McKinsey Portugal

Incredible people

Why join McKinsey? For me, it’s all about the people. You get to work and interact with the most talented, creative, energetic colleagues you’ll find anywhere—as well as with outstanding client executives in business and the public and social sectors. In my case, though, I only fully appreciated the value of the people when I left McKinsey to take up a PhD in engineering. The relative isolation of academic life came as a shock, and within a year I rejoined McKinsey.

Impact on the world

In our work at McKinsey, we make visible differences: I’ve helped shape growth strategies for major companies in sectors ranging from the telecom industry to banking. But our impact extends well beyond the business world. One of my most exciting engagements has been to support the government of Mozambique in increasing its cities’ resilience to climate change—certainly not the type of work I expected to be involved in when I first joined.

Support to be your best

When I joined McKinsey straight out of university, I felt insecure and out of my depth—but from day one I received strong support from my colleagues. From the most senior director to the youngest consultant, McKinsey people make time to give you feedback, coaching, mentoring, and encouragement. You never feel alone. You’re also given space to pursue your passions—in my case this has included teaching in firm training programs and staying in touch with the academic world through university recruiting.

Applicants: keep an open mind!

As a student, I attended a McKinsey recruiting event out of curiosity—I had no intention of pursuing a career in consulting. If you find yourself in the same position, my advice is keep an open mind! Don’t put too much stock in the conventional campus wisdom about consulting, and come ready to listen and learn. You may just be surprised, and find yourself on the way to a deeply fulfilling career in a place you hadn't expected.

Education