Strategy Consulting or Implementations Consulting?

Question

I am a Masters student at WBS and previously I had found my own ventures and also had 1.5 years of work experience related to marketing and operations. In the long run I am planning to start my own business again, till then I want to work in a field in Management consulting (UK or GCC) which will help me to gain valuable expereince - ultimately helping in my long run plan. Previously I was thinking to apply in both but that seemed to an open fire plan with a very low rate of success in any field. So before moving ahead I would like to concrete by base.

What should I do?

Answer 1

Hi,

If your long-term goal is to become a founder, I’d strongly focus on Strategy Consulting. It gives you the sharpest problem-solving toolkit, the strongest CV signalling, and the broadest exposure to how CEOs/top level management think. You can always build operational depth later.

Best,
Lukas

Answer 2

Strategy.

As a previous founder - you already know how to get things done :)

Answer 3

That's a very smart move to narrow your focus, especially since you have a clear, long-term goal of starting another venture. Applying broadly in consulting is a recipe for thinly spread effort and subpar case prep.

Given your ultimate goal of entrepreneurship, you need to focus your base on Strategy Consulting. The goal of a strategy consultant is to frame ambiguous problems, structure solutions, and convince senior executives of a direction. This provides the highest leverage training for a future founder/CEO. You learn market sizing, competitive analysis, how VCs evaluate opportunities, and perhaps most importantly, how to prioritize resources when everything is critical—a daily challenge for a startup.

Implementation consulting, while offering highly valuable skills in execution, change management, and operational efficiency, often means deep-diving into specific platforms or detailed process maps. Those are critical skills for a COO, but the initial, high-level decision-making muscle gained from Strategy work is what you need to master first to secure funding and set the vision for your company.

Use your applications to target firms that allow you to touch areas like Corporate Strategy, M&A/Due Diligence, and Growth/Market Entry. These practices give you essential experience in valuation modeling and competitive landscaping that translates directly into writing a solid business plan and pitching to investors. You’re not just chasing a brand name; you're acquiring a specific mental framework.

All the best with the pivot!