How to transit from consultant to corporate strategy as generalist?

Question

Hi everyone,

I joined MBB after my MBA and am now exploring my next role in corporate strategy. My experience across several firms has been quite diverse, without a single industry focus. As a generalist, I’ve worked on a wide range of topics and across multiple industries.

As I review current opportunities, I’ve noticed that many roles require a specific number of years of industry experience or a consulting background with a clear sector focus. This leads me to a couple of questions:

What are the most effective ways to secure interviews in this situation? Given my diverse background, I sometimes find it challenging to network with insiders when I don’t share a direct connection.
How can I best position myself against candidates who already have deep experience in a particular industry?

Any advice on transitioning from a generalist consulting background into an industry role would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

hey there :)

this is a very common situation and you’re not at a disadvantage, you just need to position it right. instead of selling yourself as a generalist, anchor your story around 1–2 “themes” you’ve repeatedly worked on, like growth strategy or transformations, and show how that transfers across industries.

for interviews, referrals still matter most, but you don’t need perfect overlap. reach out with a clear angle like “I’ve done X type of work and am interested in applying it to your industry” rather than trying to match their exact background.

against specialists, win on structured thinking, CEO-level exposure, and ability to ramp up quickly. companies hire ex-consultants for versatility, not deep niche expertise.

if you want, I can help sharpen your positioning and narrative :)

best,
Alessa :)

Answer 2

Hi there,

This is a very common situation, and you’re actually in a strong position. Most MBB generalists don’t leave with deep industry specialization — they leave with strong problem-solving and strategic skills.

The key is positioning. Right now your profile likely feels broad but not anchored. To fix that, pick 1–2 target industries and tailor your story around them by highlighting relevant projects or themes (e.g. growth, pricing, transformation). You don’t need perfect experience, just a clear direction.

For networking, focus on shared context (same firm, alumni, similar transitions) rather than exact industry match. Approach it as learning about the space, not proving you belong.

Against industry candidates, your advantage is different. You bring structured thinking, speed, and cross-industry perspective, which is exactly what many corporate strategy teams value.

Happy to help you shape your narrative if useful - feel free to reach out!

Best
Evelina