Meet Vincent, a junior specialist in our Singapore office who joined the Operations Excellence Program (OEP) about a year ago. He’s always been attracted to McKinsey as an employer – eager to work on tough challenges with amazing colleagues and develop the skills to become a successful business leader. His favorite part so far has been the diversity of work and the depth of relationships he’s formed in a relatively short time:
Interviewer: What did you do before you joined McKinsey?
Vincent: I earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from the National University of Singapore and a master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Between school and McKinsey, I spent two years as an in-house consultant for a global logistics company where I worked on projects ranging from strategy to operations.
Interviewer: What drew you to McKinsey?
Vincent: McKinsey has always been at the top of my list of places I wanted to work. The firm provides terrific opportunities to solve some of the most complex business problems. Here, I’ll have the chance to work with some of the most talented people in the world, internally and externally, and I’ll become a successful business leader in a relatively short time.
Interviewer: What is the most interesting part about your work in Operations in Asia?
Vincent: The diversity. I have touched a variety of topics within operations and worked in many countries. Some highlights have been:
- Helping increase manufacturing efficiency for a luxury brand on a beautiful island
- Redesigning the procurement strategy for a major energy company
- Helping improve supply chain efficiency for a Thai-based company
- Advising a chemical company on energy efficiency
- Conducting a lean operations transformation for a major financial player
- Interviewer: What has been your most memorable McKinsey experience?
Vincent: I spent nearly four months helping an insurance client conduct a lean operations transformation. At the beginning, the clients were a bit skeptical of how much value we could bring; by the end we had completely changed their perceptions and they were fully accepting of our advice and appreciative of it. Our relationship deepened when they began to include us in internal events and team dinners. We were all sad when our time working together came to a close. It was rewarding to see how much they came to trust us.
Interviewer: What advice would you give to others considering joining the firm?
Vincent: McKinsey will provide you with ample opportunities to achieve your career ambitions and it’s immensely rewarding work. The pace is fast and we often travel. It’s important to find balance so you don’t burn out. People here are very supportive of that for each other so feel free to tell your colleagues what you need to be successful.
Interviewer: How do you spend your free time outside of work?
Vincent: I am a big sports fan and I try to exercise at least five days a week. I go to the gym during the week and get together with friends to play football and basketball over the weekend. I love watching movies, especially those that challenge me intellectually. And I use my days off to backpack around the world – from the bottom of volcanos in Indonesia to the top of the highlands in Scotland.
Editor's note: If you are interested in joining Vincent's team, please apply here.