McKinsey South Africa

Why McKinsey

The opportunity to explore a wide range of industries and functions was what first attracted me to McKinsey. I was intrigued by the prospect of working in an ever-changing environment, on both the bigger picture and the finer details. I remember just after I started, I approached one of the partners and told him I was interested in the financial services sector; I was staffed on an asset management project a week later. Since then I have had the opportunity to work on three totally different studies. I cannot think of a better place to get that kind of exposure.

Working closely with senior clients

One of the most exciting elements of McKinsey is the client interactions. Our collaborative approach has allowed me to work closely with senior clients and I have found it extremely rewarding to be able to assist and engage with them. It’s incredible to see the high level of respect and trust that clients have for McKinsey teams—resulting in an experience that is not easily matched by other graduate opportunities in the market.

People—the lifeblood of McKinsey

The amazing thing about McKinsey is the variety of people who all have the same values and are ready to help you be innovative and pursue your passions. People really are the lifeblood of the firm. You are given incredible support to shape your own career and manage your work.

Advice to students

My advice to students considering their career options is to do as many internships as possible in the companies they are interested in. I joined McKinsey’s Winter Internship Program while I was still at university, and then interned at a few other companies. This made me realize exactly what it was that I wanted from my career and my first job—it expanded my options and changed my career path. Having studied actuarial science, I found the McKinsey proposition far more appealing than the basic skills application which most conventional roles in my field would have offered me in my first two years of work.

Education