Experienced Professional - MBA

For a move into strategy consulting, neither online MBA is a strong substitute for a full-time target MBA. Both can strengthen your profile, but neither will give you the structured on-campus recruiting pipeline that MBB usually relies on.

If choosing between the two, I would lean toward IE Global MBA blended. The in-person time in Madrid gives you better access to classmates, alumni, recruiting events, and networking, which matters more than small differences in brand for a career switch. IE also offers career coaching, mock interviews, and recruiter/networking access for Global Online MBA students.

Imperial has a stronger overall university brand, especially in tech and analytics, and its online MBA includes career support. But the fully online format makes a major consulting pivot harder because you need to create the network and interview opportunities yourself

With 5 years of Big 4 transformation consulting, your best route is likely:

• Apply directly to T2 strategy roles and MBB experienced-hire roles first.
• Build a stronger strategy narrative through your current projects, referrals, and case prep.
• Use an MBA mainly for skills, credibility, and network, not as a guaranteed consulting reset.

An IE MBA could help offset a lesser-known undergrad, but your work experience and interview performance will matter more. For MBB specifically, a full-time MBA from a strong target school would be materially more helpful than either part-time/online option.

Hi there,

My honest take is that neither of these two options will do what you want them to do.

Online and blended MBAs are excellent for content and for a promotion inside a corporate track, but they do not give you the thing that actually gets people into MBB, which is access to on campus recruiting. MBB and most Tier 2 firms recruit MBAs through a very small set of full time programs, with dedicated slots, presentations, coffee chats and a fixed calendar. 

So to me the real choice is not IE vs Imperial. It is:
--> If you genuinely want the MBA route, do a full time program that is a target for MBB in your geography (INSEAD, LBS, IESE, HEC, Bocconi). That buys recruiting access, not just a degree.
--> If you want to move now, apply as an experienced hire. Five years of technology transformation at Big 4 is a real profile for BCG Platinion, McKinsey Tech, etc. Non target undergrad matters much less at 5 years of experience; what matters is your CV story, referrals and case performance.

My guess is you have not fully tested option 2 yet. I would do that first, then decide if a degree is still needed.

Best,
Franco

Hi there,

Are you sure the problem is that you do not have a Master’s?

You already have five years at Big 4. Before spending tens of thousands:

1. Have you had your resume professionally reviewed?
2. Are you applying WITH referrals and networking?

3. Have you tested the market properly?

   

If not, fix those things before committing to another degree.

Between IE and Imperial, I would lean toward IE because the blended format gives you at least some in person networking. But I would not choose either primarily as a route into consulting.

Given that the real issue may be your application strategy rather than your degree, my Applications course covers CVs, networking, referrals, and includes an application tracker with 40+ firm options.

Finally, this is a major life decision with downstream ramifications. You would not decide your entire investment portfolio from a Q&A. Invest in a 1 hour session with a career coach, just like you would a financial advisor.

hey there :)

With 5 years of Big 4 technology transformation experience, I wouldn’t view the lack of a Master’s as your biggest issue. Your experience is already a strong asset for a move into strategy consulting.

Between the two, I’d lean towards IE because the blended format gives you more opportunities for networking and interaction, which can be particularly valuable for consulting recruiting. Imperial is also a strong brand, but the fully online format limits the networking benefit.

That said, neither MBA will automatically offset a non target undergraduate degree. I’d put just as much effort into positioning your experience towards strategy and networking with Tier 2 and MBB recruiters and consultants.

Best, Alessa :)

I was in your shoes - but I was able to go to a full-time MBA. If I was trying again I'd see if I could get into consulting directly - I think a combination of networking, identifying the right firms, etc will help you potentially get in, as well as figure out if it really would be the right job for you. Think a lot about what motivates you professionally and why working in strategy consulting would be exciting for you - I think the job is great but its not always a rosy easy path, and so its important to make sure you have equipped yourself with enough knowledge that you feel confident it is indeed the right career step for you. If you want an MBA regardless of going into strategy consultancy then thats fine - but an online MBA is not going to make material gains for your candidacy for MBB, and rather I'd try the direct application route. Let me know if you'd like to chat further.

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

• First of all, contrary to what other coaches have said, I would advise against an online MBA, unless you actually think you lack even basic business knowledge.
• Moreover, with five years of technology transformation experience, you are already a realistic experienced-hire candidate for consulting firms even without a Master's, so the MBA does not really add much.
• Lastly, before committing the money, I would advise you to test the direct route first, so applying to consulting firms (incl. MBB) with referrals, and to speak with alumni of both programs who moved into consulting to verify the actual placement track record, since the official marketing numbers of business schools can be misleading.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Honestly I would just try to apply straight to T2 rather than an MBB. MBB and most T2 will recruit only from top schools full time program, so if you are not getting into LBS/INSEAD etc, the chances are lower. 

Why not try first? Network hard and see where that lands you.

Check out my articles for some key pointers for your profile:

5 Reasons Why Experienced Hires Fail the Interview

All the best!

Hi there, 

Such a program can indeed help, both by boosting your profile, but also through the network that you develop and through the resources that the career service at the university could give you access to. 

But it doesn't have to be a must. Another path is to get into the strategy consulting industry in a smaller firm and then change firms once you have about 2 years of tenure. I've seen this path as well with consultants joining a boutique firm, then moving into a bigger one and then going to MBB. You could also pursue the paths in parallel. 

Best,
Cristian