Gershanok’s departure from McKinsey: a reflection

Ezra Gershanok, a former business analyst at McKinsey, recently opened up about his challenging time at the company.

He pointed out that his exit was due to decreased demand from clients partnered with excessive staffing.

Despite the adverse conditions, Gershanok is prepared to employ his skills and expertise in helping other businesses strategize for growth.

Gershanok started working at McKinsey after his graduation.

Although he learned valuable insights, he reported a constant stress in his role.

Struggling to find a breather, he diversified his role within the company, hoping for a more enriching environment.

Eventually, he addressed his concerns with his director, leading to a review of his work-life balance.

Yet, despite being vigilant in fulfilling his roles, the stress persisted.

Gershanok highlights his frustrations with McKinsey’s company culture that seemed to favor personal connections over merit for career progression.

This biased approach allegedly ostracized individuals without strong internal connections.

Frustrated with the lack of a merit-based system, he decided to part ways with McKinsey, seeking an environment that appreciated his skills and determination.

He started working at McKinsey in June 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and left during a significant slowdown in the company’s operations in March 2023.

He then joined a tech startup as a strategy consultant in July 2023, contributing significantly to its growth.

However, by November 2024, the startup saw a business downturn due to the ongoing pandemic.

Despite his efforts leading to a recovery by mid-2025, he opted to part ways with the startup in December 2025.

Gershanok criticized McKinsey’s handling of their staffing surplus as lacking transparency and fairness.

He claims that the firm subtly encouraged employees to exit the company rather than perform layoffs.

This approach reportedly created a rift among the staff, faced with contradicting feedback on their performances and subtle exit prompts.

Overall, the situation led to a decline in morale, resulting in staff attrition.

Gershanok eventually co-founded a sublet startup post-McKinsey, applying his experiences from the consultancy firm.

He appreciates that his time at McKinsey has given him a deeper understanding of the complexities of employee management and the corporate world.

Despite hurdles, his stint at McKinsey primed him to confront challenges effectively and bring his startup vision to fruition.