Florian Smeritschnig
5.0
(1)
Studied at London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
Worked at McKinsey & Company
Successful clients at
Available Monday at 10:00 AM UTC
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About Florian
Hi, I’m Florian. I help ambitious candidates get offers from top consulting firms with a precise, evidence-based approach to case and fit interviews. After receiving multiple offers myself, I joined McKinsey. Since I left the Firm, I’ve built StrategyCase.com into one of the largest consulting-prep ecosystems worldwide. Through this work, my coaching clients have secured 700+ verified offers, including 190+ at McKinsey, the most selective firm to break into. In this process, I have earned 1,600+ 5-star reviews across platforms (reach our for an overview of reviews from different websites). My objective is simple: increase your probability of success while reducing wasted effort, stress, and time in preparation. How is this possible? My coaching approach is different. 1) First-principles case solving I was the first coach to systematically implement first-principles thinking in case interviews, an approach many others have since adopted. I have written two books on case interviews and have been invited by leading global business schools to teach these concepts in lectures and career seminars. In sessions, I train you to build structures from scratch, prioritize under uncertainty, interpret data precisely, calculate pragmatically and swiftly, and communicate with executive clarity, rather than relying on memorized frameworks and other outdated case interview advice. You will become an excellent problem solver and top-tier candidate. 2) Systematic fit excellence I developed the proprietary SCORE storytelling template to ensure candidates tell not just good stories, but the right stories with the right narrative, structure, and evidence of impact. This aligns directly with how top firms actually evaluate your personality and motivation through stories about leadership, influence, and judgment. You will become a memorable and standout candidate in the eyes of interviewers. 3) Strength-based development, firm-style feedback I work with candidates the way top consulting firms develop talent. We double down on your performance spikes, because that is what wins offers, while systematically strengthening weaknesses to prevent rejections. The goal is to make you distinctly exceptional where it matters most. You will see a clear performance trajectory from session to session. 4) Outcomes-first coaching My coaching is intentionally not a low-cost, high-volume service. I invest significant time in you both inside and outside sessions. Sessions are not bound by a rigid time limit. We finish only once all topics are fully covered and your questions are answered. This often means that beyond a 30-minute case, we may spend an additional hour on deep feedback, targeted examples, and live demonstrations of how the method flexes in different situations. Our shared priority is learning depth and real skill transfer, not ticking the clock. What you receive after every session You get a detailed 3–9 page Excel feedback model assessing each part of your case, your overall performance, and the underlying skills that drive outcomes. It clearly signals what to improve and how. Through the StrategyCase.com ecosystem, this is embedded in a full, tailored development program including: - 20+ hours of video courses, - hundreds of case, framework, brainstorming, chart, and math drills, - realistic simulations for all major MBB recruiting tests (including McKinsey Solve), and - access to a curated client practice network. My clients' consistently higher offer rates reflect this unique combination of deep case expertise, ongoing mentorship, and a complete preparation ecosystem. You also receive end-to-end recruiting support, including networking strategy, CV/cover letter optimization, test preparation, other interview formats, as well as offer decisions and negotiations. Verify real results and success rates I prioritize client outcomes over sheer volume, and my coaching is focused on measurable results. For a direct comparison of success rates and actual offers with other coaches, please reach out so I can share testimonials and links to other platforms where I have been active for 5 years. How to book I work with a small number of clients at a time across platforms so I can invest deeply in your preparation and provide focused, high-quality support throughout your journey. Here is how we can set this up in the way that best supports you: - Interviews upcoming: Reach out for a free intro call to discuss your timeline, current level, and the most effective plan for you. - Urgent interview situation: Message me directly to schedule an initial baselining session as early as possible, where we diagnose your biggest gaps and define an actionable short-term plan. - Applying soon: Reach out for a free CV/cover letter check. - Unsure what you need: Schedule a free intro call and we’ll determine the right path together. If you prefer to start on your own, I also offer a 7+ hour free Case Interview Foundations Course. Reach out anytime to get access! If you are serious about converting preparation into real offers, I’m happy to work with you. All the best, Florian
Why do I coach?
