Dear all,
I’m looking for a presentation course focused on BCG or McKinsey-style slide design and storytelling. Does anyone have a course or instructor they would recommend?
I’ve come across Analyst Academy, but I’m not sure whether it’s the best option. I’d appreciate any feedback or alternative recommendations.
Thank you!
Hi,
Analyst Academy is a good option for MBB-style slide design. The one thing to keep in mind is that most of these courses are strong on the visual side (layout, action titles, clean charts) but lighter on the harder part, which is the thinking behind the slides: how you build a storyline, how you order the argument so every slide earns its place, and how you lead with the so what instead of the analysis.
If what you really want is to get better at exec comm, I would instead take a couple of real McK or BCG decks and rebuild them from the underlying report, working out why each slide sits where it does, get someone experienced to review your storylines rather than just the formatting, and practise saying the so what out loud.
Hope it helps, and happy to point you in the right direction if you tell me what you are working on.
Best,
Federico
Hi,
My recommendation is to really focus on case skills. The core of what they are testing during the presentation case is the same as the normal case interview, and really they are looking to understand how you think, how you structure the problem, and how you explain your thinking. I've given these cases a few times and don't find them materially different from normal case interviews. The biggest thing to manage are the exhibits they give you, and to make sure you allocate the right amount of time! They love to try and overwhelm you, but the candidates that are able to put together a coherent storyline are the ones that stand out, and that comes down to understanding the problem, breaking it down, answering the questions. I can assure you that ugly presentations don't matter, the interviewers care way more about the content and the richness of the discussion than a pretty slide (and in my experience this is similar for our good clients too!).
Happy to help discuss further if helpful!
Joseph
Hi,
What's the purpose of attending the course? Is it to prepare for a specific presentation? Or you are looking to upskill yourself?
And are you in consulting as well, or in a different industry?
Knowing those things can help us also suggest effective paths to get to what you want to achieve.
I have conducted these trainings at BCG before and for corporates, feel free to drop me a dm.
hi!
Analyst Academy can be a good option, but I’d also recommend looking for someone who has actually worked in consulting and can give you feedback on your own slides. That tends to be much more valuable than just watching a course.
best, Alessa
Hi there,
I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:
If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Best,
Hagen
Thank you a lot for your reply.
I worked as a Management Consultant at a BIG4 for the last five years.
Recently, I moved into an internal strategy role within financial services. The current position has higher expectations and standards in terms of storytelling and design (BCG, McKinsey standard).
To be honest, at BIG4 we didn’t receive much training on storytelling, nor did we use tools like Efficient Elements or think-cell. So I feel there are some gaps that I’d like to fill.