Kirin Sennik is an Ivey MSc '17 candidate in the International Business stream and the outgoing VP Marketing of the MSc Consulting Club at the Ivey Business School.
In its first year ever, the Ivey MSc Consulting Club accomplished a great deal, with high hopes for the future. The club started with 20 members, which rose to 70 with the arrival of the new MSc class in January 2017.
Q: What is the MSc Consulting Club?
Kirin: The MSc Ivey Consulting Club (MICC), is a platform created and designed exclusively for MSc students to help them develop their consulting skills through case preparation, mock interviews, and interactive workshops. In addition to helping our members develop exceptional technical skills, our executive team also focuses on hosting networking events with Ivey alumni who work in the consulting industry to build meaningful and diverse relationships.
Q: How many students are in the MSc Consulting Club?
Kirin: With the start of the new cohort in January 2017, the club has grown from 20 to 70 members in less than one year! We’re very excited about that. Currently, our executive team is made up of four individuals; our President, VP of Marketing, VP of Alumni Relations and our VP of Finance. Although the executive team is relatively small, it’s very representative of the diversity the MSc program has to offer. Each member comes from a different stream, and it’s also a nice blend of student’s from both the 2017 and 2018 graduating class. This allows us to collaborate in an impactful way, leveraging networks in data analytics, international business and CEMS. The current exec team has done an outstanding job building the MSc brand with the global consulting community and I have no doubt the club will continue to flourish as the program grows.
Q: How can students become involved in the MSc Consulting Club?
Kirin: When the fall semester begins, students will receive a registration email from the MICC that will allow them to register online. The membership fee is $20, which includes unlimited access to case resources along with an immersive four-week preparation series taught by two outgoing MSc students who are entering the consulting industry. The new exec is committed to hosting more events when the students return from their IGL, so there will be many opportunities for members to act as volunteers and representatives during events like case competitions.
Q: What events were you and the MSc Executive able to host in its inaugural year?
Kirin: Like any club in its first year, we were focused on building the foundation of the club, from defining our value proposition to outlining our key objectives. We were certified by program services shortly before we embarked on our IGL’s, so we began hosting events in early August. We kicked off the summer by inviting all of our members to a welcome BBQ in Toronto, which was a great way to get to know all the members. A few boutiques and large consulting firms held networking events before the school year started, so we made sure to invite our members so they could introduce themselves before the recruitment process. Throughout the year, we held interactive workshops and seminars, along with bi-monthly case preparation sessions. At the end of the year, we hosted our biggest event, Super Saturday, which featured MBA alumni who is an experienced Senior Consultant. He spent time walking our members through cases and engaging in meaningful discussions about the industry and his experiences since graduating Ivey.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to students who are looking to pursue a career in Management consulting?
Kirin: From human capital to healthcare consulting, this is an extremely diverse industry that allows people to work in an area they are passionate about. When it comes to recruiting season – don’t underestimate the importance of preparation. Try buddying up with a classmate to run through cases so you can build your confidence during interviews. Career management services is also a great resource – they can really help you develop an action plan to reach your goals. When it comes to crafting your resume, it’s important to tailor it to each firm’s identity. Get a second pair of eyes to make sure your resume highlights your strengths and articulates your personal brand.
MSc Consulting Club (Left to Right): Michael, Brianna, Nishaan, Kirin and Brett.
We would like to thank Kirin for her time and insight into the consulting club, and provide a congratulation to the entire Executive Team of 2016- 2017! We welcome the new MICC Executive for 2017-2018: Nishaan Sodhi, Brianna Forbes-Crowe, Brett Johnson and Michael Gencarelli.