BlackRock Corporate Strategy & Development
General thoughts about this position at BlackRock? Thinking about applying to this role for SA 2015 and it seems like a sweet role. It seems like a global strategy and business development role. Is it FO? As good as FO? Is it usually seen as a prestigious role? Would business school be feasible with this or a jump towards strategy consulting at the MBB or IB? Any info would be nice. Below is a brief description of the position:
Corporate Strategy and Development is dedicated to supporting BlackRock’s Board of Directors and Senior Management in operating the day-to-day business, optimally positioning the Firm to create value for shareholders, and driving the achievement of our key strategic priorities. The group is comprised of three main business units:
Corporate Strategy supports the Global Executive Committee in defining corporate-level strategic priorities and partners with senior BlackRock business leaders in strategy formulation and execution
Corporate Development identifies and executes transactions, lift-outs and strategic partnerships that support BlackRock’s objectives
Investor Relations manages and communicates firm information to institutional shareholders, prospective investors and sell-side analysts
Interviewed for this group FT. Its corporate finance type work from what i gathered. The analyst the interviewed me was big on selling that you would get a great deal of exposure to upper management, working directly with the CFO. Was invited to super-day but declined in favor of an exploding offer. Phone interview was one of the tougher that I remember, BlackRock is known for that.
Hi, I am interested in knowing more about the interview process. Is the process like any typical consulting firm (M/B/B)? Multiple rounds of case interviews?
Thanks!
Hi Animal Spirits! Have an interview coming up with this group and would love to hear how they interview. Reallyyy REAALLYYY want this position, and have read mixed reviews of the interview process. Everything from being consulting like, to presenting knowledge of company and industry trends, to mostly behavioral. Would absolutely love to hear your experience because it will help me prep so much. Thanks so much for positing
Unfortunately it was 2 years ago and I don't remember too much about the position or interview, since I didn't end up pursuing it. Good luck.
Hi!! I am really interested in this position and seriously thinking about applying. Could you please tell me something about the interview you had? That would be soooo helpful. Many many thanks!!
It differs depending on location, and can range from strategy work not unlike what you'd see at MBB, to marketing, event planning, or in some cases, booking flight tickets for executives. (Of course that's not all you'd be responsible for, but you get the point - the bigger the office, the more significant the work.) Assuming you're looking at the NY office though (correct me if I'm wrong) you're looking at a pretty sweet gig in internal strategy.
It's not FO, it's corporate. Its prestige will differ based on what you want that prestige to count towards. MBA, MBB no problem. There are smart people there, that's for sure, I knew an ex-McKinsey, Harvard MBA guy there who was happy with his job, and there are more where he came from.
BUT if you're interested in BlackRock's actual business of investing, it's not ideal as there's just not that much overlap.
One thing to remember - this is NOT an Asset Management business job but a corporate job. Obviously this means it is a back office job, part of Corporate Operations (where accounting, and all other those guys sit). If you are interested in asset management or finance, this is not an even remotely relevant job. However, if you are interested in something like getting experience, go to b-school or Fortune 400 corporate, it would be a good job - good name, senior exposure, etc
BlackRock's business is Asset Management. This is a very relevant group for people interested in the asset management industry. The hardest part of Asset Management for an investment manager/advisor is getting AUM. This division works on the big picture and blocking/tackling of getting AUM.
If you want to be a stock picker/trader you'll have to move on from this role. But you'll get exposure to all the major asset classes, how fund managers perform/get fees/make money and BlackRock supports lateral moves. Start as an analyst in this division and you'll be able to make your way to another division or to business school.
This could be great in terms of exposure to senior folks and learning the big picture.. Then you can leverage the connections and good will to go the direction you wish to :)
Anyone have exposure to their strategic product management group?
how reputable is BlackRock's corporate strategy & development team?
BlackRock Corporate Strategy group (Originally Posted: 05/02/2012)
Has anyone heard of BlackRock's Corporate Strategy group... thoughts? For anyone who works at BR, what's the reputation of this group? How about for the Market Intelligence group? Exit opps?
