September 2012
Hi everyone, and welcome to my page. For my first entry, I thought I'd share a little bit about my background and my current priorities. I started with McKinsey in our Boston office. After two years as a BA, I attended law school, and then returned to the Boston office for two more years (as an associate and engagement manager). I transferred to the Shanghai office and then to Taipei. My transfer to Taipei followed the birth of my daughter, Olivia, and my promotion to associate principal—a role that allows me to split time across projects.
One of the greatest benefits of working at McKinsey is that things never remain the same. Each study is so different in terms of client, industry, and topic, and your role also changes over time. Combine this with a super-supportive mobility program, and there's always something new, exciting, and challenging about what you do.
My newest challenge at work is balancing motherhood with a job that requires travel. That said, frankly my job doesn't have to require travel. Plenty of consultants spend the majority of their time on in-town projects. I have—with full consciousness of the consequences—chosen to live in Taipei, despite not having much local work in my sector, in order to live closer to family and to provide what I think is a better environment for my daughter. Not many jobs can offer this sort of locational flexibility and for that I am thankful.
Breakfast with Olivia
I have found that what helps me balance my life better is a scoring system that I call “mommy-points.” For each weekday morning that I'm present when Olivia wakes up, or for every weekday night that I'm home to put her to sleep, I get one point, with 10 total possible points each week. For a baby, those precious mornings and nights that you can spend together, even if you are in town, are what matters. Just one night away can cost me four points. I make it absolutely clear to everyone, including my teams and my dear assistant who helps guard my calendar, that my goal is a minimum of four points every week. I've hit this goal for the past six weeks. I'll keep you posted on how this is going!
Until next time, take care.