Katie Rydz

Former McKinsey Associate Partner and Harvard Business School Alum

Studied at Harvard Business School

Worked at McKinsey & Company

Protected by the Leland Experience Guarantee

Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.

Katie's Offerings

Custom hourly · $250/hr

Get help with Application Strategy, Editing, and .

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Katie’s MBA Qualifications

As a Harvard Business School MBA graduate and former Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, I bring 12+ years of people leadership experience to helping individuals achieve their goals, from gaining admission to top MBA programs to breaking into and advancing within management consulting. I specialize in interview preparation, resume refinement, application strategy, and crafting compelling personal narratives, drawing on a cross-functional perspective across strategy, operations, and human capital. Whether you're applying to business school or aiming for a specific consulting firm, I'll help you build a strategy that's both analytically sharp and genuinely you. Let's connect and get you ready to perform under pressure.

Katie can help with:

Application Strategy

Editing

Essays

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Interviews

Resume

School Selection

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About Katie

I've always been the person others call when a decision feels daunting and they just need someone to help them think clearly. I spent the last seven years doing that professionally at McKinsey, and I recently left to make more room for life outside of work. I love turning a messy, ambiguous problem into a clear framework people can act on, whether that's a case interview or an application story. Having gone through Harvard Business School and the McKinsey grind myself, I know firsthand how overwhelming this process can feel, and I bring a human, empathetic approach so you can show up as your most authentic self. Outside of work, you'll find me traveling or enjoying Chicago, including cheering on the Cubs or Bears, or relaxing on my rooftop with my two cats close by. I believe the best careers are the ones that make room for a full life too.

Why do I coach?

I coach because I know what it's like to navigate these processes without a roadmap. At the start of my career, I had zero familiarity with business school and had never even heard of management consulting, so applying felt daunting from the start. Without guidance or insider knowledge, I often felt underqualified, and imposter syndrome was real, but I brought my authentic self to the process anyway, and I'm glad I did. Now I want to be the person who makes that path feel less daunting for someone else, whether that's helping you find your own story or just letting you know you're not the only one who's felt this way.