Maybe this is true at Google, but you need a fair amount of dedication to stick around at Goldman or McKinsey. Nobody becomes a career middle manager there. Well, maybe some back-office jobs at GS.
According to friends at Goldman, it's quite easy to be a career middle manager at Goldman in IT. There are many people there for 20+ years, the only job they've ever had.
I've been told that McKinsey has an "up or out" culture (get promoted or leave).
