McKinsey & Company is an American multinational strategy and management consulting firm founded in 1926 by James O. McKinsey. As the oldest and largest of the so-called "MBB" consultancies, McKinsey provides advisory services to corporations, governments, and other organizations worldwide, with a focus on finance and operations. The firm is known for its competitive hiring process, frequently recruiting from leading business schools and emphasizing analytical acumen. Over the decades, McKinsey has been instrumental in shaping modern corporate culture and management practices, contributing innovations such as the "overhead value analysis" and implementing the "up or out" promotion policy. Its influence is evident through a vast alumni network in top executive and government roles and a prolific output of management research, including publications like the McKinsey Quarterly. Despite its achievements, McKinsey has faced controversies, including criticism over its work with clients in the fossil fuel industry, involvement in high-profile corporate scandals, and legal scrutiny regarding conflicts of interest and business practices.
I find the breadth of McKinsey's impact on both business and public policy to be striking, especially when considering the firm’s role in shaping the management landscape and its complex ethical legacy.
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In 2022, McKinsey was paid $55M to advise Warner Brothers to combine with Discovery. From 2022-2025, McKinsey charged Warner Brothers Discovery $37M by advising the company to change HBO to HBO Max, then to Max, then back to HBO Max. In 2025, McKinsey billed Warner Brothers Discovery an additional $63M to determine that Warner Brothers and Discovery should be separate brands again.