and how personalized they make this experience.
• Somehow Brian knew the right way to support me… pumping me up when I’m down, reminding me that I really don’t have to be so self-critical, also sharing KEY ADVICE to act as if each interview is my only interview…. Totally immerse myself in the school’s program for the 48 hours prior to the interview and only think about that school (because he noticed I was getting distracted thinking about other schools). SERIOUSLY such good advice that stuck with me and I adhered to it!!!!
• Truly listened to me. Got to know me and focused on looking at this as the whole package.
• Built my confidence to meet people, talk to admissions, talk to other candidates. Made friends!!!
• Networking, campus visits, school research… guided me through it all! All the materials were so helpful.
• Resume – killer job helping me with one of the things I dreaded and put off THE MOST.
• Stories – many times I wanted to give up. But we kept going.
• Knew how to cut the right corners for me and focus on the right things at the right times.
• Brian offered encouragement and praise where he saw I was progressing. It may sound funny, but not only did it help motivate me, but it also demonstrates how much he cares and how much attention to detail he is giving. To be able to comment on someone’s improvements takes time and it takes knowing the person to have something to compare against.
• Brian offered critiques and was a straight shooter when I was way off (e.g., stories, essays, video essays, interview mindset & approach)
• Short responses / mini essays – they sneak up and can be a lot. Did a great job working through this with me and really the whole package end to end.
• Interviews + Mock Interviews – practiced interviewing with Brian over video calls. Very helpful to get in the right headspace and think about how to approach it. By the time interviews came around, we had done so much self-reflection and digging deep into my values as a person that the interviews were an easier lift than I expected. And more enjoyable 🙂
• I had some atypical interviews but rolled with them. Brian would check in on me, provide his thoughts on my reflection, etc. He was there every step of the way.
• Strategized applications together for 4 schools that I applied to independently. Got into all of them! Got into 3 of the 4 I worked closely with him on. This was where the real leg work was done.
• This process revealed a lot about myself and pushed me to grow. I didn’t know how hard it would be. I also did not know how much I would get out of it with them. Truly 10/10.
• These are good people that I trust. I have already recommended them to my friends.

Last words. I had the rare opportunity to work with both Brian Birdwell and Angela Guido. You both amaze me. The speed at which you’re able to think, your relaxed demeanor, the enthusiasm you have. I hope it never dies for either of you. You are both such wonderful, talented, kind people. I can never share my appreciation enough.

Thank you both for taking a chance on me. Brian, I really cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness, wisdom, kindness, empathy, enthusiasm, and downright hard work. You really went above and beyond for me when I know you didn’t have to.

I remember showing my significant other one of your emails, and him being really impressed. Several times he has mentioned that it seems like I’m getting exceptional value for the investment.

You both always have people’s best interest at heart.

Brian truly embodies the “Under-commit and OVER Deliver” spirit, and the career protocol package is both super-detailed and truly end-to-end (they guide on everything: from deciding which schools to apply for  to now sharing tips on how to maximize the next 2 years).

Top 3 value adds for me: helping me improve my GMAT score from 740 to 770 (V47!!), helping me find my calling and encouraging me to make a pre-MBA pivot from consulting to Venture Capital, and of course, helping me land an offer from my dream school, Booth!
I applied to 7 schools (Harvard, Stanford, Booth, Columbia, Duke, UCLA, and McCombs), got interview invites from 5 of them, and finally got into 3 (Booth + UCLA and McCombs with 50% scholarship).

I’ve had a FANTASTIC experience working with them and would highly recommend them to anyone who’s willing to put in the time and effort. Below are my top 5 reasons:

• Extensive support – When you sign up with CP, you don’t just get a consultant, you get an army of people who have your back and a community of applicants who are driven and supportive. I am someone who asks a LOT of questions, and I can safely say that their team has a wealth of experience to guide you/point you in the right direction. For instance, I was gutted when I learned that I was waitlisted from Booth in R1. Soon enough, another member from the CP team who was a waitlist expert stepped in. She gave me tips on how I can continue engaging with the school and helped me approach the waitlist process with a positive mindset.

• They give you “no-nonsense” advice – I come from an over-represented Indian, Engineer, Male demographic. Brian was honest about what was realistic for me and had enough knowledge and inspiration to help me make a valiant attempt for the top. He didn’t hesitate from telling me if I needed to completely scrap off an essay draft or that I needed to retake the GMAT.

• Their process is painfully introspective – When I signed up with CP, I was completely clueless about what I wanted from my MBA. Their “Discovery process” pushed me to take a pause and reflect on my life experiences: My successes, failures, choices, everything. For someone who’s not as open about their life, Brian created a comfortable environment for me to express myself freely which led to some beautiful essays, and ensured that my applications were 100%, authentically me. (That’s their way of helping you stand out). Beyond the results, their process was transformational for me. Personally, I’ve become much more comfortable owning my story. Career-wise, I’ve been able to join a VC firm. Something I could not have imagined doing a year prior. The clarity I gained on what I wanted motivated me to consider my options and the confidence he inspired enabled me to boldly “go for it” and pursue the change.

