Q&A with Sarah
Most physicians go straight from medical school to their residency, but, as much as she loved ophthalmology, Sarah was drawn to the people and the opportunities at McKinsey. Healthcare delivery in America is in the midst of profound change, and Sarah wanted to be at the locus of the action.
Interviewer: I understand that you weren't following McKinsey on Facebook and Twitter when you were in med school?
Sarah: If you had asked me during my first year of medical school about McKinsey, I would have replied, “Who's that?”
Interviewer:What was your first exposure to McKinsey?
Sarah:In my third year of medical school, my interest in broader healthcare issues led me to McKinsey. I attended a few information sessions and a weekend program called Insight Healthcare that was hosted by McKinsey and designed to introduce MDs and PhDs to management consulting.
Interviewer: You've said you were “blown away by the people [you] met that weekend.” But you still needed more convincing that consulting was right for you.
Sarah: Not pursuing residency is a big step. So I applied for a summer internship and had the incredible opportunity to spend 4 months working with multiple teams on different projects, ranging from healthcare reform to consumer insights. My summer convinced me that McKinsey was the right next step, so I decided to pursue a full-time opportunity.
Interviewer: Can you give us some more insight into what went into your decision?
Sarah: It was both personal and professional. Personally, I wanted to travel and gain “real world” experience after 5 years in medical school. Professionally, I was interested in optimizing healthcare delivery, especially given the exciting US healthcare reforms.
Interviewer: How would you describe McKinsey?
Sarah: High-performing, energetic, and adventurous.
Interviewer: It was the quality of the McKinsey people that excited you that weekend back in medical school. Has that continued?
Sarah: I've never met a more impressive bunch of individuals. I not only respect and admire my colleagues for their intellect, abilities, and accomplishments, but I love them for their energy, compassion, and quirks. They are McKinsey’s greatest assets, and the camaraderie that results when you put so many terrific people under one roof is remarkable. My colleagues allow me to bring my whole self to work, and that allows me to grow in a truly cultivating environment.
Interviewer: Can you tell us some more about how McKinsey has helped you grow?
Sarah: I've learned to have more faith in myself. As Sheryl Sandberg highlights in Lean In, we often miss out because we act in fear–saying, “I’m not qualified enough for that.” By allowing me to experience challenges in a safe and supportive environment, McKinsey has enabled me to test my limits and succeed.
Interviewer: What have you done here that surprises your friends and family?
Sarah: I've run through corn mazes, played mini golf, ransacked Target for a Halloween costume that I wore to a bowling alley, rode horses through the Arizona desert–all with my McKinsey teams.
Interviewer: You have an MD and you’ll always have that. Do you think you’ll be at McKinsey in 5 years?
Sarah: Who knows? What I do know is that my experience at McKinsey is helping me develop critical skills. If and when opportunity knocks, I’ll be better prepared to open the door.
Education
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University of Pennsylvania
MD
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Washington University in St. Louis
BA