McKinsey Q&A: Joseph

Meet Joseph, a partner in Sydney who leads our Operations practice in Australia and New Zealand.

Interviewer: What did you do before you joined McKinsey?

Joseph: I studied law and worked a few summers at law firms. It didn't take me long to realize I was more interested in the business aspects of my work, so I applied to McKinsey.

Interviewer: What drew you to the firm?

Joseph: McKinsey was tackling the toughest and most important challenges with their clients, and I was impressed by the people I met. McKinsey is full of smart, well-rounded individuals, who are also very humble.

Interviewer: What is the most exciting part about your work in Operations in Asia?

Joseph: Many sectors in Asia are in really tough spots due to the commodity cycle, disruptive technologies, or negative consumer sentiment. Our Asia Operations practice is at the center of our clients’ activities in these areas, and we work hand-in-hand to achieve huge bottom-line results.

Interviewer: What has been your most memorable McKinsey experience?

Joseph: I’m most proud of helping one of my clients confirm a ~$1b profit improvement that kept their operations afloat while many in the industry went bust. In that situation, we brought the best of McKinsey's implementation, restructuring and operations capabilities, and worked side-by-side with our clients for two years to achieve the massive savings.

Interviewer: What advice would you give to others considering joining the firm?

Joseph: Just do it! Whether it's for a short time or a long time, you'll be joining an organization that does fascinating work and takes its commitment to your professional development incredibly seriously. You'll gain so much from the day-to-day coaching, informal mentoring and formal training we offer.

Interviewer: How to you spend your free time outside of work?

Joseph: I spend as much time as possible with my family – my wife Amanda and my children Simon (6) and Claire (3). They are a barrel of laughs! I enjoy running, cooking, eating, and reading (preferably in that order).

Interviewer: What is your mantra for success?

Joseph: If you invest all your energy into making your clients and colleagues successful, everything else will take care of itself.

Learn more about roles in our Operations practice in Asia and apply to join Joseph’s team:

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