Most consulting candidates follow the same preparation advice... ...and they predictably fail. Why? The irony is that this advice is largely shaped by the 99% who do not make it into top-tier firms. As a candidate myself, I became frustrated with generic frameworks, recycled tips, and practice methods that produced average performance at best. Only 1–3% of applicants receive offers. I decided early on that I would not prepare like the 97%. At the same time, firms have no incentive to reveal what they evaluate or how they evaluate it, leaving candidates with largely ineffective preparation advice and a heavy reliance on guesswork. After leaving McKinsey, I turned coaching into a passion. My mission is straightforward: develop candidates who meet interviewers at eye level, not as rehearsed applicants, but as future consultants. Today, I work with people from all backgrounds and career stages: students and interns, experienced hires, managers, and even partner-level professionals. My clients include business graduates, engineers, medical doctors, ex-military officers, and career switchers. What they have in common is ambition and the willingness to train differently from the crowd. Coaching has become more than a profession for me. I have shared so much knowledge and effective methodology, and helped so many clients enter McKinsey over the years, that the firm eventually removed me from the alumni network. That only reinforced that I am building something distinct rather than recycling conventional prep advice. The reality is that most candidates fail not because they lack potential, but because they fail to demonstrate the profile consulting firms look for. This is where I come in and where my approach differs. I help you build that profile so interviewers see you as a future consultant, not just another case candidate. How do we achieve this? By focusing on: 1. Problem-solving mastery: Learn how real consultants think, using first principles reasoning, hypothesis-driven problem solving, and convergent and divergent thinking to tackle complex business problems and frameworks. 2. Intuitive case-solving: Develop a step-by-step method that guides your qualitative analysis (chart interpretation) and quantitative reasoning (case math), sharpens insight generation, and elevates communication to the level expected in top-tier firms. 3. Storytelling and presence: Master structured storytelling for fit interviews, networking, and written applications, so you become memorable rather than interchangeable. 4. End-to-end mentorship: Receive continuous guidance and access to high-quality practice resources built to modern interview standards, inside and outside coaching sessions. 5. Beyond the offer: Build capabilities that not only secure the offer but accelerate early performance and promotion once inside consulting. Combining these factors allows me to amplify your strengths to create performance spikes (which is what gets you the offers) while at the same time lifting your weaknesses to a robust level (which saves you from being rejected). The outcome? 1. 700+ direct success stories: Over the past few years, my direct coaching clients have secured more than 700 offers across top consulting firms. This has led to over 1,600 five-star reviews across platforms, including PrepLounge, StrategyCase.com, Amazon, Leland, and others. My books and preparation programs have enabled thousands of additional offers beyond direct coaching. My clients have a 95% job offer rate and an 80%+ MBB offer rate. 2. Monthly transformations: Every month, I guide candidates into top firms globally, substantiated by a wealth of verified success stories and testimonials across major platforms. I believe that this level of success, achieved in such a brief period, is unparalleled in the consulting coaching field. I track successes and failures rigorously to continuously refine my methodology. 3. Comprehensive preparation ecosystem: Through StrategyCase.com, clients receive access to extensive practice materials, courses, drills, and simulations alongside coaching. This removes friction and ensures your preparation time is spent on skill development, not searching for resources. No coach can offer a holistic end-to-end mentorship experience and prep ecosystem like that, especially not at no additional cost beyond our coaching sessions. 4. Deep expertise: I spent more than 2.5 years writing two books on consulting interviews, The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview and The 1% Case Interview Workbook, obsessively analyzing what works and what does not. The result goes deeper into case design, successful case approaches, interviewer evaluation criteria, and practical, field-tested hacks than any other coaching material on the market. 5. Beyond the application: My objective is not only to help you break into consulting but to position you for rapid growth once inside. My coaching is complemented by career-development content designed to accelerate early performance and promotion. If you want to prepare differently from the 99%, I would be glad to support you.
Work Experience
Academic Advisor
OpenDeSci Foundation
2025 - Present
Strategy Expert
Wangadvisory
2021 - Present
Founder
StrategyCase.com
2019 - Present
StrategyCase.com is the prime global resource to break into top management consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. Focused on tailored solutions as well as unique consulting applications and case interview advice, we have reached more than 1.5 million consulting applicants and new hires over the last 4 years. Our services and products cover each step of the consultant's journey: - Networking and Referrals - Resume and Cover Letters - Aptitude Tests and Recruitment Games - Case Interviews - Fit Interviews - Career Advice Personally, Florian has run more than 2,000 case and career coaching sessions over the last four years. Using his unique and intuitive approach to case interviews and problem-solving, he has become the most successful global case coach, facilitating 100s of top-tier offers for his mentees.
Sr. Business Development & Strategy Manager
Bitpanda
2020 - 2020
Senior Consultant
McKinsey & Company
2015 - 2020
Summer Trainee Consultant
Kearney
2013 - 2013
Education
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2017 - 2021
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Master of Science (MSc), International Management CEMS
2013 - 2014
London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
MSc/CEMS, International Management
2013 - 2014
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien
BSc, Business Administration
2008 - 2012
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
BSc Exchange
2010 - 2010
1 Review
Overall Rating
5.0
Knowledge
5.0
Value
5.0
Responsiveness
5.0
Supportiveness
5.0
Florian has helped Leland clients get into McKinsey & Company