Christine
Business Analyst alumna
I think the great thing about McKinsey is that it is a very young and energetic culture. That is something that people tend to overlook sometimes when they are trying to learn about the firm. I have made so many friends with people that I have worked with closely. My teams enjoy going out to dinner, bowling, taking a road trip, and golfing. McKinsey really tries to make the experience fun. The degree of global connectivity is unique, and the “one firm” mentality means we work and share knowledge without boundaries. Anywhere I travel now, I have colleagues I can call.
“In terms of learning and growth, 2 years at McKinsey could equal 6 years anywhere else.”
Learning on the fly
On my first engagement I worked on marketing strategy with a pharmaceutical company. From the start, I had my own work stream, analyzing trends in prescribing behavior. I needed considerable support at first, and my engagement manager was more than happy to coach me. But as I learned how to make more effective presentations and create better financial models, I grew more independent and confident. Then one day, it was time for me to share my findings with the client. The client told me, “Thank you for your insight; we couldn’t have done it without you.” That’s part of what makes this job incredibly satisfying.
Stretching
I joined McKinsey to gain consulting skills and experience in different industries, and my expectations have been more than met. I’ve worked in pharmaceuticals, media, and consumer packaging. I’ve learned presentation skills, financial modeling, relationship building, and leadership skills. McKinsey stretches you continually—just when you feel comfortable, they give you a new role requiring more skill. But at the same time, they provide experienced, knowledgeable people to coach and teach you. They become mentors.
Learning to be a leader
More recently, I have been given a new leadership opportunity at McKinsey. It is something that I never thought I would have the chance to do at this age. I am not even 25 yet. That plus the exposure McKinsey gives you with clients has been amazing. I had a study where I met with senior managers at a leading company everyday at 8:00 a.m. just to listen to their concerns and problem-solve with them. It was a very deep kind of relationship where they looked to us for counseling and we knew their problems inside and out. We really were one team.