Consulting Careers: How Liwaza Prepares You for Strategy and Management Consulting

The consulting world is not homogeneous. Understanding the hierarchy helps you define your trajectory.

Level 1: MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain)

• Maximum prestige: The 3 most selective firms in the world
• Compensation: €200,000-250,000 post-MBA (Associate)
• Missions: Pure strategy, transformation, PE due diligence
• Selectivity: <3% of MBA candidates

Level 2: Tier 2 Strategy

• Firms: Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, Kearney, LEK, Strategy&
• Compensation: €150,000-180,000 post-MBA
• Advantage: More accessible, excellent training

Level 3: Big Four Consulting

• Firms: Deloitte Consulting, PwC Strategy&, EY-Parthenon, KPMG
• Compensation: €100,000-140,000 post-MBA
• Particularity: Consulting + implementation, varied profiles

Level 4: Specialized Consulting

• Domains: Tech (Accenture), HR (Mercer), Ops (Alvarez & Marsal)
• Compensation: Variable by specialty

The key question: where are you and where do you want to go?

• Big Four → MBB: MBA is almost indispensable
• Tier 2 → MBB: MBA highly recommended
• Other sector → Consulting: MBA opens all doors
• Big Four → Senior Manager/Partner Big Four: MBA accelerator but not mandatory

The MBA transforms the consultant's trajectory in several ways.

1. Level reset

The MBA enables a career 'reset':

• Big Four Consultant (Manager) → MBB Associate post-MBA
• The MBA title levels the playing field

2. Direct MBB recruitment

MBB firms recruit heavily from MBAs:

• INSEAD: 25%+ of the class to consulting
• Harvard: Direct pipeline to all MBB offices
• Wharton: Strong in strategic consulting

3. Complementary skills

The MBA provides what consulting alone doesn't:

• P&L and operational vision
• Leadership and team management
• Client perspective (not just consultant)
• Diverse network outside consulting

4. International credibility

For African consultants, the MBA brings:

• Legitimacy in international markets
• Access to Paris, London, Dubai offices
• Global network of consultant alumni

The ROI calculation

• Cost: ~€100,000-150,000 (fees + opportunity cost)
• Salary gain: +€50,000-100,000/year post-MBA
• Breakeven: 2-3 years
• Non-quantifiable bonus: Network, credibility, access to senior positions

To maximize your chances in consulting, certain schools are privileged pipelines.

Top schools for MBB:

1. Harvard Business School

• Pipeline: All MBB firms, all offices
• Consulting placement: ~25% of class
• Advantage: Ultimate brand, incomparable network

1. INSEAD

• Pipeline: Strong in BCG and McKinsey Europe/Middle East
• Consulting placement: 25-30% of class
• Advantage: 10-month format, diversity, Asia/Europe offices

1. Wharton

• Pipeline: McKinsey and BCG US
• Consulting placement: ~20% of class
• Advantage: Analytical, complex cases

1. Stanford GSB

• Pipeline: MBB + tech consulting (Bain Digital, McKinsey Digital)
• Consulting placement: ~15-18%
• Advantage: Tech + consulting intersection

1. LBS (London Business School)

• Pipeline: MBB London + Europe offices
• Consulting placement: ~25%
• Advantage: Direct access to the City

For Big Four consultants targeting MBB:

INSEAD is often optimal:

• Short format (10 months): Less time out of market
• Strong relationships with BCG and McKinsey
• Very active consultant alumni
• Paris office nearby for networking

The GRE is the first filter to access MBAs that open the doors to consulting.

Target scores by school:

Why Verbal-Quant balance matters for consulting

Consulting firms value:

• Quant: Analytical capacity, problem solving
• Verbal: Communication, synthesis, client presentation

A balanced profile (165+ in both) is ideal for consulting.

Liwaza preparation for consulting

Our approach for consultants:

• Quant: Structured problem solving, data interpretation
• Verbal: Argumentation, business reading comprehension
• Practice tests: Real condition simulation, optimized timing

The consultant's advantage

If you're already a consultant, you have assets:

• Habit of quantitative analysis
• Synthesis capacity
• Time management under pressure

With 4-6 months of structured preparation, consultants generally reach their target scores.

For Big Four consultants targeting MBB, here's the optimal strategy.

Ideal timing

• Big Four experience: 3-5 years (ideally Manager or Senior Consultant)
• MBA application: At 27-30 years old
• Post-MBA: MBB entry as Associate

What MBB looks for in ex-Big Four

✅ Positive points:

• Methodological rigor
• Diverse client experience
• Execution capacity
• Sector knowledge

⚠️ Points to compensate:

• Moving from implementation to strategy
• Showing "so what" synthesis capability
• Demonstrating leadership, not just execution

How to differentiate in your application

Your MBA application must show:

1. Quantified impact: Not "I did missions", but "I generated X€ in savings"
2. Leadership: Initiatives beyond scope, mentoring, thought leadership
3. Strategic vision: Show you think beyond execution
4. Why MBA now: Current ceiling, next step

Case interview preparation

MBB recruitment includes case interviews. Prepare in parallel with MBA:

• Victor Cheng, Case in Point
• PrepLounge, CaseCoach
• Practice with other candidates

The mistake to avoid

Don't only target MBB. Have a solid plan B:

• Tier 2 (Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger): Excellent opportunities
• Strategy& (PwC): Internal promotion possible
• Corporate strategy: Attractive alternative

Africa represents a growing market for consulting, with unique opportunities.

MBB presence in Africa

• McKinsey: Offices in Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Casablanca
• BCG: Johannesburg, Lagos, Casablanca, Nairobi
• Bain: Johannesburg, growing presence

Growth sectors on the continent

• Energy & Infrastructure: Energy transition, electrification
• Telecoms & Fintech: Mobile money, digital banking
• Healthcare: Health systems, pharma
• Consumer & Retail: Growing middle class
• Mining & Resources: Natural resource transformation

The advantage of the Franco-African profile

For francophone African consultants, the profile is unique:

• Understanding of francophone markets (Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon...)
• French-English bilingualism
• Dual local/international culture
• MBA network + local network

Recommended path

1. MBA (INSEAD, HBS)
2. 2-4 years international office (Paris, London, Dubai)
3. Transfer to Africa office or local partner track

This path gives you:

• Training in global methodologies
• International track record
• Credibility for senior missions in Africa

Liwaza has developed specific support for consultants targeting the top of the sector.

Consulting-optimized GRE preparation

Our approach for consultants:

• Structured Quant: Problem solving, data sufficiency
• Business Verbal: Business-oriented reading comprehension
• Optimized timing: Time management under pressure
• Practice tests: Real exam conditions

Former MBB coaches

Our team includes consultants and former consultants from:

• McKinsey (Paris, London)
• BCG (Paris, Casablanca)
• INSEAD and HBS alumni

They support you on:

• Multi-school application strategy
• 'Consultant to MBB' positioning
• Essays that show your strategic potential
• MBA interview preparation

The Liwaza consulting community

By joining Liwaza, you access:

• Network of consultants preparing for MBA
• Sharing of Big Four → MBB experiences
• Connections with alumni in positions

Our commitment

We have guided dozens of consultants to INSEAD, Harvard and the MBB careers they targeted. Our success rate on target GRE scores: >90%.

Your consulting career deserves to reach its full potential. Are you ready to level up?