Barry

Associate Principal

Tell us about yourself.

Although I grew up on the west coast of Scotland, I’ve been based in London for the past ten years. I initially moved to London in 1998 to study at Imperial College and ended up remaining there for seven years to complete both a degree and Ph.D. in chemical engineering. I now live in Chiswick with my long-term girlfriend, and in my spare time (e.g., most weekends between September and May) I am a football referee with the FA.

Tell us a bit about your career before McKinsey.

The academic options available to me at the end of my Ph.D. did not seem exciting or appealing. This drove me to look for other opportunities that matched my skill set and interests. I had always been interested in the big-picture issues that affect companies and organisations around the world and began to investigate consulting as a possible route.

Consulting, at McKinsey in particular, seemed like the perfect opportunity to put my practical and analytical skills to good use while examining an array of issues and problems facing businesspeople at the highest level. This has certainly been the case since joining, and I have been able to apply my analytical skills, technical skills, and communication skills to some high-profile issues.

What made McKinsey seem like a good fit for you?

I had several job offers upon leaving university, including offers from other consulting firms. One of the main things that attracted me to McKinsey was the additional value they attached to my Ph.D. Many companies seem to treat Ph.D. students as undergraduates, offering them the same terms and conditions as those just starting out in the working world. McKinsey, on the other hand, offers dedicated training and a special entry grade to aid the transition from academia to the world of business. This made me feel special and rewarded, while also offering me the chance to continue my development.

Describe one of the highlights of your McKinsey experience

At McKinsey, we create what we call practice documents to help us share knowledge gained from each team's hard work and insights. My greatest moment of satisfaction so far was when I created my first practice document. I developed knowledge deemed good enough to be shared worldwide, having impact not only with my own clients but also with McKinsey's clients worldwide.

Describe your McKinsey colleagues and the McKinsey culture.

McKinsey is full of smart, sharp, and interesting individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds. This helps keep the firm fresh and exciting as you are always working with new people who have different solutions to any given problem. Working in this context is rare, and to help align all of these ideas we have a strong culture and values set. This ensures that we are all focused on the same goals and that we always deliver the best of the firm to our clients.

What have been your biggest learnings at McKinsey?

Since joining the firm, I have discovered that having the best answer is not always a guarantee of success. How you communicate the answer and lead to impactful change is far more important. This often depends on the 'softer skills'—for example, having a good relationship with the client so that they trust and understand what you're saying and are motivated to act on your recommendations. Building this sort of relationship takes time, requires good interpersonal skills, and relies on having an understanding of the client's fears and concerns about the changes we are trying to make.

How did you 'make your own McKinsey'?

McKinsey is a very flexible place allowing you to choose what you work on and the people/teams that you work with. For me, the 'make your own McKinsey' idea has manifested itself in the staffing choices I have made and the practices I have aligned myself with over time. This approach has also been supported by some of the senior staff in London, including my DGL (my effective line manager), who have helped guide and shape my choices to ensure that I develop in a full, but well-supported manner.

How have you pursued your own interests at McKinsey?

One of my passionate interests at McKinsey has been the recruiting of Ph.D.s into the firm. To achieve this I have been heavily involved in our advanced professional degree programmes in both Europe and North America. A continual stream of presentations and events, including European Insight, have allowed me to stay in touch with those at the end of their academic efforts and ensured that more Ph.D. students consider McKinsey as a potential destination after academia.