NextStep Careers

What NextStep Careers does

NextStep Careers is a Los Angeles-based private career coaching and MBA admissions counseling firm founded by Emily Taylor, who built the business on her prior experience transforming UCLA Anderson's Career Services Center into the #1-ranked program among top 20 business schools and her earlier roles as VP of Talent at Revolution Prep and a college counselor with a 100% placement rate at top universities. The company sells four primary service lines: 1:1 coaching delivered in session packages (5/10/15/20 sessions priced $1,875-$6,800) or hourly at $385/hour, covering resume design, LinkedIn optimization, networking, interview prep, and salary negotiation; tiered MBA/Executive MBA admissions packages at $7,000-$10,500 covering 2 to 6 schools; Tech Alumni Career Teams (TACT), a 7-week cohort program for MBA alumni targeting tech employers, delivered in partnership with UCLA Anderson; and corporate/university workshops for buyers including UCLA, USF, Forte Foundation, Walmart E-commerce, and Johnson & Johnson.

The underlying technology stack is entirely third-party consumer tooling — Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, GoogleDocs, and Cisco WebEx for live document collaboration — with no proprietary platform disclosed. Service differentiators are process-based rather than technology-based: proprietary resume templates informed by how recruiters and ATS systems rank applications, a Career Path Selection assessment, adaptive coaching programs, and package hours that never expire and are transferable to family members. The business is bootstrapped and founder-owned with 1-10 employees, sold direct-to-consumer via website consultations, referral networks, founder-led earned media, and event-driven demand generation through workshops.

Revenue mechanics are service-hours based with one-time package fees at premium price points. Customer mix is overwhelmingly individual consumers (MBA applicants, career changers, tech-pivot professionals) rather than enterprise contracts; the named logos on the testimonial page (BCG, Amazon, PlayStation, Workday, EA, AT&T, Mattel, Qualtrics, etc.) refer to where individual clients landed jobs, not to enterprise customers. The single most material institutional relationship is UCLA Anderson, where TACT creates a recurring alumni channel. With no funding rounds, no disclosed revenue, and a headcount cap of 1-10, the operation is constrained by founder billable capacity rather than demand signals.

Name

NextStep Careers

Legal name

NextStep Careers

Website

https://nextstepcareer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NextStep Careers is a privately held Los Angeles career coaching firm offering 1:1 coaching, MBA admissions counseling, corporate workshops, and the UCLA Anderson-partnered TACT program, serving MBA applicants and career-changing professionals via high-touch virtual sessions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career Coaching and Admissions Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAKAO

Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Career Readiness & Employability Skills (Resume, Interview, Workplace Skills)

SECONDARYEDAAAKAB

Resume & Professional Branding (CV, LinkedIn, Portfolio)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Career Readiness & Employability Skills (Resume, Interview, Workplace Skills)

SECONDARYEDAAAOAL

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

SECONDARYEDAAAEAC

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

SECONDARYEDAAAKAD

Interviewing & Selection Skills (Behavioral, Technical, Assessment Centers)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Career Readiness & Employability Skills (Resume, Interview, Workplace Skills)

SECONDARYEDAFAMAM

Career Services & Job Placement Platforms (Jobs, Recruiting, Employer Networks)

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Career Guidance, College Admissions & Student Success Platforms

Keywords

• Career coaching services
• MBA admissions consulting
• Resume writing services
• Interview preparation coaching
• Executive career counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. MBA/Executive MBA Admissions Coaching: One-time package fees for comprehensive admissions counseling from school selection through scholarship negotiation. Three tiers based on number of schools: 2 schools ($7,000), 4 schools ($8,750), or 6 schools ($10,500).
2. 1:1 Career Coaching: Session-based coaching packages (5, 10, 15, or 20 sessions) ranging from $1,875 to $6,800, plus hourly rate at $385/hour. Covers resume design, LinkedIn optimization, interview prep, networking, cover letters, and salary negotiation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NextStep Careers provides paid 1:1 career coaching, MBA and Executive MBA admissions consulting, and resume writing for individual professionals. The firm also runs the Tech Career Teams (TACT) program for tech industry employees and corporate workshops for organizational clients. Services are delivered remotely via Skype, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, and Cisco WebEx, using proprietary templates and an adaptive coaching methodology.

Product overview

NextStep Careers is a career coaching and admissions counseling service provider, not a software platform. The company offers four primary service offerings: 1:1 Coaching (individualized career counseling with session packages), MBA/Executive MBA Admissions (comprehensive application support with tiered school coverage), Tech Career Teams/TACT (a 7-week cohort program targeting tech industry roles in partnership with UCLA Anderson), and Workshops & Corporate Presentations (customized virtual workshops on career topics). Services are delivered through remote coaching sessions using communication tools, with supplementary resources including templates and live document editing capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TACT: Tech Alumni Career Teams (TACT) - a 7-week program for MBA students and alumni targeting tech companies and startups, offered in partnership with UCLA Anderson.

