A successful business lawyer, Fabrizio Guadagnolo found himself fascinated by the strategic challenges, problem solving, and creative use of numbers that his clients experienced. In this Real Humans: Alumni, we follow his journey to a career path more consistent with his passions and values. Guadagnolo tells us how the IMD MBA program’s strong focus on leadership development (and location in his desired target country, Switzerland) helped him pivot to the consulting industry.
Fabrizio Guadagnolo, IMD MBA ’22, Consultant at Boston Consulting Group
Age: 33
Hometown: Born in Lamezia Terme, Italy. Now live in Zurich, Switzerland
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Undergraduate (Law) and Master in Business Law at Bocconi Business School (Milan, Italy)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: (i) Private Equity Lawyer, Simmons & Simmons, c. 5 years, legal services; (ii) M&A/Private Equity Lawyer, Chiomenti, c. 1 year, legal services
Post-MBA Work Experience: Consultant, Boston Consulting Group, 3, consulting
Why did you choose to attend business school?
I chose to attend business school because, as a business lawyer, I often found myself sympathizing more with my clients’ strategic challenges than with the purely legal aspects of the work. I have always been fascinated by problem solving and by using numbers in a creative way, which I was not fully leveraging in my role.
By 2021, I had reached a point where my career felt routine and no longer aligned with my interests and personality. The MBA was a deliberate step to pivot, broaden my perspective, and explore a path more consistent with my passions and values.
Why IMD? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
IMD stood out to me mainly because of its strong focus on leadership development. The Leadership Stream and the personalized support from mentors, behavioral coaches, and psychologists make it a very transformational experience, not just an academic one.
Switzerland was also my target country, so the location aligned with my long term career goals. I was attracted by the opportunity to learn from world class professors and from a slightly more mature and experienced class in a small cohort that allows for real bonding and meaningful exchange.
What about your MBA experience prepared you for your current career? How do you feel that your MBA has been an asset when it comes to navigating new challenges, such as AI?
My MBA gave me strong business fundamentals and structured problem solving tools that I use every day. At IMD, we were placed in mixed teams and then reshuffled throughout the year, which exposed us to different working styles and dynamics and significantly accelerated our learning.
Leadership is then a key asset. You are always leading something, whether a team, a workstream, or your own career. That translates directly into change management, especially with AI. Business judgment is the steering wheel of the AI ship. Technology is powerful, but knowing where and how to apply it is what truly creates value.
What was your internship during business school? How did that inform your post-MBA career choice?
I didn’t take part in internships during my MBA. The program is structure in a way that it is a super packed and intense 1 year experience with some weeks of break during summer, where internship is only optional.
Why did you choose your current company? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
BCG aligned strongly with my values and my natural curiosity. I wanted a role that would expose me to different industries and strategic challenges on a continuous basis, and consulting offers exactly that. I was also keen to remain in an international environment, surrounded by smart and driven individuals, so that my learning curve would not plateau. My expectations have been fully met and, in many ways, exceeded.
Advice to current MBA students:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
I would again invest time upfront in defining a clear plan and goal, and then concentrate my efforts on a selected pool of opportunities I was genuinely interested in. There is a phase to diverge and explore, but at some point your energy needs to converge and become focused.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
I would start case preparation and networking earlier. Both require more time and consistency than you initially think.
–Were there any surprises regarding your employer’s recruiting process?
What surprised me most was how much motivation and soft skills matter. Technical preparation is important, but what truly differentiates candidates is clarity of motivation, maturity, and the ability to connect and communicate effectively.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA?
Take ownership of your post-MBA plan as early as possible. Clarity does not simply appear; it comes from exploration, reflection, and deliberate effort. No one can make the decision for you. You need to understand what is out there, decide what you truly want, and then pursue it with intention.
