Client Testimonials

Sports scholarship recipient joins McKinsey

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? The coaching program is well designed, clear expectations and milestones were set and Michael was very accommodating to work around my schedule. Michael was very open-minded in accepting me even though I came from a non-target US program but was very thorough in laying out the obstacles I needed to overcome. Did the program meet your expectations? If yes, how? Yes the program exceeded my expectations. I only pursued McKinsey [Redacted] and had worked with a head hunting firm to set up the interview. I found their preparation to be weak and had signed up to FC for case training. The program is very simple to follow and Michael is a clear speaker so it is easy to follow him. The use of a white-screen to see him solve cases was very useful and probably the best part of the program. I was pleased with Michael’s knowledge of the [Redacted] office and his very useful advice in helping me improve my fit answers. This made a big difference to the overall interview since I could provide very good reasons why I had not selected the Ivy Leagues for my studies. What was…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

BCG interview prep before training begins

Thank you for asking me to contribute to the changes at FC. I hope my best experiences are useful for the discussions in January. My most memorable moment working with Michael occurred well before I applied to the program. I would post very detailed questions to the Firmsconsulting open podcasts and Michael responded to everyone in great detail. It made me realize that Michael was very committed to teaching everyone about management consulting and took the time to provided useful advice. I always find Michael’s advice to be different from anything on the internet. There is depth, substance and experience behind every answer and I appreciate both his US and non-US experience. That is unusual. I applied to the Firmconsulting program but will only begin my training in a few months. I am sure it will be just as great! We have published the most useful client feedback. Our commitment to confidentiality prevents us from disclosing the identity of our clients and other confidential information, and we may alter details to prevent such disclosure. Some client feedback may be lightly edited for grammar, spelling or prose, though we never alter or remove any information. Clients in our consultants coaching program…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Canadian undergrad. on supply / demand cases

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? Yes. Overall, the entire program is top tier. Client Case Videos I found them to be very well structured and organized. As I went through the weekly videos, I was able to understand how each piece built upon another. At the end of the videos, I was quite confident that I had the right skills and technique to practice cases. The comment section for the videos is also extremely helpful. I was able to get my questions answered VERY quickly and was able to see questions other candidates had. I would have liked to see more videos that run through an entire mock case. I understand that it can always change and very dependent on the interviewer, but it would be good to see a few video were all lessons are tied together from top to bottom in a single performance. Skype Sessions -> Will talk about in Q7 below. Did the program meet your expectations? If yes, how? Yes. The cost of the program is very high, my friends and family thought I was nuts to pay for something like this. In all honesty, I wasn't sure where my expectations should…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Figure Skater uses past to bolster Bain profile

My Michael Moment occurred during the editing of my resume. We were struggling to find good leadership examples and personal stories for my resume. I thought it was fine but Michael felt it lacked something distinctive. He asked me to go over my life citing important and unimportant moments one by one. He did not want me to filter them. When I told him I represented my country at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships and placed 8th he went silent and then also screamed into the phone 'What!' He told me that my profile was now changed and I was a different person – a better candidate. My experiences were an outstanding example of teamwork and leadership and we needed to build that strongly into my profile. Michael turned out to be right. Every interviewer across every firm wanted to discuss my figure skating experiences: I fell during my final attempt and had to do the team routines with an injury. In my Bain final round interview, about 70% of the discussion were about my efforts to help the team despite my injury. I eventually joined Bain. It is a special moment for me because I always assumed leadership…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Manager uses unusual tactic to get to Bain

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? I did not enjoy the program but I must explain that this had less to do with Firmsconsulting, than my own personal issues which made it difficult for me to prepare and my underestimation of the skills gap I had. I do think that FC made this as fun an experience as they could, given my challenges, and eventually got me into Bain after what must have been the longest and most painful networking experience in the history of modern day networking! I kept on striking out with partners and recruiters and Michael would constantly work with me to adjust my style. I even gave up at one point and we had a “Kick starter” meeting where Michael told me in the most direct way possible that it is my life but he was not going to tolerate someone who chooses to quit and I needed to get my “act together.” Michael provides advice in a helpful fashion so it is not harsh, but boy was it a kick in the pants. So I enjoyed working with Michael but did not enjoy having a child, almost losing a child, moving homes, avoiding…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Deloitte S&O MBA declines McKinsey for Corporate

I have many great moments of working with Michael but the most far-reaching moment occurred when I received offers from McKinsey and a Fortune 500 company to join as a strategy manager. I had been a Senior Consultant at Deloitte S&O in London and was wrapping up my MBA. I thought the decision was a no-brainer. All my friends were high-fiving me for getting into McKinsey – it was a bad year for recruiting and only a few people got in. Michael provided a new perspective for me. He pointed out that by going to McKinsey as an associate I was actually taking a step back because I had already been the Deloitte equivalent in a fairly good office. He also showed me – which he proved via a simple LinkedIn search while sharing screens – that the role I was offered as strategy manager was something I may or may not get after McKinsey, and if I did, it could only happen after spending about 2 or 3 years as an associate. He basically said that the strategy manager role is the role people take after working at McKinsey for a few years and I was being offered it…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

SAP manager Venkat approach to McKinsey BTO

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? This program was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I have total admiration for Michael and he introduced me to Marvin Bower. Michael is the modern Marvin Bower. Values mean everything to him. It was not always smooth sailing in the program but Michael and the team made a sincere effort to help me and they succeeded. There are many reasons why the program was pleasant for me but one reason stands out. I was not happy with my role at SAP and had quit. I had an MBA from a good school in the US, but was an Indian national and had never been able to break out of the technology field. I quit my job without telling Michael since I just could not think about going back into a technology role. Michael did not agree with my decision but was very sympathetic to my personal and financial constraints. We would speak around my availability and I was also given many free sessions which generously helped me. I sincerely felt that Michael was committed to helping me succeed. The McKinsey BTO action plan we developed was 100% focused…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

McKinsey associate aims for work-life balance

I had a few Michael Moments over our 6 months rough ride together. The best moment came at the end. After all the effort, pain, sweat, missed dinners, lost weekends and tough preparation, I finally received my McKinsey offer and sent Michael a thank you note. He sent back a note congratulating me and telling me to take my wife out for dinner. He however pointed out I should not get drunk since getting the offer was not the destination of our plans. We needed to plan my career and think through what I wanted from McKinsey – he was free to discuss that the next day at 7am my time! I was happy and scared by that. Though it is typical Michael. He takes a long term view of things and I am glad I focused on planning my career with him. Although I did get drunk the night before and postponed my call the next day. Sorry Michael! You just cannot eat Thai food without good beer! You would know that! We have published the most useful client feedback. Our commitment to confidentiality prevents us from disclosing the identity of our clients and other confidential information, and we…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

US Military Captain ignores MBA into McKinsey

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? The training was very effective – I enjoyed it. I found Michael easy to engage and it was just a very nice set of exchanges overall. I looked forward to the sessions. As a military officer having served 2 tours in Afghanistan, I had a strong engineering background and expertise with the Marine Corps but very little analytic exposure to business problems. Each session with Michael was like a mini-MBA program and he went out of his way to teach me vital concepts like productivity, NPV calculations, time series analyses, market analyses, supply chain dynamics, competition analyses, margin calculations and more. I ended up signing up for 24 hours in total since the sessions were so good and far better than the training I was receiving by finding training partners online. The recommendations provided were very specific to my target office and I felt that Michael and his FC had good knowledge of how that office worked, what the recruiter would say and how I should handle my discussions. Michael put my needs first many times and offered me free lessons and regularly did more than was required. Did the program meet…

Client Testimonials