John Wick's McKinsey
Case Interview

Good morning, Mr. Wick. Thank you for coming in. Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?

No.

Great. Let’s start with your background. I see from your resume that you have extensive experience in... let me find the right section... ‘problem resolution.’

Yes.

Could you elaborate on that? What types of problems?

All types.

Editor's note: He does not elaborate.

Okay. And I see you’ve worked with some very high-profile clients. The Tarasov family, the D’Antonio family, the High Table. These are... I’m not finding them in our database.

They’re private organizations.

Right. Let’s move to the case portion. I’m going to present you with a business scenario, and I’d like you to walk me through how you’d approach it.

Fine.

Your client is a mid-size dog-walking company in New York City. They’re looking to expand their market share. How would you approach this problem?

Editor's note: The interviewer does not know about the dog.

[Long pause.] ...A dog-walking company.

Yes. It’s a standard market-sizing question. We’d like to see your structured thinking.

How many dogs?

That’s actually a great clarifying question! Let’s say they currently walk about 200 dogs per week across Manhattan.

And the dogs are... safe?

The dogs? Yes. They’re client dogs. They’re fine. This is about revenue growth—

If anything happened to the dogs, what would the response protocol be?

I—that’s not really part of the case. Can we focus on market expansion?

I am focused. The dogs come first. Always.

Editor's note: His tone has shifted. The interviewer senses something but can’t place it.

Right. So. Market sizing. How many potential customers exist in Manhattan for premium dog-walking services?

There are approximately 600,000 dogs in New York City. 425,000 in the five boroughs with owners who work full-time. Of those, roughly 180,000 are in Manhattan. Premium segment: 40,000. Current market penetration: 0.5%. The addressable opportunity is 39,800 dogs.

That’s... remarkably precise. Where did you get those numbers?

I know where every dog in New York City is at all times.

Editor's note: This is not a joke.

O-kay. Let’s pivot to competitive analysis. What threats does this company face?

Threats. I am very familiar with threats. Your client faces three: Rover, Wag, and independent operators. The independents are the most dangerous. They work alone. No oversight. No accountability. They are... like me.

Like you in what way?

Focused. Relentless. Willing to do what the larger organizations won’t.

You’re very passionate about dog-walking.

I’m passionate about dogs. The walking is incidental.

Let’s move to stakeholder management. If the company’s board disagreed with your strategy, how would you handle it?

I would ask them once. Politely.

Editor's note: The ‘once’ carries a weight the interviewer is beginning to register.

And if they still disagreed?

They wouldn’t.

But hypothetically—

There is no hypothetically. When I ask, people agree. It’s a pattern I’ve observed across my career.

[Nervously] Let me check your references real quick. I have a Viggo Tarasov listed here. Is he available for a call?

No.

Santino D’Antonio?

Also no.

Is there anyone from your professional network who could speak to your work?

Most of my professional network is unavailable.

Editor's note: Permanently.

I see. One final question. At McKinsey, we value leadership. Can you tell me about a time you led a team through a difficult situation?

I once resolved a multi-stakeholder conflict involving twelve parties across three countries in a single evening. The resolution was... permanent. All stakeholders were aligned by morning.

Aligned how?

Horizontally.

Editor's note: The interviewer writes ‘DO NOT HIRE’ in large letters on his notepad, then crosses it out and writes ‘DO NOT UPSET.’

Mr. Wick, I think we have everything we need. We’ll be in touch.

I know you will.

Can I... validate your parking?

I walked.

Editor's note: He did not walk. He was dropped off by a man named Charon in a 1969 Ford Mustang.

Update case interview questions to exclude animal-related scenarios

Status: URGENT

Research whether John Wick is eligible for employment

Status: Background check returned 0 results (suspiciously)

Provide at least one living reference

Status: Unlikely

Review building camera footage from Wick’s visit

Status: All cameras were disabled for exactly 28 minutes

Decide whether to extend offer or move to another continent

Status: Under heated debate