Kennedy
Business Analyst
In the future, I would like to play a meaningful role in economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa—especially relating to health systems development. When it came down to considering which consulting firm I wanted to join, McKinsey stood out as having the most attractive offering for me. The New Jersey office, which I joined, has a strong set of healthcare clients, ranging from big pharmaceutical firms to large hospital systems. That, combined with McKinsey’s strong presence in Sub-Saharan Africa and ongoing projects in the social sector (e.g., global public health and economic development), was the deal-clincher for me.
“Working closely with the client has really helped me to quickly understand the business.”
Communication and Confidences
I most value being at a place that allows me to be pulled into our clients’ confidence to help solve their most challenging problems. There is a lot I have learned from the McKinsey team, but working closely with the client has really helped me to quickly understand the business. I have grown immensely during my time here, developing my ability to lead client meetings, run quantitative analyses, interview various client stakeholders, and more effectively communicate with teams and clients.
Client Impact
As I was wrapping up my first six months at the firm, I had a meeting with a fairly senior client to hand over the work I had been handling. Toward the end of our meeting, he asked me to stay for an extra 15 minutes for a chat. I agreed, not knowing what he had in mind. When we were done with my agenda, I shut my laptop, closed the decks that we were reviewing, and turned the floor over to the client. He turned to me and asked, “What do you think are my strengths, and how do they fit into my new role?” What followed was a candid discussion of what I perceived to be the client’s strengths. He was very appreciative, and I felt satisfied that I had helped him be more effective in his role.
Variety of Experience
Since I began at the firm (6.5 months ago), I have been on a team serving a large medical device company. Despite being at the same client for some time, my roles have varied significantly. I have conducted interviews with more than 20 physicians in the U.S. and Europe, been out in the field to get a firsthand perspective of the client’s selling process, developed revenue models, analyzed growth opportunities for the client, and worked closely with a senior client on development of novel ways for the sales force to provide value to customers. The client is now implementing our various recommendations and taking over the work that we helped jumpstart.
Office Connectivity
There have been a number of great activities to connect the business analyst class and offices since I joined. One was the first-year retreat in San Juan, Puerto Rico—a 5-day trip during which members of the 2006 class really got to know each other. Then there was the Mid-Atlantic office-wide retreat in Banff, Canada. I got to ski for the first time in my life and lead a dog-sledding team of huskies! In addition, there are always weekend business analyst events held in New York City. These involve getting all of us together for a good time to share our experiences, and are great for building relationships within the office and fostering a sense of community.
Personal Favorites
Favorite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favorite Movie: Disney’s "The Lion King"
Hobbies/interests: Reading, weight training, running, watching jazz performances, and spending time with friends
Something fun/crazy/special/unique about me: I speak Swahili, French, Kikuyu, and English
Favorite place traveled to, and why? Kinangop, Kenya. The air is fresh, the grass and leaves are vivid green, the stars are bright, and each morning, you wake up to the sound of birds chirping. I know, really mushy…and really true.