• Brian is a GMAT God! – I thought I had maxed out when I scored 740 and didn’t know how to go beyond that. Brian used his expertise to quickly identify what my gaps were (Verbal + taking too much stress) and gave me advice that inspired me to take a fresh approach to the test, which combined with my work ethic, helped me score 770 in <1 month. This gave me a lot of confidence as I approached R1 applications at top B-schools.

• Value for Money! Brian works with only a handful of applicants every year and I could feel that he was genuinely invested in my success. As an international student, their package was well out of my budget. But I can reassure you, that he is worth every penny and then some more. By the end of our time together, Brian knew my stories better than I did. He is very generous with his time and leaves no stone unturned: he happily responded to my countless questions, returned drafts faster than expected as deadlines approached, and things like GMAT advice, and preparing for VC interviews were technically not a part of our MBA application scope. Yet, he did that. (with a smile!)

Lastly, I would like to add that the MBA application process is a long and tedious journey, when you do it with someone like Brian, it doesn’t seem like “work”.

Good luck with your applications! 😊

I was offered admission at my dream school, so I’d say this worked. Brian helped me craft my admissions profile, showcasing the full package that I’d bring to school. I wasn’t the strongest candidate on paper, with an underwhelming GPA and test statistics, so I chose Career Protocol because it helped me believe that my personal story was compelling. As he states above, this is a once-in-a-lifetime process, so I spilled out my most personal struggle, which he helped me turn into an inspirational admissions essay. I trust Brian. This was one of the most reflective periods in my life – I had never thought so deeply about what I wanted and why I wanted it – and Brian was there to support and guide me every step of the way. The process is extremely daunting but having a guide and coach makes it feasible – and successful! See some of you in business school 🙂

Prior to starting my MBA applications, I interviewed a handful of the top consultants and ultimately chose Career Protocol because it felt like a much more personal approach. When speaking with the others, I felt like just a number. I didn’t come from a top undergrad program and the other firms told me to not even bother applying with my test score. My initial call with Career Protocol couldn’t have been more different – it was positive, yet realistic, constructive and encouraging. Ultimately, I got into three out of the three M7 schools I applied to, including Booth with $50k.

Working with Brian was quite the journey. I came to Career Protocol and Brian with three weeks to apply to three top schools (which I do not recommend… give yourself more time if possible!). Brian was efficient and provided flexibility to get the job done. He didn’t hold my hand, but held me accountable and provided honest, clear feedback that was greatly appreciated given the time crunch.

Brian also did a great job of motivating and inspiring me in a short amount of time, giving me a new perspective on the whole process. He taught me that you don’t need to create the cure for cancer to earn admissions to a top MBA program. However, you do need to communicate your own challenges and values while articulating why they are meaningful to you. Beyond learning a lot about business school applications, I learned how to communicate my goals, stories, and ideas with confident humility, which is a skill I will use in many future personal and professional endeavors.

I approached Brian and the Career Protocol team as a re-applicant, after being waitlisted and dinged from my dream school, and having received no interview invites from 5 other schools.

I chose to work with Career Protocol because of their small team and the impression I would be important to them. And it was true! It was clear that Brian really cared about me and my success. From the beginning, he was interested in my story and digging deep into various moments of my life to get to know me. I was surprised by how thoroughly he knew me and could recall all the little stories we talked about in our first meeting, and how to make them relevant to my essays.

I loved how Brian didn’t settle for anything but the best, and how he pushed me towards improving my essays, even if sometimes his feedback was tough to hear. We even had a sort of “father/son” moment when he asked me to throw one of my drafts away and start completely over. It wasn’t easy to hear, but I knew he said it because I could do better and there was genuine support behind his feedback.

Brian is a hard worker, he matches your output, motivates you, and brings out your most original work. He always delivered on time and was there to push me to do the same, and our progress was immense.

For me, the re-applying experience was truly transformative. The introspection and coaching I received from Brian helped me set more believable goals and helped me discover how I could combine my passions and skills to find a meaningful purpose in my professional career. And the results speak for themselves. I was accepted to 4 schools with $$, including my admission to Booth, my dream school!

I couldn’t have done it without Brian’s help. He will bring the best out of you and make this stressful MBA application journey much funnier and more enjoyable.

I was in over my head when I started the MBA application journey. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Brian kept me on task but didn’t inundate me with what I should/shouldn’t be doing. All along the way, Brian always met me where I was on my journey, whether I was really energized and overwhelmed (at the beginning), with lists of lots of schools to research, or anxious or after a few tough drafts when I wanted to throw in the towel and quit, or worried about not getting in, Brian met me where I was at each step of the way.
I needed someone who wouldn’t just be a coach but would also be a reassuring and steady friend.
As I dug into writing essays Brian helped me break down some barriers and challenged me to be more vulnerable in my message. What I think I didn’t know I was looking for but what I got was that Brian helped me get deeper into the stories. Of course, it helped me with the essays and getting into schools, but it has helped sharpen my goals and understanding of why I want to go to business school and what I want to do.
Through my work with Brian, I learned to trust my intuition, especially as I was choosing between schools to which I was accepted — including 2 top ten schools and a scholarship offer. I ultimately figured out what kind of community would make me thrive. Brian helped me understand that.

