Malli

Associate

My non-business background didn’t limit me

I remember looking at the backgrounds of people who had joined McKinsey and talking with folks during the recruiting process. The individuals were just mind-blowing. You could not say that there was a typical McKinsey person. There were MDs, political science majors, economists, Olympic athletes, people who had set up volunteer organizations, etc. So I knew that an IT background would not limit me if I were to apply to McKinsey.

Passionate about making a difference

After graduating from Wharton with an M.B.A., I was intensely attracted to McKinsey for its reputation and track record of producing leaders who are passionate and committed to making a difference – whether in the non-profit world or as heads of some of the largest corporations. All my interactions were extremely positive as I started gaining more understanding of business consulting and got in touch with people at McKinsey,

The training is superb

My first training was a one-week-long program that was an introduction to consulting. There were traditional parts of the training—like problem-solving, synthesis, and communication—but the part that really resonated with me was the role-playing and getting feedback from trainers and my team on my performance. The feedback sessions are actually extremely important. They certainly opened up my eyes to things that I was doing in terms of, let's say, body language, mannerisms, language, all sorts of things that I never thought about before. I started paying more attention to what/how I communicated and that has helped a lot in client situations.

The trade-offs are worth it

I travel quite a bit, but I have great flexibility. For example, I had a two-week overseas trip planned while my wife was pregnant and she was not feeling too well. So after a discussion with the project leadership, we decided I could work from home instead. The firm is there to support you. This is not a nine-to-five job—we make trade-offs that sometimes affect our personal lives. But when I look at the long-term rewards of the McKinsey experience, I really think the sacrifices I make now are worth it.

I’ve learned to challenge myself

After two years with McKinsey, I feel I’m a completely different person. First, I’ve got a great professional tool kit—written communication, oral communication, giving presentations—the tools of the trade, so to speak. Second, I’ve developed a pursuit of perfection; my attitude is that whatever I do and however I do it, there is always a better way of doing it. That’s the way I think now— a desire to constantly challenge myself and continuously raise the bar.

My hobbies

Strenuous non-technical hiking, a seemingly endless pursuit of an elusive double-digit golf score, and baby talk with my infant son.