Leaving McKinsey as a Partner: 5 Lessons from Richard Bartlett’s Transition

After 15 years at McKinsey, progressing all the way to Partner, Richard Bartlett made the decision to step away. For many in consulting, the question of when and how to leave MBB looms large — especially for those who’ve built their identity around the firm. Richard’s story offers a rare inside look at the personal and professional motivations behind such a move, and the structured approach he used to navigate it.

In our recent OnUpBeyond Q&A, hosted by Richard Rosser (also ex-McKinsey), Richard B. spoke candidly about the triggers that led to his decision, how he prepared for the next chapter, and the mistakes he sees too many consultants make when plotting their exits.

Here are five lessons worth highlighting:

1. Know When It’s Time to Pivot

For Richard, the decision was driven by both personal and professional factors. With two young children, the unpredictability of travel became harder to sustain. Professionally, his Partner role had shifted away from hands-on problem solving into relationship management — no longer the type of work that energised him. Recognising that misalignment was the first step towards change.

2. Reflect Beyond Surface-Level Factors

It’s tempting to focus on salary, hours, or travel when weighing career moves. Richard stressed the importance of deeper reflection: What do you actually want to spend your days doing? What kinds of teams and leadership environments bring out your best? By looking beyond superficial levers, he was able to frame his transition around long-term fulfilment, not short-term frustrations.

3. Create a Structured “Plan A on a Page”

Richard built a simple, targeted document that mapped out potential organisations and roles, focusing on companies undergoing significant change (transactions, CEO transitions, new ownership). This kept his search intentional and stopped him from drifting into “spray and pray” networking. A focused plan also made it easier for his network to help him.

4. Leverage Your Network Transparently

After so many years at one firm, Richard wanted reassurance that his skills had value outside. He made his search transparent — telling contacts he was leaving consulting and exploring new roles. This openness generated strong responses, introductions, and opportunities, far more than when he was still seen as “the McKinsey guy.”

5. Run Towards, Not Away

Perhaps Richard’s most important lesson: don’t make big career calls out of frustration. Consulting offers many levers you can pull to change your situation internally. If you decide to leave, make sure it’s because you’re running towards something exciting — not just away from a current pain point. That shift in mindset, from reactive to proactive, was crucial in keeping his transition positive.

🎥 Want the full story?
Richard talks openly about partner life, his decision to leave, and how to approach the transition without falling into the common traps.

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