McKinsey India

Pride in my work

The most encouraging part about McKinsey is that I own my work—from formulating an idea right up to presenting it to the client; this end-to-end ownership gives me a sense of freedom, belonging, and pride. For someone at my level, it is fascinating to see how an idea of ours can translate into something as tangible as the client reorganising its top management or changing the way they do their business.

Mentoring for success

Over the course of every engagement, managers becomes less like managers and more like mentors. It’s a profound relationship where I can seek advice on anything, professional or personal. Mentors and colleagues at McKinsey are personally inclined to make you successful, helping you identify and capitalise on strengths and work on your weaknesses. This support is not just restricted to the workplace—it could even mean helping me get into my dream university and formulating the path forward.

Every day brings something new

One of the most exciting things I’ve done at McKinsey was an engagement which felt like a 3-month roller coaster ride. Every week, our team’s work was defined by decisions taken at the client’s board meetings, moves of competitors, regulations brought out by the government, etc. I never knew what lay ahead. Every morning, what kicked me out of bed to get to work was the excitement to see what awaited me, because you’re never doing the same thing for more than a couple of days!

Work hard, play harder

Life for me at McKinsey would have been incomplete without some of the craziest things we’ve done at parties and holidays with friends at the firm. Fun is that one big thing which keeps me going at McKinsey—whether in the team room or outside.

‘Gyaan’ for life

After just about 10 months at McKinsey, what seemed herculean to me when I started now seems like a mountain or a series of mountains that are never too high to scale. Besides the content and technical learning, small pieces of advice that my managers have given me can be life sustaining. On my first engagement, talking to a McKinsey partner would make me nervous—but it’s what you do every day. Working with some truly amazing people gives me my dose of inspiration each day.

Education