Advice on MBB and Oliver Wyman Offices in Rome

I’ve worked with several colleagues from the Rome offices of McKinsey and can share a few insights based on that experience and industry perspective:

1. Culture & Lifestyle:
Rome offices tend to have a tight-knit and collegial culture, especially compared to larger hubs like Milan. Work-life balance can vary by project, but travel is generally less intense than in other regions, especially for public sector or local clients. That said, hours can still be demanding during peak periods.

2. Project Types:
You’ll find strong exposure to public sector, energy, financial services, and increasingly digital/innovation-focused work. I heard that Oliver Wyman Rome has a notable presence in financial services and risk, while MBB offices tend to be more diversified.

3. Growth & Mobility:
Internal mobility is encouraged, I've seen people transfer to and from Rome across European offices. Career progression follows global standards, but the smaller size means greater visibility to leadership, which can accelerate development.

4. Market Position:
All three MBB firms are well-respected in Italy, with McKinsey and BCG often seen as slightly more prestigious in terms of brand recognition. Oliver Wyman is considered a strong challenger, particularly in FS and analytics-heavy work. Team dynamics across all are highly professional, though OW feels a bit leaner and more entrepreneurial.

Happy to share more if helpful, feel free to DM!

Hi there!

Best thing you can do is to have a human to human coffee chat with the people from those offices. Nothing beats that. And it's not that complicated. 

You might find this useful in terms of how to approach these coffee chats:

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

Best,
Cristian

This will be easier to answer if you are considering between two options.

A few comments. in Italy you tend to have long hours. Office projects will reflect regional economy... i.e., large companies with headquarters in Rome (and multinationals with their national office in there)... as well as the government presence, i.e., state owned companies as well.

Rome is less of a Hub than London, Paris, ... and even Milan. So less travel opportunities than in those offices, but nevertheless at pair with other relevant offices.

hey there!

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can generally expect from MBB and Oliver Wyman’s Rome offices:

1. Working Culture and Lifestyle:

• MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain):
  • Work-life balance can be challenging but varies by project. Rome, being a smaller office, may have less travel compared to larger hubs but still high client expectations.
  • Travel is common, especially for MBB, though this may be less intense than in bigger cities like London.
  • Hours can be long during intense cases, but there is a focus on personal well-being.
• Oliver Wyman:
  • Oliver Wyman typically has a better work-life balance compared to MBB. Expect fewer travel demands.
  • The work culture tends to be collaborative, with a bit more flexibility in hours.

2. Types of Projects and Main Industries:

• MBB:
  • MBB offices typically focus on high-profile strategic projects, and Rome is no different, though it might have more emphasis on local/regional projects in Italy and southern Europe.
  • Industries often include government, energy, financial services, and healthcare.
• Oliver Wyman:
  • OW also handles strategy-focused projects, but with a heavier emphasis on risk management and financial services.
  • While they work in many industries, their consulting style may lean more towards specialized expertise (e.g., risk and regulation).

3. Growth Opportunities and Internal Mobility:

• MBB:
  • High growth potential and mobility within global offices. The smaller Rome office may offer closer interactions with senior leadership.
  • Promotion timelines may be slightly slower than in bigger offices but still competitive.
• Oliver Wyman:
  • Strong growth opportunities, particularly in risk consulting and financial services.
  • Smaller offices like Rome offer close-knit teams, allowing for visible contributions and faster responsibility, but mobility might be more regional than global compared to MBB.

4. Differences Between Firms:

• MBB tends to carry more prestige in the Italian market, especially for clients in top-tier sectors like finance, government, and global enterprises. There’s a stronger focus on pure strategy.
• Oliver Wyman: While still prestigious, OW is known for its consulting expertise in financial services, risk, and operations, which may appeal more to those interested in specialized consulting.

Final Thoughts:

• If you're looking for a broader strategic consulting experience with prestige and a global platform, MBB in Rome would be the go-to.
• If you prefer a slightly better work-life balance and are more interested in financial services or risk consulting, Oliver Wyman might be a better fit.

Both have their merits, so it ultimately depends on your career goals!

Alessa

Hi,

I wanted to answer a comment you posted: I noticed that there are a few open positions in the Rome office. Could you suggest some strategies to learn more about the Rome offices and the available opportunities?

I'd recommend you:

1. Reach out on Linkedin to people who are currently in the offices - Use the "Add a note" feature on Linkedin 

2. Focus on Recruiting Team - they'll be receptive to these answers

3. Focus on Mid-level e.g. Associates, Project Leaders - they can tell you how the opportunities are, their honest experiences 

Good luck!