Is Consulting Possible with my experience and my education?

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your context and specific questions. I'll answer it based on my own experience of transitioning from the industry to consulting at McKinsey, after my MBA at INSEAD.

Let me answer your specific questions:

-> Is consulting realistically achievable with my experience and education, either immediately post-MBA or after an industry role?

An MBA could definitely put you on track for a career transition to consulting. INSEAD for example is a top consulting school and has consistently been the #1 source of talent globally for MBB for a very long time. McKinsey for example (almost always) hires the most number of consultants from INSEAD, so landing that would be a step in the right direction.

-> How much does a lower pre-MBA GPA (undergraduate and master’s) matter for consulting recruiting, particularly in Europe or the Middle East?

A higher GPA of course helps, but a lower GPA is not entirely a deal-breaker. Ultimately, MBB firms are always looking for a "spike" in your CV and that can be in any domain (work-experience, academics, extra-curriculars, entrepreurship etc.)

-> If I perform very strongly during the MBA (e.g., graduating with top academic results or honors), can that effectively offset my prior GPA when recruiting for consulting?

Yes, making the Dean's list for example while at B-School can indeed be spike (but of course that alone does not guarantee an interview)

-> How realistic is the industry → consulting transition in practice, especially from supply chain / operations roles?

There are two important things to note here. It is almost impossible to change industry, function and geography (all three) at the same time even if you do an MBA. Here's why:

- For example, prior to INSEAD, my background was in Industry -> Media, Function -> Sales and Geography -> India. It is neigh near impossible to transition from that to Industry -> Investment banking, Function -> Finance and Geography -> London for example, simply because you cannot change all three dimensions. 

- Therefore, it is very important to figure out what is your non-negotiable and then anchor around that dimension. In my case, I ensured that I kept Function constant by specifically applying to the Marketing & Sales practice of McKinsey. This allowed me to change my Industry to -> Consulting and Geography to -> Europe.

The next thing to note is that there is an unconscious bias when it comes to recruiting into consulting. One way or another you will see that the most preferred profiles for consulting shortlisting often comes down to the following:

- Most preferred -> Candidates with prior Investment banking experience, private equity background etc. at large American brand names

- Next most preferred -> Candidates with ex-consulting experience at Tier 1.5-2.0 consulting firms, or roles like CEO's office, strategy work, in-house consulting etc.

- Next most preferred -> Candidates who have had experience in the same geography to which they are applying, with large global well-known brands (e.g., have previously worked in London for five years, if you are applying to London office etc.)

- Next most preferred -> Prior industry experience in sales, operations etc. if you apply specifically to that practice (e.g., Operations practice, Marketing and Sales practice etc.)

The way you should therefore position your story could be around "Hey, I am an Operations expert, having worked for 4+ years in operations and supply chain in strategic roles, leadership roles etc. Now I am keen to transition to consulting and bring my operations expertise by applying to the Operations practice of McKinsey.." for example. This way you anchor your story by keeping your functional expertise constant for example to break into consulting. 

Happy to connect one-on-one if you'd like to chat. Hope that helps and good luck!

This is a very well-structured plan, and you have built a strong foundation in logistics, analytics, and operational discipline—all highly relevant vectors for management consulting.

Regarding your core question: Yes, consulting is absolutely achievable, but you need to understand precisely where your profile creates friction and where it generates leverage.

The challenge lies primarily in the initial screen due to the undergraduate GPA. Here is the reality of the recruiting machine: Low GPAs (especially below 3.0) often trigger automated filters during high-volume application periods, regardless of how stellar your professional experience is. The excellent news is that successful completion of a highly selective, globally-respected MBA (like INSEAD or IMD) is often treated as a reset button. If you land at one of those top European programs and achieve strong academic performance (top 10-20% or academic honors), you effectively render the prior GPAs inert for most firms targeting those schools. Recruiters trust the MBA program's selection process more than a decade-old undergraduate transcript.

