Q&A with Acha
Driven by his personal mission and McKinsey’s encouragement to think beyond an organization chart, Acha dedicates his time to an African practice that's having a sweeping impact on the continent's economic transformation. His home and family are his sanctuary as he helps societies find better futures. He took time out of his happily crowded day to provide some insight into McKinsey for candidates like you who are anxious for an inside-out view of what happens here.
Interviewer: You’re not exactly hanging out in Palo Alto.
Acha: I considered consulting and start-up opportunities in Silicon Valley. That was logical; I had just finished my PhD in electrical engineering at Stanford, and my advisor had recently sold his first start-up.
I chose McKinsey because I wanted to learn about business for 2 years, and because I had more in common with McKinsey folks than at other firms. After 2 years, the idea was to go back to a start-up in the valley, but 13 1/2 years later I am still here.
Interviewer: So it’s important for you to work on a grand scale.
Acha: The work we are doing across Africa is truly transformational. We’re playing a key role in supporting the economic rebirth of the continent, whether by working with presidents and governments to develop strategies to grow their economies, or turning private-sector companies into regional and global champions.
Interviewer: Quick, can you think of three adjectives and three verbs to describe McKinsey?
Acha: Distinctive, demanding, caring. Work, travel, play.
Interviewer: Could you imagine doing all this anywhere else?
Acha: Only at McKinsey would I be serving four African presidents at the same time: we’re developing an overall country strategy in West Africa, refining one we developed some time ago for an East African president, leading an education-sector strategy in Central Africa, and driving various sector reforms in another West African nation. Exciting times!
Interviewer: It’s a long way from Atlanta to Lagos.
Acha: I was an associate in Atlanta working in telcom. But I realized I was much more passionate about Africa.
Interview: How did that passion turn into action?
Acha: I decided to test the waters by getting on some studies in Africa; after two of them, I packed up and moved to Johannesburg. It was the only office we had in Africa at the time. Since then, I helped expand our presence and set up a new office in Lagos—one of the dreams I had when I joined McKinsey!
Interviewer: Do you get calls from a lot of different country codes?
Acha: I partner with colleagues from all over the world in our quest to make a difference in Africa. McKinsey people are incredibly smart, very driven, and committed. They are passionate about all kinds of topics (some weird ones, too) but most importantly really good and fun people.
Interviewer: With so much important work to do every day, how do you manage that pesky work-life balance thing?
Acha: Like anything else you want to achieve in life, you’ve got to work at it continuously. Be conscious and mindful, all the time. McKinsey is amazingly supportive.
Interviewer: What means the most to you?
Acha: Spending quality time with my wife. Our house—a haven of peace—in Joburg. And our Lagos office—because I know it will be there, making a difference, long after I’ve left.
Education
-
Stanford University
MEng; PhD
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
BS