Working alongside senior leaders
McKinsey works on the highest-level projects, addressing issues that are critical for a client or an industry. When I joined the Moscow office after graduation, I worked directly with senior leaders from the beginning. My first project involved the integration of two large companies. Within 2 months I had spoken face-to-face with their CFOs and marketing directors to understand how the unified departments would look in the future. For a newly minted graduate, this kind of experience cannot be overvalued.
Another project involved investigating development prospects for the national power grid in an Eastern European country. I was considering various strategies and in one meeting, to my surprise, found myself joined by the head of a ministry department, the minister himself, and several deputies. For them, the subject was pressing and they wanted to hear me speak. The solution that our team presented differed from those they had considered. It was a unique situation for me: you speak with very intelligent people who have a lot of expertise, you learn from them, and you try to find a new solution at the same time. To do this, you need to think and speak so these people will listen to your ideas.
“What I like most about McKinsey is its people. Never before have I worked in such a strong and friendly team. It is not surprising that my colleagues always inspire me, both as individuals and as professionals.”
A program of intensive training
All new McKinsey consultants undergo a week-long training session, no matter where they are hired. During the session, participants study the methodology of consulting projects, their basic stages, and other important aspects of the work. The most fascinating part is when senior consultants role-play as clients, presenting themselves as deeply skeptical or, on the contrary, wildly enthusiastic. All the newcomers enjoy the spectacle and the results of this approach are evident within the week, when you start dealing with real clients. Other training is designed to help us more deeply analyze problems, develop relationships, and acquire knowledge. Every year, McKinsey dedicates a full day for colleagues in all offices to discuss the firm’s culture and values. We study various client-interaction scenarios and explore the consequences of our decisions.
Let the games begin
When I was at university, I took an active part in business case competitions and later hosted similar competitions myself. After joining McKinsey, my colleagues and I developed a new format for a competition, called Business Diving. We wanted to show students what real consulting is. We use it to simulate a consulting project from beginning to end, from starting the engagement to delivering the worked-out solution at a client board meeting. This educates university students on the basics of management consulting and, we hope, inspires new talent to join McKinsey. Several McKinsey offices elsewhere in the world have expressed interest in the project, so there is a good chance we can bring the next championship to the international stage.
What I like most about McKinsey is its people
Most of all, I like the people I work with every day. I’m amazed by the intelligence and analytical skills of literally every person here, as well as the wide range of interests my peers have. This unique quality is evident to anyone who has worked at McKinsey. Every day you get an opportunity to learn from your peers, and not only professionally. When I was recruited, my class included a participant in the world rowing championship, a candidate for a masters of sports in skydiving, a specialist in Eastern cultures, successful entrepreneurs, an applied physicist majoring in nanostructures, a cardiologist, a musician, and many others. It is not surprising that my colleagues always inspire me, both as individuals and as professionals.