Debbie Lovich came to Boston Consulting Group (BCG) with a plan: Do great work, find her people, and make partner fast. She accomplished all three. Less than six years after joining the firm, she became the fastest partner promote in BCG’s history.
But Debbie’s path was not linear. When she found herself on BCG’s executive committee—the only woman in the room—the travel and pressure became unsustainable. She resigned as partner, managed the firm’s Boston office, and launched a global program on work-life balance at BCG, work she says has been the highest impact of her career. Years later, she returned as a contractor working four days a week and eventually made senior partner again on her own terms.
For MBA applicants considering a career in consulting, Debbie’s advice is direct: Figure out if you actually want it. “You can’t go into something as intense as this temporarily,” she says. “The interview process will sniff that out.” She also wants applicants to know that the “up or out” structure is not something to fear. Anyone who does not make promotion still gains years of accelerated learning that will translate to the rest of their career. And what happens if you are rejected from the firm? She should know: BCG rejected her twice before she was hired, and she still made it onto the executive committee.
Debbie will retire at the end of 2026 after 32 years at BCG. Her new book, Make Work Work: The 5 Daily Practices of the Employee-Centric Leader, will be released in November 2026 and is available here for preorder.
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