Corporate Strategy or MBB Knowledge

Question

Situation: Currently I'm working as an Strategy Analyst for a Procurement department in a fund manager with an offer to remain as a Strategy Associate (12 months as Analyst + full time role now - please consider that a promotion is always valued). The role has been created to create from scratch this department which will leverage efficiencies across the funds and allows me to improve stakeholder management (direct contact with suppliers) and be involved in the strategy (dpt. has few resources and in a current ramp-up to bring experts but I would remain as gatekeeper of strategy and processes).

Alternative: I've received an offer to join an MBB Org Design / Op. Models Knowledge Team which would allow me to gain that market expertise / insights in relation to corporate strategy / business transformation.

Decision: If goal is to remain with the most amount of exit options possible but having experience in a MBB is a great leverage for your career, would it be the best option to join MBB Knowledge Team considering I would have a back-office role and the expectations / responsabilities are lower than in my current company?

Goal: Ensure that I can exit at a point MBB Knowledge Team (externally to Corp. Strategy team or internally as Business Analyst - i.e. Fellow intern) avoiding closing doors but having a reputational role.

Answer 1

Congrats! Here’s my take:

Stay (Strategy Associate in Fund Manager)
– Pros: Greater ownership, real strategy work, direct stakeholder exposure
– Risk: Niche scope (procurement), less external brand leverage

Move (MBB Knowledge Team, Org Design)
– Pros: Strong brand, access to MBB network and methodologies, potential internal mobility later
– Risk: Back-office perception, less operational responsibility, unclear path to external strategy roles

Conclusion
– If your priority is long-term optionality and MBB brand matters to your target employers, the Knowledge Team move makes sense
– But be proactive early on: build relationships internally, push for visible work, and clarify if internal transfer to consulting track is viable down the line

Let me know if you want to draft a message for negotiating or exploring lateral moves inside MBB.

Best of luck!