
S23E6: Steel Industry to McKinsey: What Most MBAs Get Wrong
From Strategy Simplified by Management Consulted
May 1, 2026 · 39 min · Season 23 · Episode 6
About this episode
Daniel shares his unconventional journey from the steel industry to McKinsey, emphasizing the importance of deep relationships over a wide network in consulting recruiting.
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 recruitingHow to turn a "niche" background into a drawThe case prep habit that added...
People in this episode
Guest: Daniel
Topics covered
- consulting
- networking
- MBA
- career development
- mentorship
Keywords
- consulting recruiting
- networking strategy
- MBA playbook
- mentorship
- case prep
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: McKinsey, steel and automotive
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