From my first days at McKinsey, I've had the chance to work and interact with senior leadership at our clients. But few experiences have been as rewarding as when I had the chance to work with a state education agency. I was part of a team that was charged with identifying ways to improve their lowest-performing schools. We built a model to identify which of their primary, secondary, and high schools were low performing and also developed a multi-pronged strategy that they could employ to turn these schools around.
The state was applying for a federal grant to fund the work, which, ultimately, they did not receive. But I found out that the state education agency went ahead with many of our recommendations, even without the full amount of funding. They published a list of their lowest-performing schools; it was a way of gaining momentum to tackle the problem, but it was also a very bold step. It takes courage to evaluate principals and teachers, and to admit that the overall health of your school system isn't where it should be and to admit that you need help.
Friends and Mentors
I consider myself to be a very active member of the black consultant (BCSS) community. I think the community is a great fit for me, and it's been a place where I can both be a mentor and get mentorship. There are very senior leaders in the firm whom I consider to be friends, people with whom I can have casual conversations. The welcoming from the BCSS community and from these leaders in particular, has really helped me feel like I have a community and leadership I can go to for advice.
My McKinsey mentors are not just from the BCSS, but also come from my project teams. At McKinsey, you have the opportunity to forge deep professional and personal relationships, given the close and highly interactive team dynamic. Having the formalized community of the BCSS, where we have regular meetings, is extremely critical in allowing mentor relationships and friendships to develop on an even higher level.
Unique Perspective
As a consultant, you are forced to think about a problem from all levels of an organization. I find myself thinking both like a senior manager and the person on the ground floor of an organization. Working at McKinsey gives you a unique sense of responsibility, given that you are helping shape the future and direction of a company, product or strategy. We are often working on very challenging problems, and the solutions we ask our clients to implement can seem overwhelming. Often, I can feel our clients’ frustration, but I also feel their excitement and appreciate the ability to help carry the weight in challenging times.
What I do in my free time / my hobbies
I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time at my family's cabin. I also love to travel and visit new cities and meet new people. I love being around people, and I always try to live life to the fullest.
Offices
Education
| University of Pennsylvania |
MBA |
2009 |
| Howard University |
BBA |
2003 |