Product Management at MBB? Starting my MBA soon, how to pivot

Hey!

I can give the MBA perspective here. 

The structured recruiting paths for MBB hire into generalist consulting roles. That being said, you can request to join McKinsey Digital, BCGX etc etc. on your application. It's in these parts of the business where you'll find the product management roles.

I also have some classmates that have applied directly to MBB in product management roles outside of the structured recruiting paths and had success, so that's also an option.

Best of luck and reach out if you need advice!

Will 

Hi there

Breaking into MBB product management roles is competitive. That said, MBB increasingly hires experienced PMs for their digital, AI, and tech-focused arms (e.g., BCG X, McKinsey Digital, Bain Vector), in line with client demands.

Getting in

• Leverage your product experience → Highlight strategic impact, cross-functional leadership, and data-driven decision-making.
• Target digital & tech practices → Apply to BCG X, McKinsey Digital, and Bain’s innovation teams, where PM skills are highly valued.
• Networking is key → MBB recruits PMs differently from consultants, so connect with internal recruiters, current PMs, and alums.
• The rest of the application is similar to the generalist hires (case, fit + sometimes more technical interviews)

Work

• Client-side → Building digital products, AI solutions, and platforms side-by-side with consulting teams.
• Internal → Developing proprietary tools, SaaS solutions, and research platforms used by consultants and clients.

Roles are high-impact, though travel and long hours still apply. 

Cheers,

Florian

Hi there, 

I suppose you are talking about product role in BCG X, Bain Vector, McK Digital etc. The best way to get in I think would be through referral. So try to see if you can get to know someone already in the team and build a connection towards referral. 

Overall I would say it is not as demanding as the generalist consulting roles. But do expect some peak time when you get staffed on a case together with the generalist team.

There could be a mix of both internal and client facing roles. Internal work would be developing / improving the firm’s digital product offering. External work, basically you would be part of the client serving team, working together with the generalist consultants, to deliver part of the project scope. You might not be on the project from end to end, but just as and when there is product need. 

Best,

Emily

Hi there,

PM role is less demanding than client-facing consultants typically but doesn’t mean you will be fully internal either. Best way is definitely referral. Beyond the fact that it will increase the chance of interview, having someone knowing the firm well can also help find the best fit of the role that you are looking for. 

One thing to note is that some roles are quite likely to allow you to transfer to PM. For example, I’ve seen several engagement managers in McKinsey successfully transferred to solution managers or product managers. Given you have an MBA, entering as an associate and change your track later on can be an option too, given PM roles are relatively limited.

Happy to answer more follow up questions through DM!

Cheers,

Han