Products and services

• 1:1 Coaching Personalized one-on-one career coaching covering resume writing, LinkedIn profile optimization, cover letters, interview preparation, salary negotiation, networking strategy, and career planning. Delivered remotely via Skype, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, or Cisco WebEx and sold in 5, 10, 15, and 20-hour packages at $350/session, plus a $385/hour executive coaching rate. Targeted at individual professionals and career changers.
• MBA / Executive MBA Admissions Consulting End-to-end MBA and Executive MBA admissions consulting covering strategy, school selection, resume, essays, recommendations, and interview prep. Bundled by school count (2, 4, or 6 schools), with hourly executive coaching at $385/hour. Targeted at individual applicants targeting elite MBA programs.
• Tech Career Teams (TACT) Specialized career coaching program designed for tech industry professionals, combining ATS-optimized resume writing, technical and product interview preparation, career planning, and MBA admissions strategy. Marketed as a bundled offering distinct from standalone 1:1 coaching, with benefits including master resume updates and priority access.
• Workshops & Corporate Presentations Group workshops and presentations on resume writing, interview preparation, MBA admissions strategy, and career planning, delivered to corporate clients and employee groups. Recorded sessions are offered as a virtual learning add-on.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transformed UCLA's Career Services Center into the #1 career services program in the top 20 business schools
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UCLA Anderson School of ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCLA Anderson has partnered with NextStep Careers to offer Tech Alumni Career Teams (TACT) to its alumni, enabling them to effectively target high-growth tech companies. Emily Taylor, founder of NextStep Careers, leads these dynamic 7-week Tech Career Teams. The program is unlike any other alumni MBA career coaching program.
• University of San FranciscominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextStep Careers hosted a workshop for University of San Francisco students led by founder Emily Taylor. The workshop covered how students can market themselves, navigate the hiring process, and land interviews, including guidance on utilizing LinkedIn for networking, plus 1:1 resume reviews and cover letter critiques.
• Forte FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextStep Careers has hosted workshops for the Forte Foundation to assist in providing career coaching opportunities for women in business.
• Walmart E-commerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextStep Careers has hosted workshops for Walmart E-commerce corporate employees to assist in career development and professional advancement.
• Johnson & JohnsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextStep Careers has hosted workshops for Johnson & Johnson corporate employees to assist in career development and professional advancement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stacy Blackman Consulting: Stacy Blackman Consulting is one of the most established MBA admissions consulting firms, offering comprehensive application support (essays, interviews, recommendation letters) for top business school applicants. It is a direct peer because it serves the same MBA/Executive MBA applicant segment with similar tiered package pricing and a brand built on admissions expertise.
• mbaMission: mbaMission provides MBA admissions consulting with multiple school-package tiers and a strong content/library presence (including admissions guides). It is directly comparable to NextStep's MBA/Executive MBA Admissions offering in target customer, pricing structure, and admissions-coach positioning.
• Manhattan Prep: Manhattan Prep offers GMAT/GRE test prep and MBA admissions consulting with tiered instructor-led packages. It overlaps NextStep in serving MBA applicants and in monetizing admissions-adjacent services at premium price points, though its core focus is test prep.
• Exponent: Exponent provides tech-interview prep, career coaching, and recruiting support targeted at candidates seeking product, engineering, and PM roles at top tech companies. It is directly comparable to NextStep's career-coaching segment serving tech-pivot MBA talent and uses a similar 1:1 plus cohort model.
• IGotAnOffer: IGotAnOffer delivers tech consulting and product-management interview coaching with tiered packages aimed at candidates targeting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Amazon. It overlaps NextStep in offering premium 1:1 coaching for resume, case interview, and behavioral prep.
• CareerSidekick: CareerSidekick, founded by Biron Clark, offers 1:1 career coaching, resume writing, and interview preparation targeting mid-career professionals. It is comparable in service mix (resume, LinkedIn, interview prep) and price positioning to NextStep's 1:1 Coaching package.

Broad incumbents

• The Muse: The Muse is a career content and coaching platform that pairs candidates with coaches and publishes job/career advice at scale. It competes broadly with NextStep on career coaching and resume/LinkedIn support, but at a much lower price point and via a marketplace model rather than founder-led premium coaching.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nextstepcareers
• Facebookfacebook.com/nextstepcareercoach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nextstepcareers
• Instagraminstagram.com/nextstepcareer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NextStep Careers