A specialized boutique role can still be useful for a later MBB move if the work gives you strong consulting skills, client exposure, and measurable impact.

The risk is not specialization by itself. The bigger question is whether the role builds transferable problem-solving, communication, leadership, and commercial experience that you can explain outside the niche.

A healthcare boutique consultant who leads client work, builds market models, and presents to executives can develop highly transferable consulting evidence even if the subject matter is specialized.

Evaluate the actual role, not just the brand or niche. Look at project ownership, client exposure, analytical depth, progression, and exits. If you take it, deliberately build achievements that will be understandable to recruiters outside the specialty.

A boutique can still give you real consulting reps. I'd care more about the work than the niche.