Why Kearney Spain? Why did you choose it over MBB?

Question

Culture + people

I had the opportunity to work closely with two ex-Kearney consultants and was consistently impressed by their structured thinking, clarity in problem-solving, and collaborative approach.
Every current Kearney consultant from the Madrid office I’ve spoken to has been generous with their time and incredibly helpful. If this is the level of support offered to candidates, I can only imagine how strong the internal culture must be.
I value environments where people push each other to grow, and Kearney seems to foster exactly that: a high-performing but supportive culture.

functinal fit: great at operations and cost optimisation

Kearney’s strong reputation in operations aligns with my experience and interests.
I’ve worked on several operational projects e.g. [briefly name or describe Project X, Y, Z] and I truly enjoy identifying inefficiencies and building scalable solutions.

Kearney Madrid

The Madrid office, with ~100 people, offers a scale that feels ideal: large enough for impactful, international work, but small enough to maintain a strong sense of ownership and visibility.
I’ve thrived in small, high-responsibility environments before (especially in my startup role), and I enjoy the pressure and autonomy that come with being close to decision-making.
I’m excited by the chance to work with clients in both the Spanish and Latin American markets, given the office’s cross-regional reach.

Do you have any other ideas of what could be good points?

Answer 1

Hey 😊,

This is already a super strong and authentic answer—great mix of cultural fit, functional alignment, and personal motivation 🙌 A few extra points you could consider sprinkling in if relevant:

🌍 Global projects with entrepreneurial exposure
Kearney’s leaner teams often mean earlier responsibility and client exposure, which can accelerate growth compared to more layered MBB teams.

🔁 Generalist model with depth in operations
You could highlight that you like Kearney’s generalist entry combined with the ability to deepen expertise later (e.g., in ops/strategy), giving both breadth and focus.

🤝 Partnership model + collaboration
The firm’s strong partnership culture is often more non-hierarchical, and people mention how approachable seniors are—even on international projects.

💬 Less templated, more tailored
Kearney is known for doing more bespoke problem solving, especially in ops-heavy cases—not just applying playbooks. This might appeal to your preference for scalable, practical solutions.

Let me know if you want help turning this into a polished mock answer—I’d be happy to review it with you 😊

Best,
Alessa 😇

Answer 2

Hi there,

Your response is already strong, but here’s a refined and more structured version that improves clarity and flow while making the reasoning even more compelling:

Why Kearney Spain? Why Choose It Over MBB?

1. Culture & People – A Collaborative, High-Performing Environment

I had the opportunity to work closely with two ex-Kearney consultants and was consistently impressed by their structured thinking, clarity in problem-solving, and collaborative approach. Their ability to break down complex issues while fostering teamwork stood out to me.

Beyond that, every consultant I’ve spoken to from the Madrid office has been generous with their time and incredibly helpful. If this is the level of support offered to candidates, I can only imagine how strong the internal culture must be. I value environments where people push each other to grow, and Kearney seems to foster exactly that—a high-performance yet supportive culture.

2. Functional Fit – Strength in Operations & Cost Optimization

Kearney’s strong reputation in operations, cost optimization, and transformation aligns directly with my experience and interests. I’ve worked on several operational projects, including [briefly mention Project X, Y, Z], where I identified inefficiencies and built scalable solutions. I find this type of work highly engaging and am eager to refine my expertise in a firm that excels in this space.

Additionally, Kearney’s balance between strategic and operational consulting appeals to me. While MBB offers broad strategy exposure, I believe Kearney’s focus on turning strategy into execution will provide me with a more hands-on and impactful learning experience.

3. Madrid Office – The Right Size & International Exposure

With around 100 consultants, the Madrid office offers the best of both worlds:
• Large enough to work on high-impact, international projects.
• Small enough to maintain a strong sense of ownership, visibility, and close client relationships.

I’ve thrived in small, high-responsibility environments before, especially in my startup role, where autonomy and decision-making pressure were key drivers of my growth.

Moreover, I’m particularly excited by the Madrid office’s reach across Spain and Latin America, as it provides the opportunity to work on cross-regional projects while leveraging my language skills and multicultural adaptability.

Additional Points to Consider (Optional)
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Kearney is known for giving early responsibility. If you enjoy taking initiative and shaping outcomes rather than just executing, this could be a strong angle.

Let me know if you need further input - happy to help you structure your fit / behavioural answers.

Best,

Evelina

Answer 3

Apart from the parts where you mention specific names and office size, most of the answers are quite generic and could apply to almost any firm.

First, ask yourself genuinely why you want to work at Kearney—be authentic, interviewers can tell when you’re not.

Second, work on more tailored insights from your conversations with Kearney consultants.

Finally, do some research on projects Kearney has done in Spain and reference them.

Encantado de ayudarte a preparar la entrevista de fit, solo escríbeme por privado :)

Best,

Alberto

—

Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: StayPro - Consumer Growth Strategy

Answer 4

The cultural fit part could apply to any person and any firm. The real question here is why would you be a good fit for this office (and the office a good fir for you) and you didn't answer that

Functional fit is a good answer. You understand what they do and you provide personal examples to show that you fit well within what they do.

Kearney Madrid part is generic. Once again: why will you fit in? Why should they hire you?

Answer 5

Hi there,

Good start, but to make it stronger and more tailored to Kearney, bring in more firm-specific elements. Think about the people you’ve met, the values Kearney highlights on their website, or anything you’ve experienced or heard that reflects their culture.

Make it personal - connect those traits back to your own personality, working style, or goals. That way, it doesn’t just sound like a good answer - it sounds like your answer, and one that shows why you and Kearney are a strong fit.

Cheers,

Florian