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Sponsored Executive MBA?

Dear Community! 

I'm aware that MBB often provides MBA sponsorship prior to promoting individuals to the Associate role. Can you tell me if MBB also offers sponsorship for executive MBAs at more advanced career stages, like when one reaches the Engagement Manager position? Are you familiar with any instances of this? And how common is EMBA sponsorship within the consulting field?

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Top answer
Sidi
Coach
edited on Aug 24, 2024
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 400+ candidates secure MBB offers

Hi Anonymous! 

MBB firms don't sponsor EMBAs. In short: they believe the professional development within their own project work is largely superior to en executive MBA.

Cheers, Sidi

___________________

Dr. Sidi S. Koné

Former Senior Engagement Manager & Interviewer at McKinsey | Former Senior Consultant at BCG | Co-Founder of The MBB Offer Machine™

Pedro
Coach
on Oct 24, 2023
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

No, they don't do it. For two reasons:

  1. It is very hard to manage the workload of an MBA and consulting project work. One will necessarily perform worse in projects, and client always comes first
  2. In general you learn more in strategy projects than in an MBA, and if you have any blind spots in general the company can provide valuable training.
Alberto
Coach
on Oct 27, 2023
Ex-McKinsey AP | Training top candidates to perform at MBB level and win the offer

Hi there,

I don't personally know any case of MBB sponsoring executive MBAs.

Best,

Alberto

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

on Oct 25, 2023
#1 rated McKinsey Coach | top MBB coach

Absolutely. 

The most important thing to keep in mind is that these things are not set in stone. 

The more senior you are, the more they are negociable. 

These firms care about your development, your value proposition and about retaining you. 

So as long as you can communicate clearly what is the value of you doing that program and how it benefits both you individually and the firm, it's going to happen. 

Here's a thinking framework on how to assess whether an MBA is even necessary - in most cases it isn't:


Best,
Cristian

———————————————

Practicing for interviews? Check out my latest case based on a first-round MBB interview >>> SoyTechnologies  

on Oct 25, 2023
Ex-BCG Principal | 8+ years consulting experience in SEA | BCG top interviewer & top performer

Hi,

MBA sponsorship in BCG is only for full-time MBA programs, and to be more specific, ‘top’ MBA programs.

As a Manager/Principal in MBB, you would already have all you need to network with the people that matter from a commercial/account building POV, and the incremental value add from an EMBA is negligible. 

All the best!

Nikita
Coach
edited on Oct 24, 2023
MBB & Tier2 preparation | 100+ offers | 8 years coaching | 3000+ sessions

It would just be a waste of their money and a precious human resource. 

Working at MBB >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EMBA.

Udayan
Coach
on Oct 24, 2023
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /12 years recruiting experience

Never heard of it to be honest. It would also not work given the grueling work demands at MBB. No one would have the time to do anything else alongside the projects.

Ian
Coach
on Oct 25, 2023
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

They do not.

And, quite frankly, what you'll learn in a month at the manager and higher level at MBB will me more than you'd learn in the entire EMBA program. Sounds like exgaerration but it's really not.

on Oct 25, 2023
ex A. Partner McKinsey |Senior Interviewer| Real Feedback & Free Homework between sessions|Harvard Coach|10+ Experience

Unfortunately not. 

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