Pivot from MBB to IB

Question

Hey all,

First of all, wishing you all Happy Holidays!

My question: Is it possible for me to pivot into an IB or other finance roles (think VC / PE although probably not possible) with my profile? Do I absolutely have to attend an MBA program to make a switch?

Target role / geography: I would be open to move to wherever chances are best, would prefer US / Asia. I would be okay with working at boutique / smaller banks.

Context: I am working at an MBB firm (European office) in a Senior Associate role. After some DDs I came to realize that I enjoy valuations / numbers driven work way more than conceptual problem solving which so often ends up seeming way too fluffy / wishy-washy to me. Hence, I am considering a switch into roles in Finance, ideally with some focus on Healthcare / Life Science given my background. I would prefer to switch into Finance rather than staying in consulting and making EM/Project Lead. I am unsure whether for that pivot I need an MBA, would prefer to do switch without as I turn 30 next year already.

Short profile summary

- Graduated Med School as top ~10% of class at a top 30 program

- Around 1+10 (y+m) into an MBB firm in Europe, received second to highest performance rating

- No MBA/Finance/Business degree

Thanks for your help! Let me know if you need any further info.

Answer 1

Happy holidays, and good question to end the year on.

A move from an MBB background into investment banking with no MBA degree is definitely possible and not uncommon. Banks value the core skills consultants bring, especially structured problem solving, clear communication, and the ability to work with senior stakeholders. That said, the type of experience you have within MBB does matter.

Consultants who have worked on transaction-related projects tend to have the smoothest transition. This includes commercial due diligence, M&A strategy, carve-outs, value creation plans, or projects closely linked to corporate finance decisions. That kind of exposure shows banks that you already understand how deals work beyond pure strategy and that you have seen investment decisions in practice.

If your experience is more general strategy, the move is still possible, but you will need to compensate by building finance-specific skills. This usually means getting comfortable with accounting, valuation, and financial modeling, and being able to explain clearly why you want to move from advising on strategy to executing transactions.

In interviews, the strongest profiles connect the dots. They explain how their consulting work sparked an interest in deals and value creation, what transaction exposure they have had so far, and why investment banking is the logical next step. When that story is consistent and backed by real experience, banks are generally very open to MBB candidates.