Switching from ETRM to Management Consulting

All,

After browsing the forums, I have not found any topics related to energy trading and Risk Management software consulting and how this experience is leveraged (or not) toward a management consulting position.

Background: I was a founder/partner of a small local business (media branding) for a number of years before returning to school in my late 20's. I completed my undergrad in economics at U Texas at Dallas with a 3.2. Certainly not great, but with my age, I was juggling a full time work schedule while managing full time studies. Through networking, in 2013, I was able to land an entry position at a top ETRM company. I was hired as an associate and after a very short training window, placed on a crude logistics project. A year later I was promoted to consultant, and this summer, I am up for a senior promotion.

Over the past 3 1/2 years I have completed 5 projects ranging from nimble, two person, upgrades and enhancements, to massive multi-partnered end to end implementations. I have dealt with nearly every facet of an implementation; scope planning sessions, requirements gathering, functional and technical designs, configuration, dealing with issues and delays, and go-live support, to name a few. My strengths are client facing problem solving and conveying customer needs to my technical developers. Does this experience translate to an MBB or specialized division of a high quality firm? I love what I do, but I find myself enjoying the bigger picture rather than highly niche solutions for an already niche product. Granted, I do love getting granular with a problem, but I am concerned that by continuing to work within the confines of an ETRM application, I am not viewed as able to effectively solve larger scale issues. Additionally, with my company's services structure, the senior level experiences a substantial leveling off of the growth curve in terms of pay. I have no issue working harder and longer, but the principle and managing director levels are not very well tuned to the industry averages in terms of pay, bonus, profit sharing, etc., and there is no partner ability. Put simply... there is little incentive to continue past 4-5 years unless you resign yourself to being stuck or have no desire to move on.

As a side note, at my age (35 in April), and being happily married with two beautiful little ones, taking a full 2 years off for an MBA is not an option... unless it were to be sponsored, and I have no dreamy visions of that being a realistic opportunity. Part-time is a real possibility, but again, I have no unicorn dreams of getting scooped up like a stud from an M7. At my age, would a part-time net me any material gain? Do any companies offer the ability to cost share a part-time MBA with contract?

X-factor: Networking. As an experienced hire, what are the best ways to go about networking with big firms? I haven't worked my contact list yet because I didn't want to burn chance using the wrong tact. I networked to get my ETRM position, but I was also close friends with several employees and the boutique nature of the company was nothing like the ultra-aggressive and competitiveness of the large firms. Maybe I just got lucky, but I recognize that the path to the next opportunity will not be as easy by any stretch. Does anyone have experience as an older hire that they can share?

I appreciate the responses and ideas from the group!

Regards, David