Product Overview

In spring of 2022, nearly three years after being one of the only Black women in the history of the University of Virginia Darden School of Business to have secured a coveted job offer from one of the “Big Three” consulting firms—McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, and Boston Consulting Group (MBB)—Alyssa Smith was faced with one of her toughest career decisions to date. From the start of her career in consulting, she knew she had found a strong professional fit in the industry. She had great problem-solving skills and an ability to break down complex problems into their component parts. Almost two years into her job as a consultant, however, Smith had given birth to her first child. The career that had once energized her was now creating challenges: Management consulting demanded 24-7 commitment. Smith was no longer certain that this job was the right fit for her. Smith needed to make a decision quickly. Her current work situation was taking a serious toll on her emotional well-being. Should she leave consulting, which had been, at one point, her dream job? What personal and professional considerations should factor into her decision?