About Kearney
“Our success as consultants will depend on the essential rightness of the advice we give and our capacity for convincing those in authority that it is good.” – Andrew Thomas Kearney (Founder)
Kearney have been trusted advisors to the world’s leading enterprises since 1926, and the firm continues to follow the values set forth by its founder Andrew Thomas (Tom) Kearney.
Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with over 4,200 employees in over 40 countries. The firm collaborates with over three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500, as well as the most powerful governmental and non-profit organizations.
Kearney is a partner-owned firm with a unique, collegial culture that cuts across organizational and geographic lines—and it shows. Their consultants are down to earth, friendly, and have a common passion for performing innovative client work that brings clear benefits to businesses – both short and long term – regardless of location or status. Kearney is proud of its commitment to being the difference for its people, clients, and communities, guaranteeing a culture that reinforces the firm’s strengths and, as a result, best serves its clients.
Kearney combines their globally recognized capabilities in strategy, digital, analytics, strategic operations, and change management to assist clients in gaining extraordinary value. They have narrowed their focus to their core competencies: strategic operations and strategic transformation, digitization of legacy processes, rapid earnings growth, and M&A. They are redoubling their efforts to develop cutting-edge capabilities in areas that will have a significant impact on their clients.
Early Years
In 1926, James O. McKinsey (founder of McKinsey) had an idea that accountants should use budgets as a management tool rather than just to tally expenses. While McKinsey was brilliant in his analytical skills, he was not a people person. Recognizing this gap, he enlisted the help of Andrew Thomas (Tom) Kearney as a partner.
Kearney, on the other hand, was a friendly, approachable person who could talk to anyone—exactly the right person to lead the company’s growth. He also brought marketing and operations expertise to the table, complementing McKinsey’s accounting and legal knowledge. As a result of this collaboration, two of the consulting industry’s leading firms were born.
After the Death of McKinsey
In 1937, after the death of James McKinsey, the firm split, and McKinsey, A.T. Kearney, & Company was born. By 1947, McKinsey purchased the exclusive right to use the McKinsey name, and Tom’s firm became A.T. Kearney and Company. By 1959, Tom’s firm became A.T. Kearney and Company, and had grown to employ approximately 70 people. In 1972, the name was shortened to A.T. Kearney.
By the end of 1992, A.T. Kearney had established overseas offices, partnered with the World Economic Forum, and launched the Global Business Policy Council. The hyper-growth of A.T. Kearney, however, led it to grapple with its own challenges, including the need to adapt quickly to new capability requirements and maintain a favorable cash position.
In 1995, the company was acquired by EDS, an American information technology company. However, the two firms experienced some culture clash: A. T. Kearney’s individualistic, entrepreneurial style vs. the more bureaucratic approach of EDS. In 2006, A.T. Kearney completed the management buyout and became an independent firm once again.
In 2020, A.T. Kearney became just “Kearney” and refreshed its brand values. Today, it is one of the leading global management consulting firms that serve the Fortune Global 500 companies, as well as with the most influential governmental and non-profit organizations.
| Website | https://www.kearney.com/ |
| Founder’s Name | Tom Kearney |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, U.S. |
| Type | Incorporated |
| Industry | Global management consulting |
| Locations | 40 countries with a strong presence in the U.S. and Europe |
| Key People | Alex Liu, Chairman of the Kearney Board of Directors |
| Number of Employees | 4,200 (as of March 2022) |
| Revenue | $1.27 billion (FY 2020) |
| Consulting Services |
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| Industries |
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| Social Media |
Kearney is committed to providing long-term, profitable solutions to clients. The firm is recognized as a global leader in operations and transformations, and it demonstrates its values through diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as employee mental health and well-being initiatives.
The company carries out its purpose/mission in three ways:- Serving its clients by incorporating purpose into its operations and making the most long-term impact possible in each engagement.
- Working with mission-driven organizations to make a difference in their communities.
- Assisting/Helping its people in achieving their own goals in an inclusive environment.
“We challenge our colleagues to practice our values every day by sharing ideas around the firm of what great looks like and by appreciating each other as we bring these to life.”- Stephen Parker, CHRO
Kearney’s five core values are- Generosity: Caring deeply about each other and its clients
- Solidarity
- Passion: To be their best
- Curiosity: Drive to explore new gr ounds
- Boldness: To break from the status quo and be distinctive
To create a sense of belonging and fairness for all, Kearney believes in the following principles:- Creating a trusting space – to share perspectives, surface complex topics, and identify our biases in an open and forgiving environment.
