What does it take to break into the world’s top consulting firms when the odds aren’t in your favor?
What does the consulting path actually entail for young people?
How do you balance other passions and an entrepreneurial fire when working a 9-9?
This episode, I sat down with Edward Collinson, an Associate Consultant at Bain & Company, who carved his own path to success—and in the process, made history as the first Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student to land a role at one of the MBB firms (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) straight out of undergrad.
Ed is sharp, funny, and refreshingly honest about his journey. We dig into:
💡 How to stand out and secure a consulting role—even without a “target school” background.
✍️ How his “Why Consulting” answer would be different after two years in the industry.
🧐 A candid look at what’s true (and false) about the consulting world and what it looks like for youngin at a firm.
🌱 How Ed balances the drive for success with building a meaningful, holistic life.
Ed’s thoughtful approach to life and career is one I’ve learned a lot from, and I think you’ll find it equally valuable. Whether you’re exploring consulting, looking for career strategies, or just love an inspiring story, you won’t want to miss this one.
🎧 Tune in to the episode and take away tools you can apply today.
TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Intro
02:10 How Ed would revise his "why consulting" answer
07:00 How to overcome the odds of entering MBB from a "non-target university" or non-traditional background
16:30 The 80-20 framework applied to consulting recruiting... what matters most in the process
21:30 Where do people go after consulting?...understanding the high attrition rate in the industry (people typically only spend 2 years at major consulting firms)
25:10 How does consulting work in terms of specialization and working in different industries
28:15 How to "horcrux your life" and keep your other identities alive when in a high-octane professional setting
32:10 Does flexibility exist in consulting...how much do you control your calendar?
34:50 Important things that dictate your sustainability and happiness as a young adult
38:00 Where Ed thinks he will be in 5 years and how he will reflect on his current self
41:30 What is the ultimate scarce resource?!
46:00 Ed flips the script and asks me what I think the ultimate scarce resource is
Email me at colehume1@gmail.com for any feedback, ideas, or notes!
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