Why McKinsey?
McKinsey prides itself on working on the world's toughest problems, and in the Middle East office we work closely with many of the region's leaders on their most exciting challenges. This is why I was drawn to McKinsey, and this is why I enjoyed every minute of my time in the Middle East office.

My background is in international development, and my interests lie primarily in the public sector. I was therefore fortunate to work closely with government leaders on several projects and apply private sector approaches to public sector challenges. Meanwhile the private sector projects I worked on were equally rewarding, for working in a rapidly growing emerging market means you are often helping create opportunities and expand new approaches. It's this mix of entrepreneurial energy and developmental impact that truly energises me.

At McKinsey I was constantly surrounded by people who not only challenged me, but also offered support and mentorship at every turn. In the Middle East office, there are over 40 nationalities with various professional backgrounds, and you are automatically plugged into the global McKinsey network through training and experiences across many offices in many regions.

McKinsey is not perfect—no place is—but it constantly seeks to improve itself and has managed to balance its traditionally successful approaches with an ever-present environment of entrepreneurial innovation over the years, making it a remarkable place for anyone who wants to work on the toughest challenges and to have truly lasting impact.

The Middle East office supported my decision to pursue an M.B.A. at the Harvard Business School. I will rejoin McKinsey in 2008, and I look forward to picking up where I left off, especially my relationships with clients and colleagues.

Education:
M.B.A., Harvard Business School (graduating in 2008)
B.A., Stanford University, economics and history (2002)

Experience:
Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative—Kampala, Uganda
Fulbright Scholar, Islamic Civilizations Program—Manama, Bahrain
ADEW Microfinance—Cairo, Egypt

Background:
Management—public sector strategy and organisation, economic reform

Personal favourites:
Travelling, playing tennis, scuba diving, skiing, reading up on current affairs, and enjoying good food with good friends.