Anna Navratil scored a full-time consulting job working at McKinsey & Company after graduating from her MBA at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
Consulting jobs remain a popular path for MBA graduates. With big salary gains, a variety of specialisms to follow, and the possibility for career progression, it’s an obvious choice for many—including Anna Navratil, who found a role with McKinsey after her own MBA.
The Graduate Management Admission Council reports that 36% of prospective MBAs aspire to work in the industry, and 36% of MBAs who start their own companies work in consulting.
When she started business school, Anna was in the 54% of students who didn’t envision a career in consulting.
“I wasn’t thinking about consulting going in!” she recalls. “I went to a panel early on in my MBA, and it was all white guys in suits talking about airline miles.”
Anna started her career in the nonprofit sphere, gaining a bachelors in sociology and anthropology before working with the YMCA, and local nonprofit group United Way of Greater New Haven.
After five years in the industry, however, she no longer felt pushed to develop.
“Nonprofit throws you into situations, and you grow a lot figuring things out,” she adds. “But people disrupting the social sector brought a different perspective, and I thought ‘where could I develop that?’”
She decided that an MBA was the perfect opportunity to expand her sphere of influence, and get some broader business experience.
"Goizueta is great in terms of social enterprise,” she adds. “They have centers doing cutting-edge research, and experimenting in the field in really cool ways.”
Opportunities in Atlanta
Having started her MBA experience, the question was which path to take. Anna admits she was “jumping off to explore,” in doing the degree, and Atlanta was the perfect place to do this.
“You’re in a major and exciting city,” she says. In fact, Anna landed one of her MBA internships at Habitat for Humanity International, a leading global nonprofit, in Atlanta.
“There, I was able to work with some of their different strategy leads in different regions,” she says. “In a more remote area I wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Atlanta is the capital of the southeast United States, and has plenty of accolades to recommend it, including the busiest airport in the world, the highest number of internships in the country, and—equally important for some—the most dog-friendly restaurants per capita in the US.
Goizueta Business School aims to be as connected to the business community as possible, and MBA students at the school have the chance to work with Fortune 500 firms such as Delta, FedEx, Home Depot, and Coca-Cola, to name a few.
But Anna says that career opportunities at Goizueta were matched by the personal connections she made. “Getting to work closely with people from such a range of backgrounds was wonderful,” she maintains. “I made long-term friendships, and it also helped me broaden my outlook.”
Why I switched to consulting
Of course, Anna’s first step to a major career change came with a summer internship at McKinsey & Company.
“A mentor pointed out that what I wanted in the summer was growth,” she says. “It was going to be tough to get that in a social sector internship, so I started thinking more expansively.”
After conversations with alums who worked at McKinsey, she started to realize that the company might be more than just “white guys in suits talking about airline miles.”
“It was actually incredibly impactful, and more interesting than I would have thought!” Anna adds.
Goizueta alumni proved especially useful in helping Anna land the role, assisting with case preparation, interview feedback, and advice.
“There are lots of Goizueta alums at McKinsey,” she explains. “They were a supportive group—coming into a very new experience, that level of support was great.
“I applied, thinking it would just be for summer, but enjoyed it a lot more.”
How to get a full-time consulting job
Anna managed to transform her summer internship into a full-time role at the end of her MBA—and was surprised at how similar it turned out to be.
“The internship is designed to let you really test out the experience,” Anna explains. “However, in full-time roles you’re given a workstream, interacting with C-suite clients.”
She says the big thing to remember during an internship is to take full advantage of the opportunity.
“You’re using the summer to really build those relationships,” she points out. “Bring your full self—a lot of people see the internship as the company deciding if you’re right for them, but it works the other way too.
“The big things to focus on are coming in prepared to learn and grow; having the humility to know you don’t understand everything; and tapping into the broader network of the firm.”
In general, Emory University is an excellent institution with valuable resources. The majority of the professors I encountered were outstanding and displayed a genuine concern for their students. Furthermore, Atlanta provides a plethora of opportunities and experiences.
Student
Verified
31/10/2023
On Campus
Pleasant weather, campus and professors
Emory enjoys pleasant weather for the most part, with warmth and mild conditions. The only drawback is the spring season, particularly due to the heavy pollen presence. Everything becomes coated in layers of pollen, which can be problematic for allergy sufferers. Fortunately, this pollen season is relatively short-lived. During the spring and fall, the weather can be quite unpredictable, swinging from scorching heat to chilly temperatures. You'll often find students relaxing or studying outdoors on campus with Professors ever ready to attend to students personally.
