Nine consultants kept a diary about how their day unfolded. Their stories vary: one traveled to a client's meat-processing plant in the southern U.S. while another anticipated the arrival of a new baby in Seoul.

Taken together, these journals paint a composite picture of McKinsey at work. While the issues we work on may differ substantially – from finding cheaper oil alternatives for an Indonesian factory to making strategic improvements to a company's governance processes – you'll find the hallmarks of a McKinsey consultant in our dedication to our clients and to each other.

Roll over the individuals below to get a flavor for their diaries. Then click on the image to read excerpts describing that person's day.