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MBB Career: How Liwaza Prepares You for McKinsey, BCG and Bain

Patrick Sanang
December 4, 2025
10 min

The complete guide to joining MBB strategy consulting firms through a top MBA. Target schools, GRE preparation, admission strategy and opportunities in Africa.

Introduction

McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company — the 'MBB' represent the pinnacle of global strategy consulting. For many African francophone professionals, joining these prestigious firms is a major career goal. The royal path? An MBA at a top school. But which one to choose? How to prepare? And above all, where to practice afterward? At Liwaza, we guide candidates toward this trajectory of excellence, with particular attention to opportunities in Africa — a continent where MBB firms actively recruit and where growth opens exceptional prospects.

1Why target MBB?

MBB firms offer a unique value proposition for ambitious professionals.

The career accelerator

MBB firms are recognized as the best career springboards:

  • Exposure to high-level strategic issues
  • Working with leaders of major companies
  • Intensive continuous training
  • Exceptional professional network

Skills acquired

  • Complex problem solving
  • Executive communication
  • Project management and leadership
  • Quantitative and qualitative analysis

Post-MBB opportunities

After 2-4 years at MBB, doors open to:

  • Corporate general management
  • Private equity and venture capital
  • C-level positions in major companies
  • Entrepreneurship with established credibility

The African context

MBB firms have active offices in Africa:

  • Casablanca: Hub for North and francophone West Africa
  • Lagos: Hub for anglophone West Africa
  • Nairobi: Center for East Africa
  • Johannesburg: Headquarters for Southern Africa

African economic growth generates increasing demand for strategy consulting.

2MBAs that open MBB doors

Not all MBAs are equal for accessing MBB. Here are the target schools:

The essential European trio

INSEAD (France/Singapore)

  • 1-year intensive program
  • Exceptional international diversity (90+ nationalities)
  • Strong MBB presence in recruiting
  • Ideal for: international career or return to Africa

London Business School (UK)

  • 15-21 month program
  • Gateway to the European market
  • Strong network in finance and consulting
  • Ideal for: UK or European career

IESE (Spain)

  • 19-month program
  • Intensive case-method approach
  • Strong MBB recruiting
  • Ideal for: humanistic approach to business

The European reality

Warning: Europe recruits less than before for MBB. As our analysis explains: 'The problem with MBB in France is that France is an economy that doesn't grow. So they don't recruit much.'

The African alternative

For an MBB career in Africa, prospects are better:

  • Strong economic growth
  • Growing demand for strategic consulting
  • Less competition for positions
  • Active offices in Casablanca, Lagos, Nairobi

Middle East as a springboard

Gulf offices (Dubai, Qatar, Emirates) also offer opportunities before a potential return to Africa.

3Preparation with Liwaza

Liwaza offers comprehensive support for candidates targeting MBB through an MBA.

The GRE: why not GMAT?

For francophones, the GRE is more accessible:

  • GMAT: 1 to 1.5 years of preparation needed
  • GRE: 5-6 months are enough with the right method

Our recommendation: focus on the GRE.

Target scores for top MBAs

  • Quantitative: 165+/170 (are you an engineer? Aim for 167+)
  • Verbal: 160+/170 (155 minimum acceptable)

The Liwaza approach to GRE

  • 1 hour per day: GRE articles + exercises + speaking
  • Weekends: Practice tests and in-depth review
  • Every 2 weeks: Complete diagnostic test with coach debrief

English: speaking makes the difference

Our AI speaking module allows you to practice 9 minutes per day:

  • Conversation on IELTS topics
  • Automatic feedback on pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary
  • Measurable progress toward C1 level

Application package

Our MBA coaches support you on:

  • CV optimized for target schools
  • Impactful and authentic essays
  • Interview preparation

Liwaza coaches for consulting

Our team includes professionals from MBB and top MBA graduates:

  • Senior ex-McKinsey, BCG consultants
  • INSEAD, London Business School, IESE alumni
  • Consulting recruitment specialists

