Prior to pursuing an MBA at the Weatherhead School of Management, Anurag Virmani was a doctor of medicine in pharmacology in India.
“Going to school for my MBA was always in the cards for me,” Virmani said. “I always wanted to do something related to healthcare, but I would like to work on the corporate side.”
This fall, Virmani along with 25 fellow Weatherhead students across the MBA and specialty master's programs, had the opportunity to visit the offices of McKinsey & Co., Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and KPMG in downtown Cleveland as part of the Cleveland Consulting Trek. This trek helped strengthen Virmani’s interest in working in the healthcare-consulting field upon graduation.
“I think working in healthcare consulting would be a really good fit for me,” said the first-year MBA student. “It [the trek] was a very fulfilling and insightful experience.”
During the visits, students were able to tour office buildings, meet with company representatives, participate in case studies and group discussions to gain insights into the consulting field and what the work culture is like at different companies.
“Without a doubt I now have a much clearer picture of the consulting industry and understand more how I should position myself in the consulting field,” said Meifang Zhu, who is in the MBA and Master of Finance Dual-Degree Program.
Zhu’s favorite part of the trek was, “the interactions between students and leaders in different firms,” she said. “For example, McKinsey provided us with a case study during the visit. The case study mimicked the job interview at McKinsey, providing us with real interview experience and invaluable feedback directly from a consulting firm and its leaders.”
Michael Steinetz, a master of supply chain management student, shared what he loved most about each office visit.
“At KPMG we went into breakout rooms and learned from employees about specific experiences they had and the opportunities in consulting in general. We also got to see some of the perks of being a part of a big consulting firm,” he said. “I liked the hands-on practice we did at Mckinsey and the presenters at PwC really impressed me with their knowledge and quality presentation.”
An informal networking session was held downtown following the company visits, where representatives from each firm gathered to visit more with the students.
“It allowed the students to have a more casual interaction with them, which really turned out nice,” said Donna VanRooy, director of employer development at Weatherhead. “The students really got to know them better and spend more time with them.”
Virmani added, “Everybody was just having a great time chatting. I think that helps build those connections.”
If your company is interested in being a part of a future career trek, please contact Donna VanRooy, director of employer development.