A few years in consulting can open several paths, but the best exit depends on the work you actually do while you are there.

Common moves include corporate strategy, operations, product, startups, investing, specialist roles and sometimes a return to industry or academia.

A healthcare PhD who spends two years in life-sciences strategy may have very different exits from someone staffed mostly on digital transformation.

Choose projects and relationships with the next skill set you want to build, not only the most prestigious short-term assignment.

imo I would compare the real alternatives, not academia versus the best possible consulting week. Might vary by office though.