4Timeline: from preparation to MBB offer

The path to an MBB position via MBA takes about 2-3 years. Here's the typical timeline:

Months 1-6: GRE preparation

  • Sign up on Liwaza
  • 1 hour of daily work
  • Bi-weekly practice tests
  • Goal: validated GRE score

Months 4-8: English preparation

  • Daily speaking with Liwaza AI
  • Take IELTS or TOEFL
  • Goal: C1 level / Band 7+

Months 7-10: Application package

  • Essay writing
  • CV optimization
  • Obtaining recommendations
  • Submission in Round 1 or 2

Months 11-14: Interviews and admission

  • MBA interview preparation
  • School responses
  • Scholarship negotiation

Months 15-25: MBA program

  • Core courses
  • Strategy/consulting specialization
  • Intensive networking with MBB
  • Case interview practice

Months 20-25: MBB recruitment

  • Applications to firms
  • Interview rounds (fit + case)
  • Offer and negotiation

Crucial advice: age matters

The average age in MBA is 27-29 years. Beyond 33-34 years, admission becomes more difficult. Plan accordingly.

5Financing: how to make the MBA accessible

An MBA costs between €80,000 and €150,000 (fees + living). Here's how to finance it smartly.

The thirds strategy

  • 1/3 personal savings: €18,000-25,000 minimum
  • 1/3 scholarships: €35,000-50,000 via multi-school negotiation
  • 1/3 loan: The rest as student loan

Maximizing scholarships

The Liwaza strategy:

  1. Apply to at least 3 schools
  2. Get multiple admissions
  3. Use offers to negotiate

Real example: a candidate with INSEAD and London Business School admissions negotiated their scholarship from €30,000 to €50,000.

Specific scholarships

Several scholarships target Africans:

  • Africa MBA Fellowship
  • School-specific scholarships
  • Government scholarships

Loans

With a top MBA admission, banks lend easily:

  • BNP, Société Générale (from France)
  • Prodigy Finance (international)
  • Special partner school loans

Tax optimization (France)

If you're a French tax resident:

  • MBA fees are deductible
  • Potential savings: €15,000-20,000
  • Request tax invoices from your school

MBA ROI for MBB

Post-MBA salary at MBB: €120,000-180,000/year

The MBA typically pays for itself in 2-3 years.

6Africa: the strategic playing field

For African candidates, targeting an MBB career in Africa presents unique advantages.

Why Africa?

  • Sustained economic growth
  • Growing demand for strategic consulting
  • Less competition than in mature markets
  • Visible and rapid impact on local economies

MBB offices in Africa

McKinsey

  • Johannesburg (Africa headquarters)
  • Lagos, Nairobi, Casablanca
  • Strong presence in public and private sectors

BCG

  • Casablanca (francophone hub)
  • Lagos, Johannesburg
  • Focus on digital transformation

Bain

  • Johannesburg
  • Growing presence in East Africa

Growth sectors

  • Telecommunications and tech
  • Financial services and fintech
  • Energy and infrastructure
  • Consumer goods
  • Public sector and international organizations

The francophone advantage

Francophones have an advantage for missions in West and North Africa:

  • Cultural understanding
  • Language proficiency
  • Existing local network

The Liwaza community

By joining Liwaza, you integrate a network of future African leaders. Tomorrow, your preparation peers might be your clients, partners or MBB colleagues.

In Conclusion

The road to MBB via a top MBA is demanding but accessible to well-prepared African francophone candidates. At Liwaza, we have guided dozens of candidates to the best schools and most beautiful career paths. The secret? Methodical 10-12 month preparation, personalized support, and a clear vision of your goals. Strategy consulting in Africa is booming. Opportunities have never been more numerous. Are you ready to seize yours?

Source of Insights: The insights in this article are based on Analysis of strategy consulting career paths for African candidates - Study of professional trajectories and MBA admissions of candidates targeting MBB firms Source: Liwaza Research Team Date: 2025-12-04
AI Usage: This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence to analyze and synthesize source data. The content has been reviewed and validated by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance of the presented information.