Coming from an unconventional personal and professional background and carrying an embarrassing test score, I had little concept of just how deeply challenging the MBA application process would be or how I would successfully navigate it. In our sessions together, Brian’s wizard-like wisdom, calm, and love of a good story helped me to focus my energy where it mattered most, and his thoughtful promptings at the right times helped me to better understand my identity and experiences, get clear on my career goals, and think bigger about the impact I really wanted to make. Had I not taken the plunge and moved beyond resources scattered elsewhere, I know I wouldn’t have emerged from this process as my best self. Today, I am expecting an offer from my dream school!

I had initially not planned to work with a consultant, but as R1 approached, I quickly felt overwhelmed with all of the conflicting guidance on the internet and knew that I needed a cheerleader to help me get through the process.

Brian was incredible to work with and exceeded all of my expectations! He is one of the most positive and energetic people I’ve worked with, and truly made my application experience as positive and stress free as it could be. My favorite part of the experience was the guided reflection, where Brian helped me connect my stories to my values, which served as the foundation for my essays and applications. Brian’s prompts were thoughtful and thought provoking and helped me learn more about myself and write my story.

In the end, I received 6 interview invitations, 1 waitlist and 3 admits, including top 10 schools and my top choice!

If you’re looking for a genuine, energetic, and expert consultant, Brian is your guy! I couldn’t have made it through the process without him.

When I started my journey to apply to an MBA program, I didn’t know what I was about to face. I moved from Italy to Houston six years ago and had never applied to an American college before. I knew that I needed some guidance to navigate this long process, and working with Career Protocol and Brian was the best decision ever. I came from a non-traditional background, and I struggled a lot with the GMAT first and the GRE after. No matter how much effort I put into those tests, my score was still low. The test stressed me so much that I often felt that I wasn’t good enough for business school and would have never been accepted to any good school.

In those challenging moments, when you are almost ready to throw everything out of the window (yes, I almost did it, lol), Brian was a real life-saver or, better, the MBA application-saver! He kept pushing me to keep going, and at the same time, he helped me bring out my authentic self in those essays, which is the most important thing (yes, NOW I know!). Brian constantly reminded me that I was enough and helped me realize how unique and special my story is, helping me build the self-confidence I needed to succeed in this process and that I will need during business school.

With Brian’s honest and constructive feedback, even if something uncomfortable to hear, draft by draft, we built the inspiring and authentic essays that got me into 2 great schools with $, one of them in the top 10!!

I couldn’t have done it without Brian! So if you are looking for a genuine and expert consultant but also an easy-going and funny travel companion during this journey; Brian is definitely the right person!

I had read hundreds of “successful” essays and numerous how-to guides. But when I actually sat down with my applications, I had no clue how to put the pieces together in a way that did justice to my profile. I stumbled around with a few attempts and realized that I was going to sabotage myself if I kept trying to go it alone. I needed an experienced sherpa to help me climb this mountain.

Who, though? I decided on Career Protocol because I felt that they were able to articulate a great framework and process, and when I looked through the slate of consultants available, Brian’s profile jumped out at me because it didn’t read conventionally. It felt fun, cool, and grounded, while still being extremely well put together – just like what I wanted my profile to feel like to the adcoms.

And I wasn’t disappointed. Within our first couple of meetings, Brian had looked at the material I had gathered, identified key elements of my story, and TOLD IT BACK TO ME in a way that felt and sounded like the “success essays” that I had read. Now we just had to turn those elements into specific essays for each school I was applying to, and Brian was my rock.

We then fell into a cadence of writing and reviewing once every two business days. We redrafted and redrafted until my essays were in the absolute sweet spot, and never once did I feel that I was getting anything less than 100% from Brian. He was there for ideation, for telling me (nicely) which parts still needed work, and he never let up or compromised on quality until the essays were “submission-ready”. I am 200% sure that what I ended up submitting was a magnitude better than what I would have produced on my own.

My results? Interviews at 2 top-5 schools, and admission with $ to one of them, as well as full-ride scholarships to two of my safety picks.

If you’re looking for a consultant, work with Brian. He’s cool, he’ll get you, and he’ll make sure you deliver nothing but your best self to the schools that you’re applying to.

Brian was an invaluable piece of my MBA application journey and a true pleasure to work with! His guidance directly led to 4 interviews, 3 admission decisions and ultimately my enrollment at a top-5 program. We were on a tight timeline to begin with, and I wondered if we could really pull these applications together from start to finish in just a few short weeks. But despite his cool, laid-back demeanor, he kept me on schedule and accountable to all deadlines throughout the process. Brian also had a knack for asking the right questions, which helped me discover my own personal/professional story, and he challenged me to communicate that story in the best light possible to Adcom. His feedback wasn’t always the easiest to take, but it was sincere, constructive, and I can say honestly that without it, I would not be sitting in the position I am today!