I grew up in a family of artists. My parents are musicians and my grandparents were artists, dancers, writers, and teachers. The arts have added so much color to our lives, and they’ve helped thread together generations in my family.
Last summer was an unforgettable dream come true for me. Since childhood, I’ve wanted to travel China, performing in cities that have shaped my family’s legacy and my own identity. After a year of intense training and hundreds of marketing calls, my piano trio and I set up eight performances in Beijing, Shanghai, and Harbin. Some concert halls had more than 500 seats and they sold out! The reception was so great, we were invited to perform again next June.
Over time, music has sprouted into an analogy for everything I do. It’s taught me powerful life lessons in balancing technical precision with emotional depth, tenacity with lightness of heart, and focus with openness.
After joining McKinsey, these learnings continued to translate to my work. Like the performing arts, consulting – at its core – is storytelling. We draw insights from the world and creatively communicate them to help organizations change. I never would have expected to become a consultant, but it’s been a fusion of things I love. It’s surprising how things come full circle.
Find a job like Shannon's
About Shannon
Shannon is a senior analyst focused on healthcare systems and services based in Silicon Valley. She holds a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s in community health from Stanford University.