Ep 8. John Kreider - Stanford GSB: How to Roll Sixes

Today’s guest, John Kreider, took the long road to business school—three application cycles, five GMAT attempts (and two GRE), and countless hours of self-reflection. But it wasn’t until he stopped trying to be the "perfect applicant" and started being his true self that Stanford GSB finally said yes. John’s story is one of resilience, authenticity, and trusting the process. In this episode, we dive into: 🔹 Applying three times—what changed between attempts and what finally worked 🔹 Taking the admit tests 7 times—and surviving the grind 🔹 How growing up in the backwoods of Alaska shaped his journey 🔹 His career pivot from Bain & Co. to a small private equity shop—and why he loved it John’s path proves that getting into business school isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being real. If you’ve ever struggled with applications, questioned whether you belong, or wondered what it really takes to break into top MBA programs, this episode is for you. Let’s get to it! 🚀