MBB and online presence

Hi there,

As long as your content is balanced, analytical, and not overtly ideological or partisan, it’s unlikely to hurt your chances in recruitment. Discussing issues like pay disparity or women in leadership is common within MBB consulting work, and what matters most is the tone, that should be constructive, nuanced, and client-neutral. Remember that MBB serves all government leaders, from all political positions.

Once inside the firm, you may be asked to include disclaimers or vet certain posts if working in sensitive client areas. Overall, your visibility can be an asset, just frame it with professionalism and strategic awareness.

Best,

Mari

Hi there, 

quite an interesting question you ask. While being in MBB, I have not seen such a particular set-up, i.e., no direct insights but I do know that they are very focused their online profile. Hence, when you post something, it would always need to be very clear that you do this as a private person and this is not the opinion of the MBB firm. I assume you could never mention them in any of those videos or talk too much about you working there etc. 

That being said, they should not be able to inhibit you from doing as long as you keep it private. I would likely disclose it during the recruiting process so you are not running into problems further down the road and you get a clear view if your employment with them would prohibit you from continuing to do this. Then you can make a decision on what is more important to you. 

Best, 
Sebastian

As long as you portray yourself as someone who is professional and considerate for others, focuses on problem solving and bringing insights and analysis (just like any good consultant would) instead of sharing ideological or partisan perspectives or being aggressive towards other people, it should not impact recruiting.

After you join, there may be guidelines on what you can do. The "rule" is that you never discuss the firm or its clients (and avoiding criticizing clients or other companies is a good rule of thumb) or any of your work, and also never draw authority from being an employee of XYZ company. And, of course, be respectful to other people.

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

• First of all, I would advise you to not worry too much about your current online presence. Having a strong personal brand is certainly not perceived negatively, as long as your content stays professional and balanced.
• Moreover, I would highly advise you to stay mindful once you join a consulting firm. Your future employer will expect you to align your external communication with the firm's values and risk policies. Before publishing future content, it will be important to double-check internally, especially for sensitive topics, to make sure there is no conflict of interest or reputational risk.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming applications, pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

 

Hi there,

Adding some nuance to the discussion here: It depends on the MBB. 

McK is usually more stringent than the other two. Probably something that would need to be discussed with HR but nothing that could influence your application/interviews - only once you are a firm member.

Cheers,

Florian

Hey there 😊,

This is such a thoughtful and relevant question—and the short answer is: you’re absolutely right to be intentional, but having a strong online presence is not a red flag at MBB—in fact, it can be an asset when done with care.

💡 Pre-MBB: Will it hurt your chances?

As long as your content is respectful, professional, and well-reasoned, it’s not a problem—even if it touches on sensitive or societal topics. Many consultants are encouraged to be visible and vocal, especially on thought leadership. MBBs care more about how you communicate than what you post.

Just avoid: – Personal attacks / overly aggressive tone
– Anything too partisan or tied to activism that could create client conflict
– Sharing client-specific insights, of course

🎯 Once You're In MBB

Your content will be more tightly watched. People usually either:
– Keep posting but shift tone slightly (neutral, insight-driven, inclusive language)
– Or pause public thought pieces until they gain seniority or get internal approval

So you don’t need to stop—you just need to know when to adapt tone/focus depending on role and visibility.

Let me know if you'd like to review your LinkedIn strategy—I’d be happy to support 😊

Best,
Alessa 😇