Heather Soderquist

Heather’s advising process granted me a clarity of self-knowledge that did more than just enable me to clearly express myself to the schools I applied to. Not only was I admitted to my top MBA program of choice, but I conduct myself with greater resolve as a current MBA student because I have a clearer direction for my personal and professional goals from working with her. My deepest gratitude to Heather and the team at MBA Protocol.

Heather and MBA Protocol transformed the MBA application process from an overwhelming, stressful experience into something manageable, where I felt fully supported.

Heather guided me through every step with wisdom, patience, and genuine care. With her, I felt safe being authentic and making mistakes because I knew she would use them to give me feedback that was always on point.

Working with Heather is like having a personal cheerleader and a wise mentor by your side, someone who truly wants you to succeed and provides the specific advice you need to get there. Thanks to her support, I was able to get into the program I wanted—alongside my husband!

Applying to an MBA is not an easy task and can be very tedious. Fortunately, I found Heather through MBA Protocol to guide me through this process, and she, with her personality, experience, and ability to motivate and inspire, made my MBA application an exciting process.

I confess that at the beginning of the process, I thought I wasn’t good enough to apply and be accepted to a top school. She helped me understand my unique qualities as an international candidate and a lover of cooking and his family. Thanks to this, I was able to craft authentic and inspiring stories in my various essays and interviews, which helped me get accepted into a top program along with my wife and receive a significant scholarship.

Thank you, Heather, for empowering me and showing me that I was good enough to be accepted into my dream MBA, leveraging my strengths and weaknesses to my advantage. If you want to embark on this adventure, there is no better guide or adventure partner than her, who will very likely also help you achieve your dream.

I have to confess that I did not know that MBA coaching was even a thing until a friend in private equity hired a coach to help him apply to top-ten programs. So, when I began flirting with the idea of going back to school myself, I knew I needed support navigating what felt like an overwhelming process. With a non-traditional background, a quirkier personality, and the less-common goal of applying to European MBA programs, I needed a coach who would match that energy. Heather was the perfect fit!

My experience working with Heather was truly transformational. I came into the process lukewarm; uncertain I actually wanted to go back to school and unconvinced in the strength of my candidacy. By the time I submitted my applications, I radiated confidence in the decision to pursue an MBA and in the value that I would bring to each program to which I applied.

Applying for MBAs was an exercise in self-reflection. I learned so much about myself by telling my story to Heather and having her identify what she heard as themes and personal strengths (almost like in therapy). Once I felt empowered by my life experiences and skillset, I could think critically about what an MBA would do for my future and sincerely articulate my goals in my applications. The MBA Protocol resources and recommended schedule were incredibly empowering and made this involved process much more digestible. I loved the opportunity to write creatively to express myself and was happy to know that my voice was preserved throughout every stage in the process.

Heather was incredibly sensitive to my story and to my busy life outside of the MBA application. Knowing that I would not be able to travel to Europe to visit schools, she shared with me a local MBA showcase event that would allow me to get a better feel for the schools I was considering.

Above all, what makes Heather such a strong MBA coach is her sincere investment in the people with whom she works. Heather saw me for me, and mirrored that back to me throughout the process. I embark on this next life chapter feeling confident in myself and open to transformation through this MBA. Thank you to Heather for helping me realize my potential.

I’ll be honest, I came into this process with a lot of doubt. Low GPA, a non-competitive test score, slower career progression than most applicants. I knew the I would face challenges creating a strong profile for my applications. Heather changed that.
She never made me feel like my stats were the story. From the beginning she took the time to actually know me, my background, what I’ve been through, what drives me, and helped me find a narrative that felt genuinely mine. Not polished for admissions. Actually me. She has this ability to see something in you before you see it in yourself. That showed up in my essays, and carried through into my interviews. I walked in confident because I finally understood my own story, why I wanted the MBA and what I could contribute to my future program. In the end, I got into my dream school with a profile most people would have told me to be realistic about. I was able to lean into my passions, authenticity, and career outlook to make a lasting impression — and show that I truly belonged in the program. Without Heather, I’m not sure I get there. She’s kind, deeply knowledgeable about the MBA world, and genuinely inspiring. But what stands out most is how much she actually cares — she remembers the small details of your story and checks in on you even while juggling many clients. I cannot thank her enough for all that she has done for me and so many others. For those of you embarking on your MBA journey, Heather is exactly who you want in your corner.

Heather helped me find my narrative and actually believe in it. I came to her unsure of whether my story was strong enough for a competitive program. She helped me see that authenticity isn’t a weakness in the admissions process; it’s the whole point!

She guided me through every step with honesty, patience, and an incredible instinct for what makes a story land. As a result, I got the outcome I’d been working toward. I couldn’t have done it without her!

