Expert Coach
Taniel Chan

Highlights & Achievements
- Former Member of HBS Admissions & Financial Aid Advisory Boards
- Harvard MBA & MPP
- Career Experience at Goldman Sachs, Bain, White House & City of New York
- Specializes in 2+2, First-Gen, LGBTQ+ & Social Impact Applicants

Taniel Chan brings both passion and perspective to his coaching, shaped by years of experience at the intersection of business, public service, and education access. A graduate of both Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School, Taniel served on HBS’s Admissions and Financial Aid Advisory Boards and was instrumental in shaping the Forward Fellowship, a scholarship for students from lower-income backgrounds. As a former Admissions Representative and 2+2 admit himself, he brings insider insight – particularly for younger applicants and early-career professionals.
Taniel has worked across the private and public sectors, with roles at Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, the City of New York, and the White House. Whether a client comes from finance, consulting, or a more unconventional path, Taniel excels at helping applicants find the deeper threads in their story – and tell it with boldness and authenticity. He’s especially passionate about supporting first-generation applicants, LGBTQ+ candidates, and those pursuing careers in the social sector.
Born and raised in New York City, Taniel has lived in Brussels, London, and Boston, where he now resides with his husband and their dog. When he’s not coaching or reading everything from anthropology to thrillers, you’ll find him on a ski slope, volleyball court, or in a CrossFit class.
Real Reviews From Real Clients
Candidates Love Working With Taniel

Q&A with Taniel
What’s your favorite client success story?
One client was passionate about democratizing financial access and literacy to underserved populations. We dug deep into her past and identified that this passion was catalyzed by her weekly trips to the bank with her grandfather to deposit a portion of her allowance. These trips were always accompanied by prudent financial advice she realized was a privilege many others didn’t have access to. Through impactful storytelling, she was admitted to the joint MBA/MPP program at Harvard.
What’s your top piece of advice for admissions candidates?
probe deeply into their broader life journey and not be afraid to consider anecdotes from when they were young – childhood, high school, college – that have shaped their life choices thus far and inform where they are headed.
Want to work with Taniel?
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