Also, for BlackRock generally can anyone speak more to how open they are to internal mobility? How does the process work?
I'm sure you know this but PMG is where it's at.
Yeah I've heard that PMG is great but at a firm as large as BlackRock I'm sure there are other great roles too. Anyone heard about / know anyone in Corporate Strategy?
Black Rock is really admired and overall a great firm. Tough as nails for students to get on their internship also. Cant address the exiting opps since I dont know what your aims are..
Based on the people I've met at networking events, at bars, and through friends, it seems BlackRock has a strong retention rate. So for exit opps, it seems like the opportunity others exit to. I've never heard of the Corporate Strategy group, it might be their expansion into consulting since they are moving towards a one-stop-shop structure. I got to grab coffee with a director in GCG a few months ago and he said that internal transferring is common among junior employees. Many people break in GCG and PAG only to transfer to PMG later. Regardless, it is a difficult task.
[quote=Determined I've never heard of the Corporate Strategy group, it might be their expansion into consulting since they are moving towards a one-stop-shop structure.[/quote] No.
Hence the word, "might". Maybe you could elaborate on what the Corporate Strategy group is since I have no clue as to where they fit into BR's business structure.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=black+rock+corporate+strategy
The first link from a google search for "BlackRock Corporate Strategy Group" is //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/BlackRock-corporate-strategy-group. Look familiar?
No. I googled it and this is the first link:
http://www2.BlackRock.com/global/home/Careers/BusinessLocations/INFRA/index.htm
It has the answer for OP.
it's BO for BlackRock, although u can make a case that it's a bus dev job...
Not for me. I guess google yields more customized search results than I thought.
Thanks for the link but I wasn't what the group is or what they do (I know all this)... I was more getting at the overall reputation and potential exit opportunities from it. In particular, for anyone that works at BlackRock, what is the perception of the group internally?
Thanks again
Thanks for all your help so far. Also, any insight on positions in Advisory? How difficult is it to break in and what do people in this group go on to do? http://www2.blackrock.com/us/brs/advisory/advisory-overview
FMA is one of the most sought after groups at BlackRock, up there with FMG and PMG.
Thank you for all for your help. For anyone else looking for similar information, I also found this thread helpful: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/blackrock-reputation
BlackRock Corporate Strategy Group -- The Typical Path? (Originally Posted: 12/21/2012)
Hi Everyone,
I've had three rounds of interviews now with BlackRock's Corporate Strategy Group. For those of you who don't know exactly what the group does, it is the internal strategy advisory arm of BlackRock that works on strategic initiatives. For example, integrating iShares into the BlackRock model, and optimizing each of the company's business lines (BlackRock Solutions, Asset Management, iShares, etc., as well as any new acquisitions).
I am wondering what the typical path for an entry level hire into the group is. If anyone knows someone who has gone through the group that would be extremely helpful. I know it is usually an exit opp out of banking or consulting (usually consulting since it's strategy focused) but I'm wondering what exactly it sets you up to do later on.
Any thoughts would be helpful.
Thanks,
Tulip
Sounds like a sweet gig and you seem pretty optimistic! Good luck
the typical route would be to go straight into an MBA after a few years or lateral into another corp strat/dev role after a couple years with another company and then go for an MBA. Banking/Consulting pre-MBA would be tough but not impossible. Banking/Consulting post-MBA would be a more common path.
However, if banking or consulting, it would rather get into FIG team wouldn't one? How about chances to get into a top tier PE fund post-MBA?
Tulip - what did you go with?
Hi Tulip! I have an interview with there Corporate Strategy group coming up. Was the interview more (1) Behavioral, (2) Company Knowledge and Strategy Based or (3) Case Study Based?
Hi,
I have 2x 30mins video interview in corporate strategy, could you please tell me more about the type of questions they are likely to ask.
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