- Inclusive leadership – to ensure individuals bring their best selves to each collaboration.
- Supporting those who need the most – by providing practical help, education, and unity, in conjunction with their network of experts and allies.
- Responding with time – by championing social justice, racial equality, and inclusion.
Diversity at Kearney
Source – Kearney.com
Some of the most prominent organizations Kearney is proud to partner with are:- World Economic Forum – A strategic partner of the forum actively engaged across multiple platforms, initiatives, and communities, helping to support and shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
- World Government Summit – The summit works by convening leaders in the public and private sectors so they can collaborate with world-renowned experts, and Kearney actively supports the Summit in its activities.
- Bloomberg – Kearney has collaborated with the media firm to explore the crux of the cause and why a purpose gap exists to translate things into action.
- UN Women UK – Kearney is working for UN Women UK in pushing for progress on gender equality.
- Alliance to End Plastic Waste – Kearney is a member of the alliance and is supporting the mission to create and scale innovative solutions to eliminate plastic waste and protect the planet.
As Kearney puts it, the Global Business Policy Council is a strategic service of the firm. “Through exclusive global forums, public-facing thought leadership, and advisory services, the Council helps to decipher sweeping geopolitical, economic, social, and technological changes and their effects on the global business environment”.
Why work at Kearney?
‘Kearney believes that to make the difference, it must commit to ‘be the difference’.
A personal and practical partnership
Kearney believes that consulting is a people’s business. They believe in the idea that a plan is only as good as the outcome it inspires.
If the candidate is able to bring perspective, understanding, and hands-on know-how, then Kearney is the right place to be. Its consultants are often called ‘results’ consultants, meaning, understanding operations and performance is key to the approach followed by Kearney. They believe that their unique approach leads their clients to work with them more than once.
Big enough to have it covered, small enough to really care
With offices in more than 40 countries across the world, Kearney is located near to its prospective consultants and its clients to help them in the transformation process.
Purpose – making purpose actionable
Kearney believes in fulfilling the purpose gap of its clients, people, and communities that they work with. They believe that doing well for their stakeholders will do well for their clients. Essential rightness, a principle enshrined by its founding fathers, guides the purpose mission of the firm today. They believe in ‘deploying advanced technology know-how and talent for an ecosystem of lasting economic, social, and environmental solutions’.
Social impact – less talk, more action
Kearney believes in creating a positive social impact in three primary areas – 3Es
- Economic Development
- Energy and sustainability and
- Education
These 3Es over the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide the vision of the company.
Some of the key achievements in the area of social impact are as follows:
- Support all 17 UN SDGs
- 14,000+ hours donated by employees of Kearney to pro bono initiatives
- $1M commitment to social and racial justice causes by the end of 2021 and
- 100% carbon neutral since 2010
Individual and inclusive to its core
Kearney is a firm believer in achieving diversity and inclusion and hence has set the following goals for itself:
- To commit 1,500 days of action for employees to pursue social and racial justice, inclusion, and equity work
- Triple black leaders by 2023 and accelerate the intake and representation of black employees and
- Expand diversity, equity and inclusion education globally, including annual anti-racism training
Insurance, Health & Wellness
- Healthcare & Insurance – Kearney offers a comprehensive global healthcare insurance to its employees
Financial & Retirement
- 401K Plan
- Pension Plan
- Retirement Plan
Family & Parenting
- Maternity & Paternity Leave – The firm offers a 6 week paid maternity and paternity leave for its employees
Vacation & Time Off
- Vacation & Paid Time Off – Based on the agreement and the option an employee chooses, a suitable time off period is offered
Perks & Benefits
- Free Lunch or Snacks – The firm offers weekly happy Friday office hours, thereby creating a space for new connections, friendships, and community building.
Source: Glassdoor
Note: The benefits listed above vary from location and country due to the rules and regulations of each location.
Kearney – Dusseldorf Office
Source – Glassdoor
Roles Offered
At Kearney, the following roles are offered:
| Position | Role Description |
|---|---|
| Internship | 6-10 weeks which includes orientation, training and working with project managers. |
| Business analyst | Trained problem solvers contributing to client requirements immediately. Candidates for this position often join after completing their undergraduate degree. |
| Senior Business analyst | Experienced professional with undergraduate degree. |
| Associate | Responsibilities of candidates at this level include gathering and analyzing data, conducting competitor assessment studies, generating proposals, leading teams, and recommending and implementing co-created solutions alongside the client. |
| Manager | Managers at Kearney develop and champion consulting teams while ensuring the delivery of honest, original, and practical guidance to their clients. |
| Principal | They help drive new business for the firm and strengthen existing client relationships. |
| Associate Partner | Take responsibility for projects, work directly with partners and project teams, and contribute actively to the development of the firm’s continued growth. |
| Partner | They work to deepen client relationships, to deliver original solutions, and to develop their teams as future leaders of the firm, from business analyst to associate partner. |
Global Mobility Options
Kearney provides opportunities for its employees to move across different geographies or on assignments to work on client projects. The global staffing and mobility opportunities include:
- Staffing role on client projects: Providing an opportunity for assignment to other geographies for varying lengths of time, on client-based project assignments.
