Anders

Engagement Manager

Before joining McKinsey, I was a driver for the Swedish Mail, a seaman in the Royal Swedish Navy, and an auditor. I met my wife in Moldova while there on a project. She is a lawyer, and we have a small daughter. Playing with my daughter is my favorite pastime.

I found my passion

My first study with McKinsey was in health care. I realized early on that’s what I enjoyed, so I kept talking to my colleagues to find out about interesting studies and asked to work on a few of them. I’m still a generalist, not a specialist, but for the last three and a half years I’ve been able focus mainly on health care. I’ve worked with hospitals to deliver higher-quality care at a lower cost, with pharmaceutical companies to make sure their medicines are used for the right patients, and with medical technology companies. In health care I’ve found a group of people I enjoy. The clients are sometimes so idealistic that I have to remind them they need to make money.

Making time for family

The most important thing for me is to spend time with my family, especially my daughter. It’s a constant struggle. Because of my wife’s work, I need to drop off and pick up my daughter at daycare half of the time. What suffers is my sleep. I talk to partners who have a reasonable lifestyle and find out how they do it. I am very open with them, and I am learning to prioritize—to make sure to focus on the right things and work more effectively on those important things rather than try to do everything.

My colleagues help me grow

After each study you get feedback pointing out what you should focus on next. Your engagement manager focuses on your strengths and directs you towards the kind of study you should do next and how to work on your skills. Every six months your development group leader compiles feedback from everybody you’ve worked with and looks at your written evaluations to get a bigger picture. This biannual review process has made me more aware of what I need to improve.

For example, I don’t like to talk in big crowds. I was told several times I needed to improve in that area. That pushed me into doing something about it, and now people can’t stop me from talking.

Relating to clients

I was 32 years old when I joined McKinsey, so I was a senior recruit. But I think you, the firm, and your clients all benefit a lot if you have done something else before coming to McKinsey.

My diverse background, especially with the Swedish Mail and in the navy, has made it easier for me to relate to some of my clients. In a hospital, for example, talking with the aides and orderlies who do the hard work, you need to understand their situation. I realize the client’s staff have an everyday job to manage even while they’re involved in a special project with us.

Speaking frankly

We have an obligation to state our point of view, even if we disagree with where the team or the group is heading. It is a crucial part of what McKinsey is, and it happens constantly here. If you disagree with the more senior members of the team about the direction the client should be taking, you have to be able to challenge them without being run over. That’s different from many other organizations where if the big chief says something, that’s how it is. This is something that happens on every project and it really helps us to bring our best solutions to our clients.