Joined MBB Consulting as an Experienced Hire at the Age of 34
So, imagine my feelings upon joining one of the most prestigious consulting firms at my age. I was terrified! Yet, it was a fantastic step-up opportunity, considering my starting point.
For two years straight I was feeling constant stress and anxiety. I was feeling that I wasn't enough - neither smart enough nor fast enough.
I tried everything: meditation, sports, ‘not giving a f*ck’, learning anything and everything I could, talking to anyone willing to engage, observing the moves of my peers and seniors, and asking hundreds of questions.
In some areas, I really struggled - like slide creation and Excel modeling. But in others, I was quite comfortable and even excelled - such as client management, project management, leadership, business acumen, and judgment.
It took me 2-3 years to figure out the rules of the game and become more comfortable. Eventually, a few kind souls cared enough to teach me a few simple tricks to improve my work and how to navigate the firm.
In retrospect, I realize that I perhaps didn't take the most effective path. And wonder if there are any better ways to learn, with less stress and pain.
When I entered consulting, I decided to throw myself into the most challenging situations, testing myself across different industries, locations, cultures, and leadership teams. I aimed to become truly versatile, capable of working in any situation and solving any problem. Adaptability was the key theme during my first few years in consulting.
And I got what I wanted. I failed so many times and made all sorts of mistakes, and I learned a lot.
On the positive side, I've had an incredible journey and have worked in various locations and cultures, including Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe.
However, when I became a Manager, my strengths really began to kick in. Skills like leadership, people management, and maturity started to set me apart from others.
After all these years, I've finally found my true spike and passion: developing exceptional people.
It naturally happened that I coached and mentored many people in the firm. I had this internal motivation to share everything I learned to pay forward for all the support I got, but also prevent all unnecessary pain and stress among new generations of consultants.
Now there are a lot of people reaching out for help, even people I don’t know and don’t work directly with.
I've never operated at the highest level of performance in consulting. I've never received a "Distinctive" rating. However, my ‘work kids’ routinely earn ‘Tracking Plus’ and ‘Distinctive’ ratings. I like to think that I've somewhat contributed to their success. Like any parent, I am immensely proud of my work kids.
P.S.
I feel your pain.
As a consultant, I struggled to perform and faced an impossible situation with extremely high expectations and minimal support.
My life turned into relentless stress, pain, and anxiety. But I always suspected that there should be a better way.
All that pain was not necessary with the right support.
Nine years later, I designed the coaching program I desperately needed back then. Its sole focus is helping you excel and achieve high performance.
Only then can you build strong sponsorships, find great projects, and become confident.
If you are an MBB consultant and want to achieve high performance, please
Book a 1-1 Discovery Session.
Learn more about the Hero Journey coaching program.