David

Partner

Help getting over the initial shock

When I first joined McKinsey, it was definitely a shock. From the first day, there was an expectation to perform at a high level. This was not easy given the new industries, “foreign” tools and frameworks, and rapid pace. In addition, there were the executive reviews. On the one hand this was exciting, but on the other hand it was a new experience learning to communicate in Powerpoint presentations. This was all part of the shock effect. But I was working with intelligent and friendly people who all provided tremendous support. Everyone from the project managers to the support staff reached out to help with my transition. I could really feel that people cared about making me successful at McKinsey.

My time here has made me a better leader

Many people know about McKinsey being a good training ground for business leaders given the exposure to different industries, functions, and issues. What is not as well known is the amount of mentorship that takes place. I believe this is one of the key reasons I have been able to develop as a leader while at McKinsey. After having transferred to the Seoul office, I was fortunate to find a mentor who provided me with advice on everything from client projects to daily life matters. The firm’s culture facilitates mentorship, and I’m a much better leader for it.

A dream project

My favorite client study involved evaluating whether a company should build a sports stadium. In addition to the business and financial analysis, we worked with a top architect to benchmark other stadium designs around the region. At one point during the benchmarking trip, I was watching a baseball game (to make sure we properly assessed the customer’s experience) and thought, “I cannot believe I am getting paid to do this!” You do not get such projects every day, but I think many people at some point in their McKinsey careers have that “dream” study.

McKinsey’s network

I am still sometimes awed by the firm’s network, and not just in the business community. For example, we recently had our annual partners’ conference, and Bill Clinton was one of the speakers. It’s not every firm that can get a former U.S. President to attend a company event. Sometimes, I’ll be browsing through the McKinsey alumni database, and it seems like every time I come across a new name that I recognize but didn’t realize was previously at McKinsey.