Eric

Careers

I majored in physics and art because I always saw a lot of overlap between them, even though most people view them as quite different. I also find the intersection of medicine, business, and law fascinating, so I got my law and medical degrees. I wondered if people would think, “Who is this guy? He doesn’t stick with anything very long.” But as soon as I walked in the door at McKinsey, I realized these were people who understood exactly what I had done with my life. They thought it was an interesting background. It’s fun to find people who are like minded, because you have great discussions about cutting-edge ideas.

"You bring a much more robust solution to a problem if you have people who are looking at that problem from several different angles and several different backgrounds."

A real-world education

Clients come to us with their very highest-level problems. I’ve been working with a large pharmaceutical company, a national health service, and other major players in health care and global public health. We cover the breadth of the health care industry, and it’s incredibly stimulating. Working for all these different players in health care has helped me frame health care problems much more broadly.

Changing an industry

We worked with a large pharmaceutical company that knew biologics such as vaccines and antibodies would be big, but didn’t know how to enter the space. Should they buy a biologics company, form a partnership with one, or hire a bunch of biologic scientists and build their own capabilities? We helped them figure out which company to form an alliance with, and we helped them with negotiations. It was something that will transform our client for years to come and will enable them to develop cutting-edge biologic products in cancer and immunology. It’s exciting to know you’ve enabled something like that.

Building a network

Whether I decide to stay at the firm or do something else, it’s a wonderful place to have spent time. The people here are the most remarkable group of people I’ve ever worked with. I go all over the world, and every time I meet with McKinsey folks I’m very impressed by them—by the quality and the level at which they engage and the passion they have for the industry they work in. McKinsey has been a tremendous experience for me in terms of building a network, building confidence, solving business problems, and getting an education in the business side of health care. I’ve been able to connect with people who are passionate about health care but also come at it from totally different angles.

The entrepreneurial spirit

McKinsey is a place where if you want to take initiative for something, you’re given all the space you need. Also, a lot of people at McKinsey have entrepreneurial minds and are always thinking of things to execute on. Many end up leaving the firm to start a company or become part of a small startup, but many remain at the firm and carve out a niche for themselves.