- Transfer to local country employment: Facilitate business needs and personal preferences for a specified period, or on an indefinite basis to accommodate a personal request or fill an open position.
- Assignment: Primarily to fill temporary business needs, supporting strategic roles and leadership development for partners and principals, and building emerging or target markets.
Learning and Development at Kearney
The learning and development journey for an employee at Kearney begins on day one. The firm offers something known as ‘Craft curriculum’ which is a combination of Engage and Explore.
- Engage: is an online platform designed to welcome, inform, and connect new hires with the firm.
- Explore: is a virtual self-paced social learning that provides foundational content to the new hires.
Throughout this process, the consultants build community, develop critical core skills, and customize their learning journey based upon their individual needs and interests.
Personalized Programs at Kearney
Kearney has developed a number of programs to help tailor to the unique personal and professional needs of its employees. These are as follows:
| Programs | Description |
|---|---|
| Flexibility options | The goal is to support people in choosing options that help them pursue their personal and professional goals.
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| Pathways for Parents | This program offers options to help ease the transition for caregivers returning to work, including the ability to take a six-month rotation in a family-friendly role, work part-time, or take a partially paid parental leave of absence. |
| Sponsorship | This program supports the advancement and development of career paths for consultants within the firm. |
| WorkSmart | The goal of this program is to help the team develop a charter that balances team objectives and the personal goals of team members. The program entails the effective use of technology, remote working arrangements, alternate travel schedules, and different work allocations to create more options within teams. |
Compensation per Position/Role
| Position | Location (Average Salary/Per Year) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (in $) | London (in £) | Mumbai (in ₹) | |
| Business Analyst | $78,991 | £46,062 | ₹20,77,753 |
| Sr. Business Analyst | $99,518 | £58,959 | ₹34,70,648 |
| Consultant | $134,496 | £78,151 | ₹30,92,581 |
| Associate | $171,058 | £96,758 | ₹47,90,294 |
| Manager | $235,620 | £135,409 | ₹71,23,429 |
| Principal | $265,784 | £212,022 | ₹2,0000,000 |
Source: Glassdoor
Note: (-) indicates data not available
MBA Salary at Kearney
The below-mentioned salaries are typical for MBA graduates joining at Associate/Manager level
| Location | Base Salary | Bonus | Signing Bonus | Relocation Package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$153,000 | up to C$45,900 | C$20,000 | C$5,000 |
| Germany | €85,000 | up to €16,000 | – | up to €5,000 |
| Dubai | AED 570,000 | up to AED 90,000 | AED 90,000 | – |
Source: ManagementConsulted 2022 Report
Note:(-) indicates data not available
| Experience BCG (videos) | Why Kearney? |
- Annual off-site for Kearney staff and family to conduct team building activities and celebrate the rapid growth of the company.
- Annual Worldwide Kearney Week is held every September through engaging sessions that bring their alumni and 4,000+ employees together.
Kearney has been recognized worldwide for its supportive culture, inclusive programs and networks, and diverse talent.
- Diversity Leaders in Europe 2022. Kearney has been voted as the best consultancy for diversity in Europe by the Financial Times. This ranking was based on feedback from more than 100,000 employees across 16 European countries.
- America’s Best Consulting Firms 2020 by Forbes.
- Based on Corporate Equality Index performance, Kearney has been voted as one of the Best Places to Work for the LGBTQI community 2021
- Kearney ranked first among 30 top companies for satisfaction among MBA graduates in their first job out of graduate school according to Transparent Career.
