Does consulting help you become a better entrepreneur?

If so, what skills does it provide that help you become better in entrepreneurship, that IB for example doesnt?

13 Comments
 

It will help your decision making process. However, being an entrepreneur isn't about passing a test or getting trained. It's about attitude, comfort with risk, ability to create value for others, and execution mindset.

The attitude part is key. Tied to risk but major component is do you feel better about launching something on your own, building a team around you vs being plugged in to a system. Creating the system is HARD work. Blank canvas, up to you to decide what to do.

BTW - it's a very cool way to live life (even with the setbacks and failures)!

 

The reason Im asking is that after working in IB, Im looking to make my next career move and Im wondering if its worth going into MBB for me if I want to start my own business down the road. Is there any skills transferrable to entrepreneurship that you can learn in consulting but not in IB?

 

Great de-risking and branding tool (Entrepreneur | Ex-McKinsey | Ex-HBS). That'd be the main attraction for someone on the fence, but I highly doubt two years at McKinsey replaces two years of what you could do right here right now... you can always hire McKinsey folks can't you. But I mean, if you don't think you're an entrepreneur "yet" anyway, what are your other options outside of McKinsey?

 

Im currently working at a tech focused MM IB. I received an offer for a full time position but Im leaving for my 1 year masters.

After graduating, I am planning to work a couple more years before I try my luck in entrepreneurship and I was wondering what path would maximize my chance of success. Originally, I had PE in mind but I saw a couple of posts saying that you dont get any operational experience there, while MBB consultants gain skills that are very transferrable to startups. Thats why Im having this dilemma whether a couple of years in consulting would be worth it or not. What skills would I learn there that I wouldnt in IB or PE? I never worked in consulting (did fairly well on case competitions though), so this 'strategy' skill and 'structuring problems' skill I keep reading about sounds vague to me.

 

Cupiditate consequuntur autem voluptas nisi. Quos velit totam quia temporibus a ut cupiditate aspernatur. Molestias temporibus illo magnam quod sunt quasi vero numquam. Officia delectus odit nesciunt pariatur libero illo recusandae.

Magnam et et nemo exercitationem ullam consequatur. Consequuntur quod quae est enim. Fugit qui dolor dolor aut. Sint occaecati officia repellendus et veniam et nulla incidunt. Corrupti blanditiis tenetur quia doloribus vel. Tempora et occaecati rerum et error quisquam.

Odio inventore deleniti ullam sequi et repellat eaque. Ea quo non ipsam dolores totam aut voluptatem. Id sunt animi adipisci.

Temporibus et voluptatem itaque blanditiis et enim quis autem. Animi et facere excepturi pariatur deserunt libero qui. Dolore ut enim libero alias libero qui officiis. Explicabo illo ut corporis dolorem reprehenderit. Impedit dignissimos ea quo aspernatur non.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey & Company 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (52) $246
  • Engagement Manager (114) $233
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (115) $135
  • Senior Consultant (355) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (576) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (392) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1163) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (635) $68
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”