Stephen
Associate
Consulting is an exciting alternative to traditional career paths for an academic
I have had many interviews in my life, and I had never had a better interview experience—I learned a great deal, my buddy was a wonderful coach, the people I met were intelligent and friendly, and I felt empowered.
I always knew I would do a Ph.D. in engineering, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do afterward. I never thought management consulting was an option for me because my training was in engineering, not business. Fortunately, a friend of mine who had just finished his McKinsey interview process told me about his experience. I was intrigued when I learned that McKinsey values the problem-solving and communication skills of a Ph.D., so I applied. It turned out to be a life-changing decision. After exploring various options in industry, academia, and consulting, I was excited by the prospect of learning constantly at McKinsey and was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had throughout the interview process. I thought to myself, “These are the kind of people I would love to work with"
Working with great people is why I love working at McKinsey
On my first study, I had to build an industry cost curve model for a client. I had little knowledge about the industry and the client, but fortunately I was working with an inspiring team. We had insightful problem-solving sessions, meaningful discussion about what it means to be a McKinsey consultant, and fun working together. I always felt supported, included, and respected and was inspired to always deliver my best.
Being able to create significant and long-lasting impact is why I am proud of working at the firm
In every study, I can see how we create significant and long-lasting impact for our clients. However, it really hit home for me when I recently learned that my client is still using the industry cost curve model I developed on my first study.
Being part of a community is why I stayed at McKinsey
Like every other job in the world, there are ups and downs at McKinsey. However, whether I am entering the Toronto office or attending a conference or training, I always feel like a member of the local office, a member of the worldwide Business Technology Practice, a member of GLAM (Gays and Lesbians at McKinsey), and ultimately a member of the firm. My strong sense of belonging to these various communities means I can always find someone who understands my concerns and will help me.