Since its inception, Kearney has produced more than 20,000 alumni. Some of the notable alumni are:
| Name | Organization | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Ankur Warikoo | nearbuy | Co Founder |
| Umang Kumar | Gaadi Web | Co Founder and CEO |
| Farah Nathani | The Mumum Co | Co Founder |
| Jason Lin | Super Capital Group | MD |
| Jian Sun | ATI, Hong Kong/Shanghai | Senior Partner |
| Sinead Bovell | WAYE | Founder |
| Beena Paradin Migotto | beendi | CEO & Founder |
| Matthew Le Merle | Blockchain Coinvestors, and Keiretsu Forum | Co Founder, Managing partner |
| Ulrich Grillo | BDI | President |
| Ashu Goel | WinWire Technologies | CEO |
| Erica Bell | Hukkster | Co-Founder |
Source: Crunchbase, Management Consulted
Alumni Podcast
Kearney has developed an alumni podcast wherein former employees of the firm share ideas of how they are evolving and what potential it holds for the work they are doing.
Getting hired at Kearney
Kearney – Poland Office
Source: Glassdoor
Interview round
At Kearney, the first interview round consists of behavioral interviews and case interviews and the second one depends upon the position applied for – for instance, undergraduates applying for the business analyst role will experience additional behavioral and case interviews, while MBAs and experienced hires may also have a case presentation.
Behavioral interview round
In this round the interviewer tries to understand the past behavior and performance of the candidate and tries to evaluate and predict their future success at the firm. Kearney says this round is like a ‘traditional, get-to-know-you conversation’ style interview.
Case presentation round
In this round, the interviewer will ask the candidate to provide a solution to a new challenge. Skills such as problem-solving will be a key part of this round and Kearney likes to understand how the candidate thinks and approaches real-world problems.
Some of the interview questions that were posed to the candidate recently are as follows:
For the Business Analyst Role
- Tell me about a time you showed leadership.
- How can we increase volunteers in the UAE?
- Privatization of some areas of the KSA healthcare system.
- Project/JV evaluation of a mining project.
- Market sizing: How many hospital beds should there be?
- Why do you want to be in consulting? Why are you making a big career move?
- What is your motivation to join Kearney?
- Rank Bain, BCG, and McKinsey in order and why would you choose us or one of them?
- Estimate the no. of cups of coffee sold in a Starbucks store in a day
- Estimate the market size of Western seafood in Singapore
- Estimate the market size of a fish and chips football per day?
- What can you infer from the table regarding the performance of “full fat” milk?
For the Associate Role
- Tell me about yourself
- Describe a situation where you led a group.
- Describe a situation where you convinced a group.
- Tell me about a time when you had a conflict.
- Describe a major challenge that you have faced in your career and how you dealt with it.
- How do you think you’d cope with the corporate environment/workload/frustrations of a client perhaps deciding not to implement your work?
- What do you think a day in the life of a consultant is like? How would you fit into that space?
For the Manager Role
- Tell me about a time you managed a team to deliver.
- I had a conversation with my client last week. Here is their problem. If you were going to sell this project, how would you structure the project? What challenges do you anticipate?
- Your friend has a business that provides credit cards to students, but it is not working well. How would you recommend improvement?
- Describe a time when you disappointed someone.
- Best way to build a factory in China?
Source: Glassdoor
Work-life balance
- Consulting is tough, and Kearney makes an effort to provide a more hands-on, humble environment, with smart, diverse people from all over the world. You will be stretched, and learn faster than you ever thought possible. However, regard for work-life balance is extremely poor (think 2am emails, weekend work, calls on holidays), and an “always-on” culture that can be exhausting.
- Kearney is a top-tier firm and provides great opportunities for growth and advancement. Work is project based, with most projects lasting 2-6 months and spanning all industries and functions (go-to market strategy, post-merger integration, PE due diligence, re-organizations, procurement, supply chain, etc.)
Pay & Benefits
- You’re given great responsibilities from the beginning. The job requires a lot of traveling and being away from family for 4 days a week. However, the compensation and great experience are well worth it.
Job Security & Advancement
- Great place to start off your career. Analysts are given full independent work streams. I was based out of New Delhi but did projects all over the country.
- Awesome place to work a lot and learn a lot, fantastic peers who will push your thinking. Be ready for hard work and a lot of travel, but you know that if you’re planning on being a management consultant.
Management
- Good to work with A.T Kearney and good people to work with, management is supportive and helps in all matters. Company is growing in India and future plans make it seem that the company will definitely have an impact in the Indian Market.
Culture
- It’s a good MNC company to work with. Good learning experience, good working culture with work-life balance. Hardest part of the job was that the management was very demanding and put immense pressure on getting the job done.
Conclusion
Kearney is consistently recognized among the best management consulting firms in the world. The business has been selected in Consulting magazine’s “Best Firms to Work For” list seven times in the last eight years. On a regular basis, the firm features on the Vault Guide’s list of the most prestigious firms to work for; in 2020, it was ranked 9th.