When I graduated with a masters in communications systems, I started to search for a job that combines the two things I’m most passionate about: education and technology. I wanted to help teachers make smarter use of technology to enrich children’s experience in the classroom. But the job I was looking for didn’t seem to exist, so I set up a company to research and produce training packages for schools. I enjoyed the challenge of running my own business, but after a while I started to want more variety and a new direction.
Joining a team
I decided to apply to McKinsey’s Business Technology Practice, which helps companies make better use of their IT function to support their business strategy. Given my technical background, it felt like a natural fit, and I was delighted to be offered a job.
People always ask what it’s like not being my own boss any more. Actually, it’s not so different. Even when I had my own company I had clients who made demands on me, and although I liked making my own decisions it’s fun collaborating with others on a team.
Early days
I was expected to make a contribution from my first project. We were helping a city put together a bid to hold a major exhibition, and each team member had to write a chapter for the bid book. My subject was public transport and the environmental impact of the exhibition.
The whole experience was a great introduction to consulting. I saw how local politics works, identified steps the city could take to reduce its carbon footprint, and got my colleagues to do the same for their parts of the project. McKinsey is doing interesting work on environmental sustainability, and I got hooked on the topic after seeing how effectively it could be applied at a local level.
Another thing I learned from my first engagement is that consultants don’t all conform to the stereotype of analytically driven number crunchers. Some people are incredibly energetic and upbeat; others are laid back and calm. Every team has a different dynamic.
Broadening my knowledge
Working here exposes me to a wide range of industries and functions and I get to see first hand how leading companies are run. Business Technology Practice projects are often quite broad: for instance, one IT review included a project portfolio prioritization, a sourcing redesign, and the creation of a governance process to ensure that all IT activities served business purposes. And I also do projects outside the Business Technology Practice. I like working on strategy and marketing topics that are close to the customer, where you can see concrete results from what you do.
Even within the same company, it’s surprising how different things can look from different angles—from operations or marketing, say. Those differences can tell you a lot about an organization and its culture.
If I decide to set up my own company again, my McKinsey experience will give me a big advantage. It’s helped me structure my work better, made me more confident, and taught me how to have more effective discussions with clients.