We spend $100 million a year on formal training programs. It’s proof positive of our commitment to helping you develop as a global leader faster than in any other professional setting.
As you’ll see in our 112-page Learning Course Catalog, learning doesn’t happen only when you first join us. It continues throughout your entire tenure—and it lasts a lifetime.
Leadership development programs: Your first year
As a new consultant, you can expect between five and eight weeks of training in your first two years. This will come from a mix of firm-wide training and programs developed by your home office.
Some of the firm-wide trainings you can expect in your first year include:
Basic Consulting Readiness
A week-long course that new consultants at all levels complete when they join our firm. It will help you understand and practice the core skills needed for success on your first client engagement, among them, applying the McKinsey approach to problem solving and communications, tapping functional knowledge to push forward on solutions, and building trust-based relationships within teams and with clients.
You’ll gain key insights and practical tips from practice role plays and discussions with experienced faculty and experts within the firm, and you'll also have the opportunity to connect with many of your new colleagues.
Mini-MBA
Our program for associates who join the firm with advanced degrees but without substantial business training. It’s an intensive, three-week immersion in business school curriculum.
Working with McKinsey leaders and faculty from top business schools, you’ll learn and apply key concepts in accounting, finance, economics, operations, marketing, and strategy.
Business Analyst Training
A one-week intensive course for business analysts and other pre-associates that focuses on advanced problem solving and interpersonal and communication skills. Given at the end of the first year, it's a great chance to revisit what you’ve learned while strengthening the skills you’ll need to become a successful consultant.
You’ll begin to define your professional development goals and write a personal-development action plan based on colleague feedback; develop listening, assertion, and conflict resolution that will enable you to interact more effectively in teams and with clients; and you'll expand your McKinsey network by spending time with peers and senior McKinsey faculty members.
Beyond your first year
In the next phase of your McKinsey career, you will focus on strengthening communication, leadership, and management skills through a series of in-person training programs, including:
For associates
The Initial Leadership Workshop is a two-week course that prepares consultants who’ve demonstrated solid problem-solving ability to take on leadership roles. You’ll explore your individual leadership profile and learn how to grow your problem solving and interpersonal skills. You’ll make strong connections with fellow trainees that last long beyond the course.
For engagement managers
As you progress from associate to engagement manager—one of the most pivotal roles in the firm—you’ll complete Engagement Management Essentials. During this in-person, three-day program, you’ll become familiar with tools and frameworks designed to help you improve your problem-solving, client, process, and team leadership capabilities. You’ll practice and hone your skills with senior colleagues and outside experts.
During your first year as an engagement manager, you'll attend Cambridge EM College. During this in-person, three-day program, you’ll connect with colleagues, firm and practice leaders, external faculty, and clients. You’ll learn the essentials of client leadership and deepen your functional capabilities in areas such as business technology, corporate finance, and sustainability and resource productivity. This program is one of the most inspiring in the firm and unites you with all of your colleagues globally who are going through the same transition.
After your first year as an engagement manager, you'll attend the Engagement Leadership Workshop, an in-person, five-day program. This workshop is designed to help you become a more inspirational leader—both within and outside the firm. You’ll reflect on who you are, how you inspire others, and the type of leader you want to be. You’ll create a personal leadership vision and work with your colleagues to realize this vision both during and after the program.
For associate principals
In the Client Leadership Workshop, you’ll master the fine points of building trust-based client relationships. You’ll develop dialogue skills and the mindset to be a peer to your clients through self assessment, building awareness and excitement around the potential of great client dialogue, and create a tailored learning program, harnessing the principles of reflective practice.
For partners
New Partner Coaching helps newly elected partners reflect on what it means to become a self-directed leader. At this level, you’ll define your leadership aspirations, strengths, and passions; receive information from colleagues on how they see you as a leader; and practice developmental dialogues with an active McKinsey director as your coach.
Core Leadership Programs help partners develop their full leadership potential. Through an integrated curriculum, you’ll clarify your professional goals and in the process, learn to engage in rich dialogues with clients, deepen trust-based client relationships, be a catalyst for transformation—and reflect on your next wave of professional aspirations.
Electives to advance your professional interests
You can also participate in an array of elective learning opportunities that address your individual development needs and deepen your knowledge in areas of personal interest. Many of these courses are offered online for easy access to high-quality learning opportunities when and where you need them. Topics are skill-based and include everything from interpersonal skills, such as building trust and stakeholder management, to functional skills related to specific practices and sectors.