Hearing from Oliver Wyman on a career in consulting

The workshop started off with an introduction to Oliver Wyman, where the speakers outlined the firm’s collaborative culture and shared details about a consultant’s daily responsibilities. It was very enlightening learning about the ways Oliver Wyman supports its employees, such as providing them with training programmes for upskilling and organising team-building events. The presenters then walked us through the recruitment process, providing tips to succeed in their fit and case interviews. My biggest takeaway was the importance of sufficient preparation, especially in being numerically inclined and commercially aware. Emphasis was also placed on candidates being able to demonstrate cultural fit within the firm.

The main focus of the workshop was the case study exercise. We sat in groups of four to five and worked together to solve a business case that reflected real-world challenges. The case was centered around the Dutch tulip bulb market bubble which occurred around the 1600s. Our objective was to identify the best investment option for a client, a wealthy mayor at the time, among four tulip bulb companies (A,B,C, and D). The presenters guided us through exhibits detailing the company profiles, including their financial statements and operating model. The rest of the exhibits provided supporting information such as tulip technicalities and price levels during the 17th century.

Working through the case study was an exciting process, requiring a combination of analytical thinking and creativity. My team and I approached the case by figuring out which information from the exhibits was relevant to achieve our objective. With some guidance from Lucie – one of the presenters and a King’s maths alumnus now working at Oliver Wyman, we were able to identify relevant areas to look into. These included quantitative metrics such as EBITDA and total asset value, and qualitative metrics such as growth potential and risk factors. After calculating our numbers and brainstorming, my team and I recommended tulip company B as the best investment option due to its high return potential balanced with its low investment risk. The presenters held a discussion towards the end of the case study to review each team’s approach and provided constructive feedback.

The session concluded with a networking event over some pizza and drinks, where I had the opportunity to connect with the speakers and other representatives, asking them questions about their experiences at Oliver Wyman.

Overall, the case study workshop was an incredible learning experience. It gave me an understanding of what recruiters seek in a strong candidate during the interview stages, allowing me to identify areas for personal improvement. I also learnt to challenge assumptions and identify drivers behind a business issue from large sets of information—an essential skill in consulting. A big thank you to King’s NMES for organising this event; I look forward to opportunities like this in the future!

You can find out more about Oliver Wyman and opportunities via their website