Miguel
Associate Principal
Starting Out in the Marines
The firm presents opportunities that you would not have anywhere else.
I’m originally from Mexico City. I first came to the United States at the age of 18 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps, an experience that gave me the foundation I stand on today. I spent four years as an infantry machine gunner, including nine months in the first Persian Gulf War. I then decided to leave the Marines and pursue my undergraduate studies in computer engineering at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Consulting Around the Globe
After I graduated, I took a job at another consulting firm on a project in Brazil. Then I did some technology consulting before deciding to get my MBA at the University of Michigan. In business school, I knew I wanted to keep doing consulting, but on a different level. I decided to accept a summer associate position with McKinsey’s Business Technology Practice in the Sao Paulo Office, and from my first week at the firm I saw it was a completely different experience than what I’d done previously. When I received an offer to return fulltime, I took it.
From BTO to the Middle East
Initially at McKinsey I did work primarily in the technology space because I am a part of the Business Technology Practice. However, after about two years I ran into a partner who was looking for former military people to start up economic development work in the Middle East, which immediately appealed to me. If you want to do something different, the firm is very supportive of you. I went to Iraq and worked for the next 6 months in economic development, and I completely fell in love with it. I’ve been working there for almost three years now, traveling every month to spend time in Baghdad with our clients.
Memorable Moments
One of my most exciting memories was sitting in front of a senior government official pushing him to make investments in the areas recommended by our team. The outcome of the discussion: This very senior official simply said, “Okay. I believe you.” Then he turned to his secretary and asked him to write out a check in the amount of the recommended investment. I was impressed by the type of impact as well as the responsibility we have when interacting with our clients.
Level of Impact
The conversations that I have today are at the level of the general officers in the military. It usually takes them about 30 years to get to that position, whereas it took me 6 years to get where I am. From CEOs to prime ministers to presidents … I would have never thought that I would be talking to these people, or working on defining a path forward for a whole country. Seeing a country’s economic progress and the increasing capabilities of its people is amazing. Now, that’s what I call impact!
Free Time
I work out almost every single day: run or go to the gym and lift or go on team runs around the mall or the Capitol in DC. The way I balance that is by setting boundaries. If I have to work late that’s okay, but at 6:00 p.m. I’m going to take an hour and a half to go on a run or go to the gym and work out. It is important to take time to free the mind to sustain our demanding lifestyle.