Do you need an MBA to become partner ?

Hi there, 

simple answer here is NO - MBA is definitely not required to progress to the top in any of these firms.

For context, consulting firms (includes the MBB) are quite meritocratic, whereby your career success will be largely a function of project performance (downward & upward feedback, involvement in citizenship activities, and for partner level of ability to build relationships / network as well as commercial acumen of course. Once you make it into the firm, your academic credentials will become absolutely irrelevant. 

Hope this clarifies.

Regards, Andi

Hi, 

Definitely not! In BCG, we have a lot of partners who don't have an MBA. There are a lot of mobility options within MBB firms outside of MBA (e.g. international transfers, secondments, etc.) Think about what kind of partner you want to be and choose experiences which will help you get there! 

Hi there, 

Not at all. In fact, there are many many Partners who don't even have a background in business / finance topic. What really matters to become Partner is to be a decent consultant and willing to stick it out for many many years despite the hard work, long hours and lots of people who might mistreat you. 

No. Once you are in, you get promoted just because of your performance, not because of your education.

No! Once you're in, nobody cares.

At McKinsey, I found that more Partners didn't have an MBA.

Do a little linkedin search to get a feeling for what people were up to before they became successful at MBB, BIG4, or elsewhere. The result may surprise you!

Best of luck!

Not in the slightest!

Once you are in the company there is no difference. The MBA is only about improving your odds to get in. Then, to get to Partner that's all about skill, networking/relationships, and “outlasting” the others!

Nope.