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Daniel went from steel and automotive to McKinsey. His path wasn't conventional – and neither was his networking strategy.
Instead of casting a wide net, he built 2 deep relationships at the firm – mentors who helped him at every stage. 
This episode breaks down what worked – and what the standard MBA playbook gets wrong.
Why 2 deep relationships beat 30 surface connections in consulting recruiting
How to turn a "niche" background into a draw
The case prep habit that added depth without adding volume
Resources:
Coaching helped Daniel take his prep to the next level – book a 1-hour session
Not sure where to start? Book a 15-minute call with Katie
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
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Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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Only 19% of McKinsey's new hires today are MBAs. In the mid-90s, that number was over 80%.
The # of spots available for MBAs is shrinking – the competition isn't.
MC coach Catherine Lee – ex-Deloitte, ex-BCG, Harvard MBA – breaks down 3 mistakes that sink most incoming MBAs before they ever reach an interview:
Starting too late (fall semester is already too late)
Treating prep like a sprint instead of a marathon
Practicing cases without a system to track your gaps
Plus: the summer prep roadmap that gets you ahead of your entire cohort before school starts.
Katie Neff (Black Belt Advisor) joins with data from 250+ BB members who landed at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG – including the 22-case benchmark.
Resources:
Want structured support before the semester starts? Join Black Belt
Not sure yet? Book 15 minutes with Katie
Pre-MBA program deadlines start May 3
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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Laura Ackermann once worked with a hospital executive in his 50s – years of running a mid-sized US hospital – who wanted to apply for McKinsey's Associate position.
She was outraged.
Not at him – at how common the pattern is. 
Experienced hires undervalue what they've built. They apply too low. Skip networking because it feels uncomfortable. Wait to start case prep because the timeline isn't obvious.
And then the window closes.
In this episode, Laura (BCG → McKinsey senior engagement manager, now MC coach) and Katie Neff (MC Black Belt Advisor) break down the 4-step experienced hire system to break into consulting.
She covers:
Why applying to the wrong level gets you rejected
How to narrow your target list to 6-10 firms and own them, instead of applying to 30 and hoping
What a consulting-ready resume looks like when your experience isn't linear
Why case prep must start way before you apply
Resources:
Get our 4-step experienced hire system with Black Belt
Book a free 15-minute consultation with Katie
Start case prep with Case Foundations – create your free account
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
Bain told Jenny Rae on day 1 she'd be pushed out if she didn't perform. What they conveniently left out: almost everybody meets the bar.
Up or out isn't the brutal filter most people fear. In the early years, it's a deliberate scare tactic. The real pressure comes later, when you have to cross from analytical work into managing.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae breaks down why up or out culture exists, what it's actually protecting, and why she became one of its biggest advocates.
Resources:
Create a free profile + access the Job Board (1K+ jobs)
Create a free MC account to access foundational resources and start building your consulting skill set today
Book a free 15-minute call with Katie to talk through your specific situation
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
Kunal ran the numbers. Modern pizza wins on absolute profit and payback period.
Then he flagged it: you're projecting nearly 200 pizzas a day for a restaurant that hasn't opened yet. That's the instinct that separates good from great.
This is a full McKinsey case in the restaurant industry, led by Mark Di Giorgio (ex-McKinsey Toronto). Kunal works through a New York pizza market entry question – modern vs. traditional.
After the case, Mark breaks it down section by section with tactical detail you can apply immediately:
Why catching volume risk after solving the math gets interviewers to lean forward
The 4-step case opening most candidates skip
How to read an exhibit before touching the math
The brainstorming close that turns a good answer great
Coaching with Mark:
Join the Black Belt case prep program for personalized coaching with Mark and a prep strategy tailored to your goals and timeline
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
Resources:
Create a free account to access Case Interview Foundations – a 7-day case interview crash course
Watch more McKinsey, BCG, and Bain case interview demos on YouTube
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more