Multimillionaire investor Kevin O’Leary is urging his Harvard MBA students to skip the typical consulting track and build their own businesses instead. According to O’Leary, two-thirds of his Harvard cohort want to pursue a career in consulting, but he’s determined to convince them otherwise.
O’Leary argues that spending 24 months in a consulting firm can be detrimental to one’s future career prospects. He claims that consultants are often seen as “tainted meat” and may struggle to find employment due to lack of decision-making experience. Instead, O’Leary believes that entrepreneurship allows individuals to take control of their careers and have financial freedom.
O’Leary, who teaches an MBA Elective Curriculum course called The Founder Mindset at Harvard, says he tries to disrupt his students’ thinking about consulting by challenging them to consider the harsh realities of the industry. He notes that consultants are often paid high salaries but may not have the autonomy to make decisions or build their own businesses.
According to O’Leary, if individuals spend too much time in a consulting role, they risk losing financial freedom and never being able to break free from the “virus” of being a consultant. He believes that entrepreneurship offers a more fulfilling life where individuals can provide for their families without sacrificing their autonomy.
O’Leary’s message is clear: while consulting may offer short-term benefits, it’s not a sustainable long-term career path. By encouraging his students to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, O’Leary aims to inspire the next generation of successful business leaders and help them avoid the pitfalls of the consulting industry.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/07/18/millionaire-shark-tank-investor-kevin-oleary-harvard-consulting-mediocrity-entrepreneurship-gen-z-career-advice-unemployment