Student
Verified
30/10/2023
On Campus
Outstanding academics
At Emory, the academics are outstanding! It takes a lot of effort and commitment, but the results are well worth it. Teachers are very approachable and like answering inquiries from students. Nobody ever turning away a student that I know of. The campus is beautiful and tidy at Emory, with many places to relax and study.
Student
Verified
24/10/2023
On Campus
Academic performance surpassed my expectations
Emory University's academic performance surpassed my expectations. Achieving good grades often requires substantial effort, and the academic rigor varies depending on your chosen major. Nevertheless, I encountered highly knowledgeable professors, well-equipped to teach their respective courses. Emory offers a wide range of subject areas to choose from, providing students with diverse academic opportunities.
Student
Verified
24/10/2023
On Campus
Outstanding institution with stunning aesthetics
Emory University is an outstanding institution! The campus boasts stunning aesthetics, the individuals are friendly, and there is an abundance of activities available in the surrounding areas of Atlanta, Georgia. Undoubtedly, my most cherished aspect of Emory was its people. I forged numerous friendships and encountered individuals from diverse backgrounds. Academically, Emory provides a manageable experience. The majority of my professors were excellent, although, as is the case with any university, there may be certain classes or professors that one may not enjoy. Nevertheless, conducting some inquiries and perusing online reviews should provide a fairly accurate insight into what to anticipate in each class.
Student
Verified
23/10/2023
On Campus
Professors skilled in interactive discussions
I take great pleasure in the small class sizes and the professors' skill in creating interactive discussions. The professors demonstrate a strong enthusiasm for their subjects, consistently making the course content fascinating. Moreover, I am captivated by the beautiful campus, and its location is equally appealing.
Student
Verified
23/10/2023
On Campus
Exceptional faculty members
Emory University takes pride in its exceptional faculty members who are highly educated and committed to utilizing innovative and successful teaching techniques.It is widely recognized for its extensive research endeavors, offering students a wide-ranging knowledge foundation that can be readily applied to a variety of academic disciplines.
Student
Verified
25/02/2023
On Campus
Review of Emory university
The Professors are awesome and you get a lot of opportunities to get involved both on and off Campus. The campus is very lovely. The community of people are welcoming, super nice, and entertaining. The dining halls have popular music from throughout the decade playing and the overall atmosphere is super relaxing and enjoyable.
Konya
Verified
3/11/2022
On Campus
Batch'20
Emory is an amazing campus and a school with a nice social scene. I always wanted to see what it was like living in the states and this made it happen. Loving making new friends, acquaintances and some for life bonds as well as learning new subject every week. Emory is a great choice.
Jamie
Verified
26/05/2024
On Campus
Professors are always enthusiastic
Emory University is simply outstanding. They have excellent academic programmes with a vast selection of engaging courses. The instructors are extremely informed and enthusiastic about their subject matter. Additionally, the student support services are excellent. They have advisors that help you at every stage and offer resources for career counselling, mental health support, and tutoring. Emory genuinely cares about your prosperity and welfare. This university is fascinating and forward-thinking at the same time!
Linda
Verified
26/05/2024
On Campus
Lending a helping hand
The instructors at Emory University are redefining what it means to be helpful. They support us academically and serve as supporters, mentors, and confidants in addition to being educators. They are always there to provide advice and support, whether it is by remaining after class to address unanswered questions or by getting together for coffee on the weekends to talk about our professional goals. Their commitment to our achievement goes well beyond the school day, demonstrating time and again that students at Memory are people with dreams, not just a name. It's all possibilities when you have instructors like these.
Paige
Verified
26/05/2024
On Campus
Exceptional mentorship
Emory University is a refuge for both intellectual prowess and individual development. These instructors motivate students in addition to instructing. They go above and above to make sure every student succeeds, offering anything from spontaneous office hours to late-night emails that explain difficult subjects. Their commitment to us doesn't stop in the classroom; they support and encourage us as we overcome both academic and personal obstacles. In addition to being competent, Emory's faculty members have a personal stake in our success, both within and outside the classroom. Emory stands out for the kind of help he provides.
