Tomoo | Careers | McKinsey & Company

Careers

Immersive training

I joined McKinsey as a business analyst and spent my first year working for Japanese clients, entirely in Japanese. As I gradually had the chance to work in more diverse environments, I realized that I really needed to study English in order to be comfortable. I decided to take six months off for an intense English language class. With McKinsey's help, I was able to spend time in the U.S., in both San Diego and Houston, studying English and really learning the language. Since that time, most of the studies I've done have been in English and I've had several chances to go abroad. I've worked in the U.S., Korea, Germany, and the U.K. I joined McKinsey because I wanted a global career, and the chance to work in an exciting environment. Looking back now, the progress I've made has far exceeded the expectations I had.

"The amount of global exposure I've had since joining McKinsey is just astounding."

Expert analysis

I realized how far I'd come when I had the chance to lead an engagement for a lighting company in Munich. Our client was preparing for an IPO, but realized that the fragmented nature of the market made it hard to get an overall picture of it. They asked us to publish the first-ever comprehensive, detailed market report for the lighting industry. I was working overseas, with a German client, overseeing a team that included a German business analyst and a Danish associate. And I was conducting a survey that was going out to lighting organizations in seven different countries, and then drafting a final report that would be written in English.

The survey was a success, as was the report. It was a challenge to write it, especially when I was working with technical details and going over everything with the English editors. In the end, though, the results were great. The report is now publicly available, and we received great feedback on it from the client.

Management Training

Since becoming an engagement manager, much of the work I've done has been overseas. This is mostly by design: I've had the chance to focus on studies that allow me to work on topics related to green technology, and I've been able to find great opportunities overseas. The challenge with leading studies overseas is in managing a team with different backgrounds. I've learned to look for the motivation that drives people as a way of understanding them, and I've learned to change my mindset, too. I've also become much more confident in myself. I aimed to do all of this when I joined McKinsey, but even I'm surprised at just how far I've come.

What I do in my free time / my hobbies

I enjoy getting to know the towns and cities I visit for work. I go to museums and cafes, and always try to experience good local food.