S23E6: Steel Industry to McKinsey: What Most MBAs Get Wrong

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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