Lucy

Why you joined McKinsey
I spent my summers in college working with several nonprofit organizations and planned to pursue a career in the social sector after graduation. But in order to have a positive long-term impact in the social sector, I knew that I needed to start with a career that would build my business background and provide challenging development opportunities. After stumbling into a McKinsey on-campus presentation in the fall of my senior year, I realized that McKinsey would allow me both to follow my heart in the social sector as well as to develop a solid business foundation for success in any future career; I became certain at that point that it was the right place for me.

Because McKinsey solves such a wide range of business problems in such a wide range of industries and geographies, business analysts can always find a way to pursue their passions through client engagements. At the same time, McKinsey analysts have first-hand ownership of client issues and relationships in a way that is unparalleled in the field of consulting, as well as a supportive network of teachers and mentors to ensure learning and success along the way.

Relationships
McKinsey, for me, is defined by the relationships I have built here. Because our ultimate goal as a firm is to develop solutions with clients that will add value to their organizations, I learned to work within client teams from my first day on the job and have developed real thought partnerships in that setting. Just as rewarding are the relationships I’ve built within McKinsey, across all tenures and geographies. Through social activities, trainings, and Fridays in the office, I have built strong peer relationships with other analysts in Atlanta and around the globe. By working in a non-hierarchical team environment, I have been able to build strong relationships with the associates, partners, and directors on my teams and in the office. And because McKinsey leadership is so committed to the growth and development of business analysts, I have found mentors and role models here who have taken a true interest in and helped shape my McKinsey experience and my future aspirations.

Client impact
A few weeks into my career at McKinsey (and a few weeks out of college!), I found myself unexpectedly meeting one-on-one with a senior client to walk him through my team’s preliminary work. I realized at that moment that there are no sidelines at McKinsey! Every engagement has given me the opportunity to work closely with client teams, own large work streams, and present in-progress and final deliverables to senior clients. Every business analyst has the opportunity and expectation to drive his or her clients and team to creative solutions, which means that a BA has a real stake in the impact that we deliver.

Office connectivity
“Extracurricular” activities in the office are one of my favorite aspects of life at McKinsey. If an analyst has an interest, he or she is bound to find a group of like-minded people in the office and some firm funding to pursue it together. This spring I biked 150 miles across Texas in the BP MS 150 race with Team McKinsey—a team of almost 70 riders that our Houston Office assembles each year to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and to enjoy cycling together. As part of the Atlanta Office Community Service Interest Group, I organized a Habitat for Humanity build day, collected holiday presents for needy families, and brought new life and landscaping to the grounds of a local elementary school. This year I also participated with a group of colleagues in the McKinsey Practice Olympics—a friendly global competition to develop innovative and practical new ideas. Office-wide Friday lunches, quarterly business analyst trainings and retreats, and the annual Southern Office Women’s Offsite are just a few more highlights in McKinsey life outside of the client setting.

Variety of experience
In less than two years at McKinsey, I have served clients in media, travel, telecom, consumer packaged goods, retail, building efficiency, and financial services, and I am now embarking on a third year as a dedicated BA in our Social Sector Office (e.g., nonprofit clients). My functional experience at McKinsey has been as broad as my industry experience; I have solved client issues in marketing, operations, strategy, pricing, and implementation. Being “new” to an industry or function at the beginning of an engagement certainly requires a steep learning curve. However, McKinsey knowledge resources are vast and incredibly accessible, which makes learning a new subject fast and fun. 

Personal favorites
Favorite book:  The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver

Favorite Movie:  When Harry Met Sally

Hobbies/interests:  Running, biking, water skiing, reading, going to fun Mexican restaurants

Something fun/crazy/special/unique about me:   I speak Gibberish. It is a real language!

Favorite place traveled to, and why?  Lake Martin, Alabama – My childhood home away from home and backdrop of great memories