Women at McKinsey

Supporting each other, achieving together

Community and mentorship

A global commitment to women

McKinsey offers a range of local, regional, and global initiatives to provide mentoring, training, and relationship-building opportunities for colleagues interested in our commitment to create an exceptional environment for the growth and advancement of women. Each office fosters local connections and delivers local programs to support this commitment.

Advocacy & Research

At McKinsey, we have a deep and longstanding commitment to advancing parity for women in work and in society.

Inclusion and diversity have always been core to our mission and values, and our research inspired us to accelerate our efforts to advance gender parity within our firm. Using our global reach, we share our insights, convene partnerships for action, and serve clients, to inform critical decision-makers with the power to make real change.

The evolving role of women in our firm

Jane Glick, Jacqueline Browne, and Joan E. Griewank.

Created our first affirmative action plan committing to fostering diversity in our firm, and the first McKinsey Quarterly article on gender diversity is published.

Events and networks

Joining McKinsey means joining a legacy of female leadership. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a recent graduate, working at McKinsey will accelerate your growth. We invite you to get to know us at an event in your region. Find out more here.

Building Connections

Individual offices offer women-focused sessions addressing topics such as building relationships with senior clients, developing networks, and being a mom at McKinsey. These forums can be annual off-site meetings, a workshop series, or Friday events in the office.

Building Communities

There are also informal support networks for women. For example, McKinsey Moms is a close-knit network that supports mothers before, during, and after pregnancy. McKinsey Moms is full of women to tap into for their knowledge on how to continue a successful career after becoming a parent.

Building Support Systems

McKinsey fosters growth through robust support systems, including a structural emphasis on sponsorship and opportunities for colleagues to mentor others. We also offer benefits that support physical and mental health, financial well-being, family care, and flexibility, creating a welcoming environment that helps colleagues thrive at all stages of life.

“Diversity and inclusion shouldn’t be treated as a separate initiative—it must be embedded into everything we do. We know we are at our best when we create blended and diverse teams, and we have made steady progress, particularly as we hire and advance more women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ colleagues.” — Bob Sternfels, Global Managing Partner

“I am proud of the progress we have made globally to have more women at McKinsey across all levels. Having impact with our clients depends on getting exceptional talent and developing leaders, and diversity and inclusion are critical to that.” — Kweilin Ellingrud, Senior Partner and co-author of The Broken Rung

Our new book for women in the corporate workforce

The Broken Rung, a book aimed at helping women in the first decade of their careers build their "experience capital," level the playing field, and unlock their full potential, will be released on March 11, 2025. Written by Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martínez—three senior partners who also served as our first three consecutive chief diversity and inclusion officers—the book offers valuable insights for women navigating the corporate world.

The book examines how women, despite outperforming men academically and achieving higher graduation rates, lose their advantage once they enter the workforce. In fact, for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women advance, causing women to fall behind early on—long before reaching the “glass ceiling.”

The Broken Rung draws on over a decade of research, conversations with more than 50 influential leaders, and the authors’ personal experiences to provide readers with strategies to accelerate their career growth and overcome obstacles along the way.

Snapshots

The Kuala Lumpur team at a connectivity lunch event

Elevating Women event at McKinsey Riyadh

McKinsey Gurgaon/India team came together to celebrate the vibrant and joyous Dandiya & Garba event on occasion of Diwali.

Kuala Lumpur Office - New Moms Support Group

Next Generation Women Leaders 2023 – Lisbon meet up

Perspective by McKinsey - an initiative in Central Asia, focusing on fostering women’s leadership and advancing gender equality in the professional sphere.

Next Generation Women Leaders event - Paris 2026

The Kuala Lumpur team at a connectivity lunch event