Hi! I'm Cristian.
Over the past 4 years, I've coached approximately 400 candidates.
90% of them got offers.
Out of those who targeted McKinsey, BCG or Bain, 70% of them were successful.
In my approach to coaching, I do 3 things differently:
1. First principles thinking. All consulting interviewers want to see how you think. That is why learning frameworks by heart no longer cuts it. By coaching my candidates in first-principles thinking, I ensure they deliver a distinctive interview performance and hit the ground running on the job.
2. Personal fit mastery. The average candidate invests 10% of their prep time in the personal fit component of the interview, even though interviewers judge it to be half of the performance. Instead, I dig deep here to create a competitive advantage for my candidates.
3. Spike enhancements. Top consulting firms don't want balanced candidates. They want clear spikes, seeing that you're great at something. I help my candidates identify their strength from the first session, then polish it into a spike for the interview.
I'm proud of the results I've achieved working with candidates from across 50 countries. And as part of my commitment to impact, I publish an annual report of my verifiable success rates - the only coach in the industry to do so.
If you'd like to know more, click on the 'Coaching Approach' section above.
My story:
I never planned to become a consultant. After graduating from Oxford, I found myself jobless, with no clue which way to go. My girlfriend was applying for management consulting, and because it seemed like the cherry at the top of the corporate world, I decided to give it a shot. I practised hard, got a few offers and chose McKinsey. I was so happy!
But it turned out I hated the job. My performance reflected that. By the end of the first year, I was close to ‘Issues’, which in McKinsey terms is the last stop before being 'encouraged' to leave. I sought mentorship and spent a great deal of time thinking about my path. I gradually understood that I was not just a consultant but an agent of change within the Firm and the client’s organisation. With my mindset, my performance changed.
I spent almost five years in McKinsey, with the last four consistently rated top quartile of performers in the region. I was fast-track promoted twice and worked across eight countries and nine industries. I had clients who genuinely and personally thanked me for the impact I delivered. I spent time coaching junior colleagues and led on multiple occasions McKinsey’s new joiners training.
Summer of 2021, I left McKinsey. Like in a marriage where we just grew apart but stayed friends, we still share pleasant memories of each other. Following my instincts, I started a coaching practice, I'm writing a book, and I cause mayhem with my kids.
If you'd like to get to know each other, reach out for an introductory call! I’m happy to share some advice and talk about my experience.
The recruitment journey to consulting can be challenging, but anybody can do it. Set a clear goal, plan, and get the help you need. I’ll be cheering you on.
Click ‘Show More’ to read in more detail about how I generate these results with my candidates.
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