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Sebastian is a Purdue junior with Bain interviews coming up. He ran a full first-round Bain case live – and after every section, coach Mitali stopped and told him exactly what worked and what he missed.
Mitali spent 5 years in consulting, including as a senior consultant at Bain in London. She's coached 350+ people into MBB and used to interview candidates herself – so she knows what Bain is looking for.
You'll see:
Why "financial vs. non-financial" is too generic for Bain – and what to say instead
How to read an exhibit the way Bain wants it done
The math mistake Sebastian made live – and how he recovered
How to give a final recommendation backed by the numbers, not your gut
Coaching with Mitali:
Join the Black Belt case prep program for personalized coaching with Mitali and a prep strategy tailored to your goals and timeline
Connect with Mitali on LinkedIn
Resources:
Create a free account to access Case Interview Foundations – a 7-day case interview crash course
Watch more McKinsey, BCG, and Bain case interview demos on YouTube
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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He got McKinsey and Bain interviews and practiced 30 cases with friends – but didn't make it past round 1.
Overconfident Ollie is a target school student with every reason to be confident. He joined Black Belt, made a plan – then mostly went at it alone. 
His KPI was cases completed and when MBB's first round came, his floor wasn't high enough.
Katie and Japheth break down what went wrong, what's at stake if the approach doesn't change, and the specific steps Ollie is taking to rebuild before the next round of deadlines.
Why casing volume without feedback builds false confidence
What peer casing can't tell you – and why a coach can
The "floor vs. ceiling" principle that defines where most candidates fall short
The May Black Belt cohort closes Tuesday, May 12 (limited spots). Learn more and join.
Resources:
Join the May Black Belt cohort (see coaches)
Book a free 15-minute call with Katie to map out your best path
Create a free MC account to get Case Foundations, a case prep crash course
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
Daniel went from steel and automotive to McKinsey. His path wasn't conventional – and neither was his networking strategy.
Instead of casting a wide net, he built 2 deep relationships at the firm – mentors who helped him at every stage. 
This episode breaks down what worked – and what the standard MBA playbook gets wrong.
Why 2 deep relationships beat 30 surface connections in consulting recruiting
How to turn a "niche" background into a draw
The case prep habit that added depth without adding volume
Resources:
Coaching helped Daniel take his prep to the next level – book a 1-hour session
Not sure where to start? Book a 15-minute call with Katie
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
Only 19% of McKinsey's new hires today are MBAs. In the mid-90s, that number was over 80%.
The # of spots available for MBAs is shrinking – the competition isn't.
MC coach Catherine Lee – ex-Deloitte, ex-BCG, Harvard MBA – breaks down 3 mistakes that sink most incoming MBAs before they ever reach an interview:
Starting too late (fall semester is already too late)
Treating prep like a sprint instead of a marathon
Practicing cases without a system to track your gaps
Plus: the summer prep roadmap that gets you ahead of your entire cohort before school starts.
Katie Neff (Black Belt Advisor) joins with data from 250+ BB members who landed at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG – including the 22-case benchmark.
Resources:
Want structured support before the semester starts? Join Black Belt
Not sure yet? Book 15 minutes with Katie
Pre-MBA program deadlines start May 3
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
Laura Ackermann once worked with a hospital executive in his 50s – years of running a mid-sized US hospital – who wanted to apply for McKinsey's Associate position.
She was outraged.
Not at him – at how common the pattern is. 
Experienced hires undervalue what they've built. They apply too low. Skip networking because it feels uncomfortable. Wait to start case prep because the timeline isn't obvious.
And then the window closes.
In this episode, Laura (BCG → McKinsey senior engagement manager, now MC coach) and Katie Neff (MC Black Belt Advisor) break down the 4-step experienced hire system to break into consulting.
She covers:
Why applying to the wrong level gets you rejected
How to narrow your target list to 6-10 firms and own them, instead of applying to 30 and hoping
What a consulting-ready resume looks like when your experience isn't linear
Why case prep must start way before you apply
Resources:
Get our 4-step experienced hire system with Black Belt
Book a free 15-minute consultation with Katie
Start case prep with Case Foundations – create your free account
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more