Comparison
SAZ vs. McKinsey
SAZ vs. McKinsey — the build-it alternative to MBB strategy.
McKinsey is the most prestigious strategy consulting brand in the world. SAZ is a senior-partner-led Canadian firm that pairs strategy with engineering — we don't just recommend, we ship. Different operating models, different best-fit clients.
Side-by-side
How SAZ compares to McKinsey.
| Dimension | SAZ | McKinsey |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Strategy + shipped systems + operating cadence | Strategy deck + recommendations |
| Team | Senior partners + engineers + designers | MBA-heavy with light engineering |
| Implementation | Owned end-to-end | Handoff to client or implementation partner |
| AI work | Strategy → production deployment → operations | Strategy primarily; QuantumBlack handles implementation |
| Speed | 90-day sprints | 6–12 month engagements typical |
| Best fit | $5M–$500M operators | Fortune 500 and government |
Choose SAZ when
- You need both strategy AND the team that ships the strategy
- You want execution accountability, not just recommendations
- You're mid-market and McKinsey is over-scaled for you
- You need AI systems built, not just AI strategy
- You want decisions in 90 days, not 9 months
Choose McKinsey when
- You're a Fortune 500 needing brand-name strategy work
- You have an internal implementation team that just needs direction
- Board / investor optics require MBB brand on the work
- You're running a multi-country, multi-billion transformation
Bottom line
The honest answer.
McKinsey ships decisions; SAZ ships outcomes. If you have an implementation team, McKinsey can be the right partner. If you need the consultant to be the implementation team, SAZ is built for that.
Other comparisons
Compare SAZ against other firms.
Still deciding?
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