January 2013
Gruezi (Greetings) from Zurich! I'm writing from Switzerland, where I spent the holidays visiting my future in-laws and skiing for the first time.
Getting the hang of being an engagement manager
I'm in the midst of my third engagement as an EM, working with a previous client. The longer I've been at McKinsey, the more I've been able to get back to working with prior clients. I'm now working with a different part of the business on an organization engagement, which is a new topic for me. We have a crack team assembled—a few directors and principals who know the client well, an expert principal from the organization practice, and a terrific associate who has done similar organization work at a client in a different industry.
This is a different kind of engagement for me—I usually focus on marketing and sales work, with clearly measurable outcomes, i.e., 2013 gross margins are up 2%. Here, we're truly playing a counselor role, helping the clients think through the organizational change they envision for their future. It's more about asking thought-provoking questions, developing brainstorming workshops, and bringing different perspectives to the foreground. So, in short, a great team, high impact, and a new topic—a fun experience so far, and I'm learning a ton.
And, I am officially an engagement manager now. I'm still growing into the role, but I'm really glad to have made the transition from senior associate. I was worried for a while about how this new role would go, but making the transition from senior associate to EM is a universal McKinsey consultant experience, so the training, preparation and mentorship were spectacular along the way—and I feel like I'm part of "the club" now. I've been offering my advice (for what it's worth, ~$0.02) to other associates going through this change—it's part of the lineage of McKinsey mentorship, passing it forward. I really do feel honored to be an EM at McKinsey.
Client workshop
At McKinsey, I've finally achieved one of my life dreams: emulating Sally Jesse Raphael.
As I mentioned in my last update, I completed due diligence work for a consumer packaged goods client in October. The client's specific industry is a bit obscure, and there wasn't much research available. As part of that work, we did some lightning-fast primary research: consumer survey, store visits, expert interviews—all in four weeks. The client was so pleased, she asked us to come by headquarters and present our findings in a workshop. As it turned out, the invite list got so long that we held the workshop in the company auditorium with 60+ clients in attendance. It was my first time presenting with a microphone and projecting on a movie screen.
Before I got up to grab the mic, my associate principal gave me some excellent coaching: ask the clients what they are interested in hearing. Instead of the more usual presenting at them ("turn to page 14, as you see…" ) rhythm of a client presentation, I was running up and down the aisles, handing off the microphone, and fielding questions.
This was definitely my most fun presentation in a while, and really a lesson to me to make client presentations more interactive. And, in case I return for Phase 2 of the work, I just ordered red glasses so I can be even more Ginny Jesse Raphael!
GLAM conference
I'm really looking forward to attending my first global GLAM (Gays & Lesbians at McKinsey) conference in London in February 2013! I'll be catching up with old friends and classmates from all over the world. I'll be sure to include some highlights in a future entry.
Big news
Rainbow on the Appian Way
Oh, and in personal news, Emily and I got engaged last month. All that work travel paid off—I turned in my frequent flyer miles and hotel points for a lovely weekend in Rome. We even went for a bike ride on the Appian Way and saw a rainbow, which the tour guide said he had never seen in his 10 years on that trip. That's the silver lining of riding in a thunderstorm, and just another charmed moment in a perfect weekend.
Happy new year, everyone!
—Ginny