Jonathan
Associate
Starting Out
I was given ownership of a workstream the very first day.
I’m originally from Argentina, where I studied computer science engineering. Back then I reasoned that a narrow specialization was the key to getting a good job after graduation. But ultimately I realized I didn’t want to spend my career working solely as an engineer. I ended up joining a large telecom company in Argentina, where I did strategic planning for a couple years. Several of my colleagues were McKinsey alumni, and they encouraged me to pursue my MBA in the U.S. In the fall of 2006 I moved to New York and enrolled at Columbia Business School.
Summer Associate Experiences
Having been introduced to McKinsey before business school, I sought out the opportunity to interview with the Firm for a summer internship. I got an offer to join the Buenos Aires office. My client over the summer was a credit card company in Sao Paulo facing a turnaround situation. The experience totally exceeded my expectations: The team was diverse and international, I was given ownership of a workstream the very first day, and my role culminated in the presentation of our recommendations to the client CEO.
Firm Flexibility
When I relocated to New York for business school, my wife joined me to work at her employer’s headquarters. For personal and professional reasons, we decided to stay a little bit longer in the U.S. instead of moving back to Argentina right away. I feared it would be complicated to transfer my fulltime offer from Buenos Aires, but McKinsey really is a global firm—they understood my personal situation and were willing to help me find a solution in a temporary transfer to the New York Office.
Infinite Possibilities
Since joining the firm, I’m more of a well-rounded professional. Before, I had a lot of technical competence but was lacking in client relationships and presentation skills. In almost every situation here, I’ve had the chance to build those skills and the support of my teams to succeed. There are firms out there that boast about giving you the chance to learn a lot, have fun, or work with the sharpest people. Few give you all three, and for sure McKinsey is at the top of that list.
Free Time
I try to exercise each morning for 45 minutes before going to the client site. I also enjoy watching TV and movies—a lot! I follow at least 5 or 6 sitcoms or dramas a season: Entourage, 30 Rock, The Office, Nip Tuck, etc.