Client Testimonials

Motivating MBA before McKinsey interview

I requested Michael to speak to me before my McKinsey interview. So, one day before the interview he tried to find time but could not accommodate me. At about 9:00pm, my phone rings and least of all I am expecting to hear Michael’s voice on the other side; I am surprised as hell, because Michael is available on Skype only. In his characteristic tone he says, “[Redacted] how are you”? And then goes on to say some of the most simple but profoundly motivating words for me. He says, “[Redacted], good luck for tomorrow. You have it in you and you can make it, you just need to believe in yourself. If you were one of the mediocre candidates then I would have said, have a good time at the interview, we will teach you the networking skills and attempt to get you another interview next year. But, you have the intellectual rigor needed for a McKinsey interview. All you need to go in is with extreme levels of self-confidence. And please do me a favor – Don’t talk to and listen to your friends, because they don’t know anything about what McKinsey wants in a candidate. And that’s why…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Counter-intuitive networking for Bain

My fondest Michael Moment occurred during networking. I sent an email to an MBB partner and I received a slightly aggresive response. I was really worried and not sure how to respond. I wanted to send a detailed response trying to salvage the relationship by explaining my choices of questions. I was pretty sure my chances were finished and my dream of an MBB offer was finished. Michael gave me the strangest advice. He said I should do nothing. That was such bizarre feedback. He told me partners are the face of the firm. "A partner should always be polite and professional since they have such selective requirements and need to balance that with utmost professionalism." If I waited long enough the partner would try to correct the situation since he could not leave the situation as it was. Michael was right as usual! 2 days later I received an email from the senior partner saying he had reviewed my resume again and felt we should talk. That call did not lead to an offer but I eventually got into Bain by using similar advice from Michael. We have published the most useful client feedback. Our commitment to confidentiality prevents…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

McKinsey Rhodes Scholar

My best Michael Moment took place after I was placed at McKinsey and 8 months after I left the program. It was my very first engagement and I felt miserable. Everything was going over my head and I was putting out fires hourly. My planning was shot with holes and my plan was to simply give the engagement manager what he wanted when he wanted it. A bad strategy indeed, but I had no choices. Michael and I arranged to speak on that first weekend and we had a long chat about the engagement, my role, my planning documents, objectives and so on. We worked out a good plan and Michael explained each step I needed to follow to take control of the work . He stressed accountability at all times, which is different from responsibility – a lesson for me. The moment occurred when Michael told me about his own first engagement and how badly that went. I was pleasantly surprised by that story. I had assumed all partners were perfect and had these fairy tale careers. Michael found that funny and said that is how I should distinguish between true seniority/success versus a facade. Partners don’t need to…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Undergrad. on ex-partner apprenticeship case model

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? Yes, it was the best professional learning experience I have ever had (seriously, not making this up). Here’s how: 1 - The learning method was an apprenticeship model – I was mentored by a single mentor, as opposed to a traditional (virtual) classroom 2 - The instructor was a industry-expert – I was mentored by a former Partner of the top 3 Management Consulting firms 3 - The learning content was tailored to me – I had an assessment session in which the mentor designed a customized program Did the program meet your expectations? If yes, how? Yes, it even exceeded my expectations Here’s how: 1 - I was given more amounts of training hours -- not merely for the sake of more time, but due to better prepare my actual consulting interview 2 - I had the flexibility to discuss with the mentor (via chat) any other items related to Consulting (e.g. advice on managing my career, business education, anything that’s relevant) What was the most important learning’s from the program? Two things: 1 - How consultants think – Case Interview Structure: confirming & operationalizing the key question, setting up MECE…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Stern MBA on practice with ex-McKinsey partners

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? Yes. I enjoyed casing practice under pressure compared to the relatively easier experience when case practicing with fellow MBA students. Did the program meet your expectations? If yes, how? Yes. It was extremely useful to get information from a senior person in consulting industry vs. getting it from consultants with 1 or 2 years of experience, or reading it on the internet. Michael was very supportive throughout the recruiting process and his interpretation of the interview results and feedback was correct, allowing me to continue on the job seeking path and finally succeed. What was the most important learning’s from the program? Structuring cases, brainstorming and estimation cases - these 3 concepts I couldn't get out of my own preparation even though I have purchased [Redacted] program from [Redacted] and done over 100 cases with fellow MBA students and junior consultants. Do you feel the program provided an advantage for you versus your own/other preparation? If so, in what way? Yes. Feedback on my case practice performance was much more critical and to the point vs. what I was getting from my regular casing partners. Support and feedback provided throughout the process…

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Wharton MBA on holistic case coaching approach

Did you enjoy the program? If yes, how? Yes, the program was very enjoyable and effective for reasons I have disclosed below in no particular order of importance: • My coaches, Kevin and Michael, were very friendly, helpful and willing to step outside the program to provide additional help and suggestions. There was noticeable continuity between Kevin and Michael – it felt like I was talking to the same person each time, but with a different purpose – Michael was the hunter looking for ways to make me improve while Kevin did more consolidation to help me build on what I knew. This was an effective teaming and I have only seen this approach work maybe once before, but it can be incredibly effective when done right. Firmsconsulting has found the right formula. • The program was very flexible and helped me learn the basics. That was a big surprise - I did not expect this. I had interviewed during my Wharton MBA internships and was declined by both BCG and McKinsey. I had about 50 cases under my belt, studied all the online material and used many other programs which I found online. It was only in this program…

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

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

PhD teamwork for McKinsey group interviews

I hope Michael will have a very special birthday and I was very happy to be asked to contribute to this book. My Michael Moment came in my second round with McKinsey. It was a group interview with 4 PhD candidates and I was terrified of my chances. I was at a weaker school and the other candidates were from Harvard, Yale and so on. I sent Michael an email asking for advice and this was his response: This is not a competition. If you see it as a competition you will fail. Your job is to help the team succeed. Every time you want to say or do anything, ask yourself if it helps the team succeed and makes the team feel better about themselves. If you can do both, you will get through. Also remember to build on a point and not dismiss it – this makes people feel worse about themselves. That is counter to McKinsey values of trust and support among colleagues. Just don’t abdicate your responsibility of politely guiding the team towards the right idea. It is my moment because I felt that I got the offer in this round and the rest of the interviews were…

Client Testimonials