Q&A with Annie
Any notion that McKinsey is built and run for MBAs is thrown overboard by the story of Annie, who joined with an undergraduate degree and an inability to open an Excel file. She started as a business analyst and is now an experienced engagement manager. We caught up with her after her morning run; she was only breathless when it came to describing the reasons she’s still at McKinsey.
Interviewer: You’re almost at McKinsey as long as a full presidential term. Are you surprised?
Annie: When I joined straight out of undergrad, I never imagined that I would stay to become an engagement manager.
Interviewer: So you don’t have a case of the 4-year itch?
Annie: Each time I start to feel like I “get it,” I am given a new challenge which continues to make me feel that McKinsey is the very best place for me. I do important and stimulating work with smart people, and have opportunities to continue to grow every day.
Interviewer: What was it like for someone coming to McKinsey straight from undergraduate school? We get asked that a lot.
Annie: Well, I had literally never opened Excel and was terrified of making a model. One of my engagement managers paired me with a more senior analyst who let me take a first stab at everything—but checked in regularly to answer my questions and teach me new things. Sure, it would have been much easier and faster for the other analyst to complete the work. But I was given a learning opportunity, which made me a stronger consultant and has influenced the way I manage my teams today.
Interviewer: Do business analysts ever get to do anything exciting, or do you just pump out models?
Annie: On lots of my projects, I never touched a model. One of the most exciting and memorable opportunities I had was working with the CEO of a $65 billion healthcare company to understand and implement his priorities. It was exciting to watch our recommendations being implemented over the last 3 years. I often get updates from the teams serving the client and talk about the continuing impact of our work.
Interviewer: That engagement had some personal benefits for you.
Annie: Through that project I met some of my best friends at McKinsey. The engagement manager, a partner now, is my most valued mentor—we grabbed coffee just the other day. The senior director remains a good friend as well.
Interviewer: Everyone has a different approach to achieve the work/life balance we hear so much about. What’s yours?
Annie: Pick your non-negotiables upfront and be very clear about them. For me, it’s my morning run—the time I need to clear my head and get energized. At the start of each project, I tell my teams I will do this daily. They have always supported me.
Interviewer: I'm interested in the way that you connected your personal interests with McKinsey's own public-service mission.
Annie: I love that I am able to pursue my personal interests within the context of the firm. I help lead a pro bono partnership between McKinsey and a New York City foundation, which has in turn introduced me to four different non-profits that have a huge impact in my community. I’m proud of the work; it also gives me a broader perspective for my projects in the for-profit world.
Interviewer: So if I asked you what five items mean the most to you and why, what would you say?
Annie: I assume you don’t mean “my iPhone, my computer, my iPhone charger, my computer charger, and a pen!” I would say my family, my running shoes, the beach, childhood photos, and my friends.
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