Sean

Business Analyst

Travel Bug

I grew up in a big family. I have 4 siblings and my dad was in the Navy. Every few years we had to move to a new city. I always had an idea that I’d like to travel and see the world because that’s how I grew up. In college I was able to study in London and China, and part of the appeal of the firm was the opportunity to travel both inside the U.S. and internationally. I really enjoyed the Black Client Support Staff conference last year, which allowed me to go to a new city (Chicago) and meet a whole bunch of bright, intelligent people.

Why McKinsey?

I went to Morehouse, which really exposed me to the types of career opportunities out there. I knew that consulting had a steep learning curve but would help me hone skills I could apply to all aspects of my professional and personal life, and would provide me with a solid mix of quantitative and interpersonal skills. McKinsey also had a strong reputation for focusing on the development and growth of their consultants, especially their business analysts coming out of undergrad.

Time Management

Managing multiple responsibilities in a time sensitive environment is a skill that I’ve really developed in my time here. It’s one thing to manage your own schedule, but another to manage work streams and deadlines that other people are dependent upon. McKinsey’s team structure for each project relies on each member to take control of their own workstream while engaging with one another and sharing insights to contribute to the big picture.

Transforming Schools

During my time at McKinsey, I’ve worked with the superintendent’s office of a major urban school district on a middle school transformation effort. For this and my private sector studies, I have my own focus area that contributes to the broader solution. In this case, I focused on working with the client to develop ways to improve teacher effectiveness, which was just one part of a multi-faceted solution that also included student support systems and a leadership development system.

Free Time

I play basketball with my friends on the weekends. And I’ve gotten more involved in community service as part of the Big Brother Big Sister program, which some other McKinsey people introduced me to.