An Interview with our 2026 Summer Intern

Following the success of this year's Spring Internship, we were pleased to welcome Will Bagnall to MCR for our Summer 2026 Internship Programme. It’s been great to have Will with us, and to see him gain valuable experience and learn more about life in the professional consultancy world. We caught up with Will to hear about what he worked on, what he’s enjoyed most about his time at MCR, and where he sees his career taking him next.

Tell us a little about what you were doing before joining MCR
Just before joining MCR, I was preparing for my final exams for my BSc in Business Economics at the University of Exeter. I’ve now graduated with a 2:1 — a result I’m very proud of!

Why were you interested in work experience with MCR?
I’ve always found the consulting industry fascinating, but MCR stood out immediately. The firm’s inverted pyramid model, which places senior, highly experienced consultants at the front line of delivery, struck me as a future‑proof approach to the consultancy industry. After looking into how AI is reshaping consulting for my internship research paper, entitled "How Is AI Changing the Consulting Industry?", it became clear that MCR’s business model is the kind of structure that thrives in an AI‑enabled industry: they are dynamic, efficient, and focused on human‑centred problem‑solving.

Why did you choose to research the effects of AI in the consulting industry?
AI has evolved from a niche research tool into a technology that is increasingly embedded in everyday workflows in just a few years. The speed of its adoption, combined with the scale of its impact, makes it a particularly relevant and compelling topic to explore.

Consulting is one of the industries where AI has already had a noticeable impact, from accelerating data analysis and improving efficiency to reshaping pricing models and influencing workforce structures. So, understanding how AI is fundamentally transforming the consulting industry feels essential, particularly in exploring how human expertise and AI capabilities can work together to deliver more effective outcomes for clients. 

Was there anything you found particularly challenging during your summer internship?
The biggest challenge was navigating the volume of online material on AI. Separating proper research from marketing-driven content required careful judgement given how many organisations exaggerate their current AI capabilities.

Writing the final article was also a challenge, as it required a more journalistic style than I’m used to! Incorporating academic research, industry reports, and real-world examples into a coherent industry-facing narrative pushed me outside my comfort zone, but in a very positive way.

What are the key takeaways from your time with us?
My time at MCR has been incredibly valuable. Speaking with Mike and several MCR Associates gave me a much clearer picture of the consulting landscape — not just in where it is today, but where it’s heading. Sitting in on online meetings also helped me understand how MCR’s senior-led model supports faster, more focused decision-making, which aligns with some of the positive trends highlighted in the industry research I conducted for my paper. 

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to enter the world of work by the end of this year. Ideally, I’d like to pursue a career in Law, but I’m open to opportunities in a wide range of fields, including consulting.

MCR has shown me how rapidly industries are evolving, especially with AI becoming a core part of professional workflows. Whatever path I take, I hope to embrace this change, make the most of these developments, and stay at the forefront of an increasingly AI-driven professional landscape.