Remo

Associate

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a Swiss expatriate, living in Oxford from where I commute to Europe on a Monday to Thursday schedule. Fortunately I enjoy travelling, for which I have plenty of opportunity at McKinsey. Often I try to stay over at our client locations to explore new cities or revisit old favourites.

Tell us a bit about your career before McKinsey.

I studied at ETH in Zurich, where I obtained my masters degree in physics. During that time I spent one year at Universite Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, completing a Maitrise course in physics. I continued from there to do my Ph.D. at Oxford, where I graduated in physical and theoretical chemistry, writing on a mixture of topics with elements of physics, biology and chemistry.

What made you decide to leave academia?

Academia was an incredibly rewarding time; I extremely enjoyed the bench work and the science. However, I felt stagnated in my personal development and wanted to embark on a more adventurous path. This led me to consider alternative options.

How did you come to apply to McKinsey?

I heard a lot about McKinsey at career fairs, at presentations, from friends that joined the firm, and from the Internet. So in my third and final year of Ph.D. I submitted my application online. It was the most logical move for me, considering my Ph.D. background and my desire to diversify my skills.

What made McKinsey seem like a good fit for you?

I did a lot of online research and attended company presentations to figure out where I would fit in. Finally, attending a McKinsey recruiting event in Nice provided the ideal chance to meet several consultants. I realised what a great bunch of people currently work at McKinsey and also how well I got along with the other applicants (of which several are part of the firm now).

How has your background as a Ph.D. helped?

My Ph.D. background is still developing to its full potential. I see it as a long-term asset as the thorough thinking process and long-term project-management skills become increasingly important during a career at McKinsey. After all, it’s the analytical thinking and being a good thought partner that is most highly valued at McKinsey.

Describe one of the highlights of your McKinsey experience.

My biggest highlight so far has been seeing our team’s recommendation put into action whilst still on the project. We designed a considerably large organisation and our key client became the new leader during the project.

What have been your biggest learnings at McKinsey?

My biggest insight from McKinsey is how much communication changes the impact of results and recommendations. I used to be confident to let the numbers speak for themselves. However, I’ve learnt through my time at McKinsey that data alone doesn’t change the behaviour of people or organisations.

How did you 'make your own McKinsey'?

I’ve been actively seeking opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector. Also, I’ve got a big interest in discovering different countries and working environments. Thus I have managed to pursue projects in places such as Dublin, Brussels, Zurich, Munich, and Dubai.