How to transit from consultant to corporate strategy as generalist?

Hi,

Most of the consultants leaving for an industry position are in your same position and there are a couple of things you can do:

1. Target the right roles
There are roles where consulting skills matter more than industry expertise, such as:

• Corporate strategy
• Business development
• Transformation / PMO
• CEO office / Chief of Staff

These are the most natural exits; after 1–2 years you can then move into more specialized roles.

2. Don’t position yourself as a generalist
You have an advantage; you can tailor your story. Highlight:

• Relevant projects in that industry/function
• Transferable skills (growth, pricing, ops)

Your CV should mirror the role, not present you as “broad”.

3. Networking
Focus on ex-consultants in those roles and people who made a similar move; you don’t need a perfect background match.

At the end of the day, you don’t win on industry depth, you win on structured thinking + relevant positioning.

DM me know if you want to discuss further
Best,
Franco

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 :)

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

That's a great topic. I've worked with a few other candidates in this same situation. 

First, I recommend you take a step back and genuinely reflect on where you want to go. What sort of industry? What sort of role. 

Then try to reflect on whether you have relevant experience for that and to what degree. Then reflect on whether your other professional experiences taught you anything useful that is transferable for the role / industry that you're targeting. 

Then, with all of this in mind, start researching for roles / getting in touch with headhunters / reaching out to the people who are already in these roles. And, of course, start asking around in your network. 

If you haven't approached people for coffee chats before, you might find this framework useful:

• • Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals

And if you have any questions, or need any help, drop me a line.

Best,
Cristian

Generalist backgrounds are more transferable than you think. The challenge is not your experience. It is how you are framing it.

On getting interviews: industry requirements in job postings are often a wish list. Your MBB brand opens doors most industry candidates cannot. A warm referral matters more than ticking every box.

On networking without a direct connection: lead with the problems you have solved, not the industries you worked in. People respond to relevant experience, not sector labels.

On positioning against specialists: your edge is breadth and structured thinking. Specialists know their industry but often think narrowly. Your cross-industry pattern recognition is valuable, especially at companies going through transformation.

Three practical things:

• Pick two or three industries where your work overlaps most and go deep there
• For each company, find the most relevant thread in your background and lead with that
• Do not position yourself as a generalist to everyone

Corporate strategy teams often value consulting pedigree over industry tenure. Structured thinking is harder to find than domain knowledge, which can be learned on the job.

Lead with your thinking, not your sector list.

It's a really common situation for MBB generalists, and you're spot on – corporate roles often look for that specific industry lens, which can feel counter-intuitive after demonstrating incredible versatility in consulting. The honest truth is, many corporate hiring managers, especially those without a consulting background themselves, tend to optimize for "ready-made" candidates who can hit the ground running with minimal sector-specific ramp-up. It's often about de-risking the hire and ensuring immediate, perceived relevance.

For networking, broaden your scope beyond direct industry overlaps. Target former consultants who have successfully made the jump into corporate strategy, even if into different industries, or anyone in a corporate strategy role whose career path you admire. The key is to demonstrate transferable problem-solving skills rather than exact industry knowledge. Focus your outreach on specific strategic challenges they might be facing, showing how your diverse project experience equips you to tackle similar complex issues, regardless of sector.

When positioning yourself, you absolutely need to actively bridge the gap for them. Instead of simply listing diverse projects, focus on the strategic methodologies you applied and the tangible business impact you created. For instance, if you did a market entry strategy for tech, describe the strategic framework, competitive analysis, and financial modeling, then connect it to how those same skills are critical for a similar challenge in, say, retail. Frame your generalist background as a strength – a broad perspective and ability to apply best practices from across sectors – which is often what companies say they want, but need to be shown explicitly.

It requires more proactive translation on your end, but your core skills are incredibly valuable. All the best with the search!

Hi there,

First of all, you are in a fantastic position. Post-MBA, multiple years in MBB... you're in a great spot. Don't let the job description language shake you.

On positioning as a generalist: quite frankly, you could switch your LinkedIn status to "open to work" and have recruiters reaching out within days. Make sure your current firm is clearly listed. That alone opens doors.

That said, the story still matters. Your job is to pick a narrative thread from your experience... a theme that connects the dots of your past for a corporate strategy team. What problems have you solved? What decisions have you shaped? That story is more powerful than you think, and it translates well even without a single sector focus.

On level: given you're post-MBA with several years in, target Director or Senior Manager equivalent. Don't undersell yourself.

How to find the roles: network. Reach out to your full network. Get contacts of contacts. Get speaking to people at companies you're interested in. Don't wait for job boards. The best roles get filled before they're posted.

With your resume and overall background, I could help you craft that story in under 10 minutes. Worth investing a session with a career coach specifically for this transition: book a session here

And for the mindset behind big career moves like this, search The Consulting Offer Blueprint on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Fingers crossed!