Daniele
Business Analyst
Why McKinsey?
This is the most diverse place in terms of experience that I’ve seen in the professional world.
I was a finance and French major at the University of Texas. I always thought I’d go into banking and actually did an internship in banking the summer after my junior year. During that time I was contacted by McKinsey recruiting, and we met to discuss my career goals. I realized I still wasn’t sure what industry I wanted to build my career around and ultimately decided consulting would expose me to a greater range of experiences, including global opportunities – maybe even the chance to do an international study.
Combining Logical and Creative
My dad is Spanish and grew up in Algeria and France during the Algerian Civil War. That side of my family speaks Spanish and French and is very artsy and creative. My mom grew up in the U.S., has a Masters in accounting, and is very numbers-oriented. I was born and raised in Austin, and ended up kind of a combination of them both. As a kid, I never had one thing that I knew I wanted to do or to be. I never even had a favorite subject; I just liked them all. Consulting is the perfect profession for me because it stretches me creatively and analytically in many different ways.
Personal Growth
Because of the nature of what we do – interacting and meeting with clients and having to get up to speed quickly on a variety of issues – we’re given a lot of responsibility early. I’ve become much more confident in myself and my abilities. I’ve also gained the skill of time management and self-direction: You don’t have a boss and someone looking over you day to day, so you learn to schedule your own time and fit everything in.
Freedom at the Firm
McKinsey gives you far more freedom than you could have in pretty much any other position just out of college. I’ve worked in the travel infrastructure and logistics space, in marketing and sales, on a private equity study for a healthcare firm, and now on a strategy study for a major retailer. I’m working with an incredibly diverse team of McKinsey consultants, many client members, and two other consulting firms, trying to solve a complex issue at the forefront of the company’s executive committee. I know that every day my work has incredible impact.
Free Time
I like to run and try to do it every day. I also have a lot of friends from college who moved to Houston, so most days I’ll make time to hang out with them after work.