Insights and publications
At McKinsey, our consultants are able to use the skills and networks they build at the firm to help them make a difference in areas about which they are personally passionate.
Cartier Women's Initiative Awards
Founded in 2006, the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards is a business plan competition for female entrepreneurs held in conjunction with the Women’s Forum and supported by McKinsey and INSEAD. The winners of the Awards - one per continent - each receive a grant of US$20,000 for their business ideas. Keiko Honda (partner, Tokyo) sits on the competition’s jury board, and McKinsey consultants from around the world volunteer to provide coaching support to the finalists with refining the business plan and preparing for the presentation each year. Read more about McKinsey's involvement with the Cartier Awards here.
Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society
McKinsey is a worldwide partner of the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society. According to the Financial Times, the Women’s Forum is one of the five most important forums worldwide dealing with issues of the economy and society. Former Managing Director Ian Davis has joined the global council, which defines the strategic orientation of the forum, and Sandrine Devillard, a director in Paris, sits on the international board.
Forte Foundation
We served the Forte Foundation on a pro bono basis in the United States to help them refine their strategy for the next five years. Forte’s mission is to substantially increase the number of women business leaders by increasing the flow of women into key educational gateways and business networks.
Global Summit of Women
“A Wake Up Call for Female Leadership in Europe” written by Munich director Claudia Funke and Katrin Suder, a partner in our Berlin office, was highlighted at the 13th Global Summit of Women in Berlin. The annual gathering, nicknamed “Davos for Women” drew 1,000 female business, professional, governmental, and entrepreneurial women. McKinsey is also proud to sponsor the event.
Catalyst and Vital Voices
The firm has supported and partnered on strategy issues with both Catalyst and Vital Voices over a number of years. In addition, Partner Nancy Killefer sits on the board of advisors for both organizations.
Catalyst’s mission is to seek a world that supports and encourages every woman in her career aspirations and places no limits on where her skills and energy can take her.
Vital Voices believes in the transformative value of women's participation in society and invests in emerging women leaders.