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Ep 89 | Stanford GSB Interview Breakdown

February 10, 2026 · 28 min

Show notes

Send us your admissions questions!

What makes the Stanford GSB interview so different from every other MBA interview?

In this episode of the mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky sits down with Senior Admissions Consultants Christine Patel and Julie-Anne Heafey to unpack Stanford’s structured behavioral interview. They discuss how GSB evaluates candidates, why authenticity matters so much, and how applicants can prepare without sounding rehearsed. Essential listening for anyone preparing for a Stanford MBA interview.

00:00 Why Stanford Interviews Are About Connection
00:53 Meet the Experts: Christine Patel & Julie-Anne Heafey
02:04 What Stanford Interviewers See and Behavioral Format
02:51 “Structured Behavioral Interview”: What That Means
08:23 Stanford Prep: Build Your Story Bank (Even Beyond the Resume)
13:30 Mock Interviews: How to Prep Without Sounding Robotic
22:34 How mbaMission Preps Candidates
24:11 Favorite Stanford Mock Question: “Why Stanford?”
25:28 Avoid the “Touchy-Feely Class” Trap in ‘Why Stanford’
26:51 Final Advice for Stanford GSB Interviewees

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