I became an entrepreneur immediately after leaving my role as a research fellow at CERN. I founded a start-up to develop a technology for manipulating nanolitres of liquids on plastic substrates as a medium for biomedical experiments. Running my own business was a fantastic experience—stimulating, varied, with great people—and the technology had many potential applications in the pharma industry. Sadly, though, the company ran out of funding and we had to close it.
Although I was offered several other CEO positions with early-stage start-ups, none of them were in areas I knew well. Doing an MBA was another option, but I didn’t like the idea of taking a career break. What I really wanted to do was find out how big companies work and what makes them tick.
Getting the inside view
While still at CERN I’d attended one of McKinsey’s hiring events, a weekend in Lisbon for European doctoral students. Since then I’d been to lunch a few times with a partner in the Brussels office and heard a lot about the firm from family and friends. My wife worked here for seven years, and both my colleagues on the PhD program at CERN joined McKinsey afterwards, so I had a good idea what to expect.
Even so, when I was offered a job here I was a little apprehensive about whether I would fit in as what McKinsey calls an “experienced hire.” People warned me that going from managing my own organization to being a member of someone else’s team might be painful. So I expected a tough transition, but in reality it was a welcome change. I was happy doing my own work instead of managing 40 other people, and I enjoyed the analysis because I’d spent so long as a researcher.
Learning from leaders
One of the great things about working at McKinsey is that you get to learn from people who know their stuff inside out and have incredibly high energy levels. Not long ago I worked on a commercial due diligence project for a company planning a takeover. The CEO and his senior leadership team were closely involved. They were impressive people, committed and enthusiastic. On our side we had two partners who had served the industry for 10 years and were intensely knowledgeable. There was a lot of pressure, but we had a lot of fun too, and by the time our study closed, it looked as though the takeover would be a great deal for both companies.
Combining work and family life
I have two children, and I find that if you are organized it’s perfectly possible to combine a high-pressure job with family life. In the week work is busy and I’m often away, but my wife understands the environment and is very supportive, and I always keep my weekends free for my family.
Technology helps too: when I can’t get home in the evenings, I go on FaceTime at
8 pm for a video call with my kids. It’s become part of my routine, and my colleagues and clients are fine with it. Working at McKinsey is more flexible than it might seem—it’s a matter of taking the time for yourself.