If you’re serious about your application, work with Heather and MBA Protocol!

I won’t beat around the bush. Working with Heather is one of the best decisions I made in my MBA application journey.

She has an incredible ability to see and understand people’s character, and after speaking to her in a single 30-minute session I felt like we had known each other for years. She saw things in me and my story that surprised me in the moment, but that left me thinking “Of course. It couldn’t be anything else.” We later leveraged those insights into essays that got me accepted with a scholarship into my first choice despite a below-median test score. She never doubted for a second that I would make it, even if I myself did (constantly).

She’s sharp, resourceful, honest, comforting, and, above all, kind. She went above and beyond and she’s kept in touch even after I got accepted.

Should you decide to commit to the journey and the seemingly unending months of stress, uncertainty, and questioning of every single decision you’ve ever made, know that Heather is there and you can count on her.

When I hired MBA Protocol, I was pleasantly surprised by the wealth of resources available. But the most amazing one, besides working with my main coach, was meeting Heather and having her by my side.

In parallel with my 1:1 work, Heather hosted weekly “momentum calls” for the MBA Protocol group to check in on each of our application journeys. In those sessions, she consistently offered sharp advice, exquisitely honest and thoughtful feedback, and words of wisdom grounded in years of P&Q expertise – all while keeping our energy and momentum high.

Through her calls, I had the chance not only to prepare my applications, but also to meet other brilliant MBA aspirants, creating a true community of ambitious, energetic, and genuinely fun people.

With her great emotional intelligence and empathetic leadership, Heather knows how to truly support you while also offering valuable perspectives. Anyone going through the MBA application process would be incredibly lucky to have her in their corner.

I worked on MBA applications last year without any guidance or knowledge as to what I was doing. I got into some lower ranked schools, but knew I could shoot higher and opted to try again. I happened upon some YouTube information videos from the MBA Protocol / Happy at Work team, enrolled in their course after a consultation, and connected with Heather shortly thereafter.

Heather not only agreed with me that I could level up and gain acceptance to top 10-20 programs, but she also took a personal interest in my doing so. We worked together in one-on-one sessions as we went over two applications that became the scaffold for the other four I sent in for Round 1 2025, and met through team calls every week to check in. We “slow-walked” my application as Heather was genuinely interested in reading about my personal and professional journey, and we fine-tuned several stories I brought to the table that showcased the best of me. She was always excited to see me, and we cheered on updates no matter how big or small. There were challenging moments through the process where my strong convictions wavered, but her belief in me never did.

As she predicted, I got into one of my two top choices despite below median test scores and unconventional (and not exactly prestigious) work experience. The prospect of attending an Ivy League MBA program still feels unreal as a small-town northeastern kid through and through, but that is exactly what will happen this fall! And it would not have been possible without the support of Heather, as well as the entire MBA Protocol / Happy at Work team and fellow future students I’ve met along the way. I cannot wait to get started on campus!

Working with MBA Protocol was truly a turning point in my MBA journey. From day one, I felt like I’d finally found people who genuinely believed in me and my story—even at times when I struggled to believe in myself. With Charli as my main coach and Heather as my supplemental coach, I gained writing and interviewing skills that I’ll carry with me throughout my entire career.

MBA Protocol also excels at building a real sense of community. Being surrounded by others who were navigating the same phase of life made the process both motivating and grounding. Under my coaches’ guidance, I received interview invitations from 5 of the 6 schools I applied to, all T25 programs, except for my safety, and ultimately earned an acceptance to my top-choice school with a half-tuition scholarship and a full-ride to my safety. I couldn’t be more grateful for their support, expertise, and faith in me. Highly recommend!

Working with Heather has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. She helped me get in front of my own narrative, something I had been terrified to do, and encouraged me to lay it all on the table truthfully. For so long, I believed my story wasn’t what admissions committees were looking for. I didn’t think I was a real contender in a land of competition and high test scores, but Heather helped me see that my truth is my strength.

When I started this process, I had my heart set on one school. But Heather challenged me to dig deeper, do more research, and go big or go home. She guided me every step of the way in finding my definition of success and pushed me to apply to my dream programs.

Through our work together, I learned that vulnerability is power. I shared my real story about addiction, recovery, an eating disorder, credit card debt, and spinal tumor removal—to scratch the surface. Heather helped me weave those experiences into a cohesive and inspiring narrative that showed not just where I have been, but who I have become and where I am headed.

Heather doesn’t just prepare you for an MBA application. She helps you step into the next evolution of yourself with confidence, clarity, and heart. Heather doesn’t just do her job; she really cares about people and what happens next, and you know you can’t go wrong with a coach like her. I will forever be grateful that she believed in me before I fully believed in myself. The MBA is just the beginning.