Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender consultants
About 11 years ago, a gay candidate inquired during the interview process how many gay professionals worked at McKinsey. Back then, there were few consultants who were out, and his interest inspired the formation of a network of gays and lesbians at McKinsey (GLAM).
“When I came to McKinsey I thought I might last 1 or 2 months, tops. Twenty years later, I look back on a career that has included serving the world’s leading financial institutions, starting up GLAM and a decade of pro-bono work in wildlife conservation.”
Jack
Partner and GLAM member
GLAM's purpose is to cultivate and recruit gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) professionals to McKinsey and to meet, support one another, share ideas, and work on issues of importance to them as a community. GLAM has grown to almost 100 gay consultants worldwide, including more than 15 partners and associate principals. Today, more than half of GLAM consultants reside outside of North America. We truly are a global community.
"It's been a fantastic experience having GLAM at the firm. It's a big reason I'm so happy here and why I came here in the first place," offers a current GLAM member.
Impact
GLAM consultants are engaged with a broad range of clients and practices. Many have also taken an interest in pro-bono efforts aimed at improving societal conditions for gays and lesbians.
McKinsey's active pro-bono outreach has included a major engagement to help develop a strategic plan for GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation. McKinsey was the founding sponsor of both the Reaching Out conference, (a U.S.- based, multinational gathering of more than 800 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered M.B.A. students) and the Undergraduate Out for Business Conference (a U.S.- based program to convene top gay and lesbian talent interested in consulting and investment banking).
We are committed to supporting organizations that focus on equity in the workplace such as the U.S. Human Rights Campaign and the U.K. Stonewall Diversity Champion's Program.
Choice
GLAM members work in a range of industries and functions, and across a wide range of geographies. Like all McKinsey consultants, members of GLAM are choosing to engage in exciting work across many continents. China, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Canada, and the United States are just a few of the places where you will find GLAM members living and working. Choices of where to travel and work are not limited by concerns of domestic partner benefit coverage, as the firm can provide these benefits worldwide.
Growth
GLAM members are invited to attend global conferences to discuss topics important to their professional development, including ways to use their capabilities as leaders and how to be most effective in building trust-based relationships with clients. A formal mentoring and coaching program from senior members of GLAM is part of the overall support that GLAM provides to enhance your professional development.
Following the spirit of McKinsey's 80-year legacy of values, we set the standard for doing what is right. We're proud that the Human Rights Campaign recognizes the firm as a place that fully supports the success of gays and lesbians. The HRC recently wrote to us, "McKinsey & Co. Inc's preliminary score for 2006 is 100. We congratulate you on obtaining a perfect outcome with our newly-revised criteria."
This reputation helps our firm attract, retain, develop, and advance gay and lesbian professionals.