Your operations background is your greatest strength, especially when combined with specialized analytical skills (Power BI, predictive modeling). You are positioned perfectly for firms or practices that focus heavily on implementation, supply chain, and operational turnarounds, which often see less competition than pure strategy generalist roles. The pivot you suggest—Industry Strategy/Transformation roles at firms like PepsiCo, Maersk, or Unilever—is not a fallback; it is often the most efficient path for specialists. Moving from a strong internal strategy, transformation, or program management office (PMO) role at a Fortune 50 company into Strategy&, Kearney, or Roland Berger as a specialist (e.g., Operations Consultant) is a highly recognized and successful hiring channel, particularly in the Middle East and European offices where specific sector expertise is often prized over pure theoretical strategy.

Maintain your focus on the European/Middle East MBA path, secure those strong grades, and prioritize networking with specific practice areas (Operations, SCM, Performance Improvement) during your studies. That industry pivot is a strong, de-risked strategic option if the direct post-MBA offer isn't the right fit.

All the best!

hey there :)

Short answer yes this is absolutely realistic. Your profile is actually very relevant for consulting because military logistics, analytics and large scale supply chains translate very well into problem solving, leadership and operations cases, and I have seen similar backgrounds place successfully. The low pre MBA GPA is not ideal but it is not a deal breaker at all, especially in Europe and the Middle East where firms care much more about your MBA brand, story and interview performance. A strong MBA performance can clearly offset past grades, and industry to consulting moves from supply chain or operations are common if you position impact and complexity well. I moved into consulting myself and saw this often across McKinsey, BCG and Strategy firms. Happy to help you sharpen the story or next steps if you want.

best,
Alessa :)

Your pre-MBA / undergraduate degree is less relevant now that you would be considered an experienced hire. 

They care a lot more about what are the skills that you've developed in the various roles you've held since then and to what extent are they valuable for consulting. That's all that matters. 

If you're considering doing an MBA, you might want to read this guide:

• • Expert Guide: Are MBAs worth it?

And if you're planning on sending applications soon, have a look at this one too:

• • Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy

But, in short, you have a strong profile and it seems like you've already identified some of the skills which you've developed and could redeploy in consulting. 

Best,
Cristian
 

Hi there,

Short answer yes this is a realistic path.

Your background actually maps well to consulting, especially ops and supply chain focused work. Military leadership, analytics, and large scale logistics are all things firms value if you frame them around problem solving, impact, and decision making. The GPA is not ideal, but post MBA recruiting weighs the MBA brand and your performance there much more heavily than older academics, especially in Europe and the Middle East. So you should focus on the earlier step of making your profile competitive for an elite MBA.

An industry role after the MBA in a strong global company is also a very common and credible bridge into consulting, particularly for firms like Strategy&, Kearney, and Roland Berger.

Yes, consulting is realistic for you. Not guaranteed, but realistic. Your profile has real strengths: military leadership, analytics training, and now hands-on supply chain experience at a global company. That combination tells a coherent story, which matters more than any single credential.

On the GPA question, a 2.3 undergrad is low and some firms will screen you out automatically. That is just the reality. But here is what works in your favor: you are not going the campus recruiting route. By the time you finish an MBA and potentially add more industry experience, you are being evaluated as an experienced hire. The further you get from undergrad, the less that number matters. Your master's GPA is fine. And in Europe and the Middle East, firms are generally more flexible on academic history than US offices.

Can a strong MBA performance offset the weak undergrad? Partially, yes. Graduating with honors or top marks shows you can perform academically when it counts. But do not expect it to erase the 2.3 entirely. What will matter more is your interview performance, your story, and whether you have relevant experience.

Your backup plan of going into supply chain at a Unilever or Maersk type company and then pivoting to consulting is actually smart, not a consolation prize. Firms like Kearney, Strategy&, and Roland Berger have strong operations practices. They actively want people who have done the work, not just studied it. That transition is very doable, especially if you target their supply chain or operations groups specifically.

You have a workable path here. Just stay realistic about which firms and offices to target.