Originally from Zimbabwe, Blessing Havana moved to the U.S. to pursue her dream of obtaining a liberal arts education. Blessing attended Pomona College and graduated with a major in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Following her graduation from college, Blessing attended Columbia Law School where she graduated with academic honors and was twice named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. 

During her time at Columbia Law, Blessing developed a passion for public interest legal work. She completed an externship with the Bronx Defenders where she assisted in the representation of clients in Criminal Court. Blessing was a member of New York State’s Pro Bono Scholars’ program at Columbia. As a Pro Bono Scholar, Blessing externed at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House where she supported several complex housing matters to bring positive outcomes for her clients. While at Columbia, Blessing also served as a staff editor on the Journal of Transnational Law.

Blessing began her career in the New York Office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as a corporate attorney with a focus on M&A and Capital Markets. She then lateraled to Gunderson Dettmer where she pursued Venture Capital fund and startup representation. Blessing is currently legal counsel at Citi in New York.

Blessing is passionate about mentoring students throughout the stages of the law school application process. She has been mentoring and advising students and junior colleagues through various application processes and career transitions since she graduated from law school. Blessing believes in paying it forward and bringing out the best in everyone’s story.

If she is not working or mentoring students, Blessing will be found traveling the world, trying new cuisines and hiking.  

“Blessing’s understanding of the graduate school application process is a cut above the rest. She was able to provide strategic advice on my application in a patient and efficient manner. Her feedback on my essays was very helpful in elevating my ability to craft a truly authentic story.”

• Cliff S., Yale MBA 2019, Harvard MPH expected 2026

“I had been out of school for years and was struggling to find clarity in how my next stage in life would align with going back to school to pursue an MBA. Blessing’s attentiveness to my background and objectives helped me to clarify my purpose and what I would seek to get out of an MBA, allowing me to articulate and bring out my whole being in a way that elevated my business school application. Blessing was the best coach and mentor I could have wished for through the challenging business school application process. She is a great listener and she creates the level of self-expression that brings out the true gem out of everyone’s story. With Blessing’s coaching I was able to secure admission into all my top choice schools. I would highly recommend Blessing to anyone that is trying to connect the dots in their own story and create the most compelling case for admission into any selective educational program.”

• Valentine M., The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (MBA), 2023

“Blessing’s assistance with my graduate school application essay was truly invaluable. Her guidance went beyond just editing; she helped me articulate my ideas clearly and authentically, ensuring my voice shone through in every word. Blessing’s keen eye for detail and her ability to suggest meaningful improvements elevated my essays to a level I couldn’t have achieved on my own. She was patient, encouraging, and always willing to offer constructive feedback, which made the process feel collaborative and enriching. Thanks to her support, I was able to submit essays I felt proud of, confident that they represented the best version of myself.”

• Pamela S., Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2021