Q&A with Maia
It's a free market for talent, which is why we were so thrilled when Maia chose us over the other consulting firms who were (rightly) beating down her door. Two things won her over, one of which was the option to participate in our Global Rotation Program, offering an opportunity to work in three regions, including China, a dream of hers.
Interviewer: You spent 20 months in our Global Rotation Program (GRP), a trek that included Houston and Shanghai, with long pauses in Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong, before you finally settled back in London. Whew!
Maia: You can say that! Moving around had challenges as well as thrills. It took more energy to go on GRP than it would have to stay in London, but it was absolutely worth it. The upside is that I came back crystal clear on what I wanted to do—mining, oil, and gas—and with a great network. The experience gave me the confidence to take on any kind of project—after all, I had grown up as an engagement manager with teams from four continents and in several different industries.
Interviewer: What surprised you most about McKinsey?
Maia: I was delighted that my expectations of cut-throat competition and office politics were completely unfounded. (I probably spent too much time watching the “The Apprentice” before joining.) Instead I discovered people working together at all levels to solve challenging problems with very little personal ego—and all the while investing deeply in each other. This culture is one of the most inspiring aspects of working here.
Interviewer: You're really under-educated. Let’s see, you majored in geosciences and painting at Princeton, got an MSc in geobiology from the California Institute of Technology, and a DPhil in earth sciences/palaeobiology from Oxford.
Maia: I deserve a place in the Guiness Book of Records for the student-loan category.
Interviewer: Tell us why you ended up in operations, with such a diverse background.
Maia: I love operations because I can see results. I’ve led two projects where we helped the client to compete more effectively and ultimately let the companies grow instead of having to lay off workers. In one case, I helped design a transformation program for a logistics company. Listening to the district head explain to his employees how this new tool would let them keep their jobs and take on more work—rather than losing out to more advanced competitors and having to downsize—was hugely gratifying. We didn’t solve world hunger, but we made a tangible difference to hundreds of employees and their families.
Interviewer: Quick, what are three adjectives that best define the McKinsey you know?
Maia: Dynamic, supportive, limitless.
Interview: We often talk about our ability to attract and nourish very different kinds of people. Have you found that?
Maia: My two closest mentors are complete opposites and I value them all the more for that! One is a passionate intellectual whose razor-sharp insights propel the team to the best answer. Be prepared for a debate over dinner and for his dissection of any unsupported assertions! He applies his own high standards to himself and is always looking to learn and be surprised.
The other is the perfect collaborator, always pulling together the right people at the right time, and leveraging his expansive network. When assessing insights and suggestions his mind immediately goes to the impact on people, and how best to tell the story to inspire the audience. He is warm and consistently expresses his faith in his teams, inspiring us all to perform at our very best.
Interviewer: Does everyone at McKinsey burn the midnight oil?
Maia: Everyone is different. For me, the key has been to learn to go with the flow. Hours often peak right before a big meeting—but fortunately, those are the most exciting, stimulating times. It gives me the energy to fly through them.
Interviewer: What about after the crunch time?
Maia: It's critical to take advantage of when things are calmer, and not fall into the habit of working late just because.
McKinsey is very flexible about those off weeks—there are no "expected hours” and very little value placed on superficial face time. So the only barrier is your own habits!
Education
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University of Oxford
DPhil
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California Institute of Technology
MSc
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Princetion University
AB