What brought you to McKinsey?
The exceptional people I met during the recruiting process attracted me to the firm. When I graduated from business school, I had not considered a career in consulting. I intended to pursue a career in finance, having previously worked at Goldman Sachs and CIBC. I ended up speaking extensively with members of McKinsey’s Strategy & Corporate Finance practice, who proactively reached out to me. I was very impressed with how sincere and humble the people were despite having such rich experiences. I had not even joined yet, but everyone I met made me feel like I was already part of the team. The more people I met, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the firm.
When I joined, I never expected to stay at McKinsey for 11+ years but the people are the main reason I stay. McKinsey gave me the chance to meet senior industry executives and work with some of the most motivated and interesting individuals who hail from different backgrounds, including experienced industry leaders and individuals who have built and sold successful companies. I love that we start as colleagues or clients and end up being trusted lifelong friends. It’s hard to imagine another way to get this kind of exposure or meet so many amazing people.
How and why are you involved in recruiting for McKinsey?
I co-lead recruiting for Greater China. The Asia-Pacific region is growing very fast, and China is seen as a leader of innovation globally. We need to bring individuals with diverse backgrounds to McKinsey to elevate the impact we deliver to our clients. Meeting diverse and smart talent has also been a source of energy for me personally. At the end of the day, our core and most valuable asset is our people.
Why is McKinsey a great place to start or continue your career?
McKinsey invests heavily on developing and growing its people, and I am personally grateful for that. Before I joined, I would never have thought I would be where I am today. I started off as a quiet person; my voice would shake if I had to talk to more than five people at once. I never could have imagined how much this career would help me grow and mature, in personality, in how I see things, and in the relationships I develop. The firm has changed me in many meaningful ways, and this is a big reason why I am so passionate about bringing the best people to this special place.
I’m constantly impressed by McKinsey; the firm is continuously innovating. The type of work I do today in growth innovation and digitization is very different from the fintech IPO projects when I first joined. You’ll never be bored at McKinsey! I have the flexibility to choose to work on things I’m passionate about and stay away from topics that don’t play to my strengths. I can do this while controlling my schedule for things like choosing when to pick up my daughters from school. As a mother, I would want my children to grow up and join the McKinsey family because I know they’d meet their lifelong friends and mentors while shaping industries alongside inspirational leaders. Where else can you find this kind of opportunity?
What does achieving the #1 Vault ranking for consulting firms in Asia-Pacific say about McKinsey?
At McKinsey, we are proud of the firm culture and live by our mission statement. Earning the #1 ranking on the Vault survey again is evidence of our commitment to build a firm that attracts, develops, excites and retains exceptional people. As consultants, we continuously strive to deliver impact to our clients, ensuring their success is our success. At the same time, the firm works hard to help its people grow and be successful through formal trainings, mentorship and support. McKinsey’s strong culture of caring and support makes me proud to be a firm leader.
What is your outlook for the firm’s recruiting for 2021?
For 2021, we anticipate hiring the largest incoming class globally in McKinsey’s history. We are continuously looking for talented, diverse people. If you’re keen to have the flexibility to chart your own path, deliver transformational impact, and meet interesting people who care about you and help you grow, then McKinsey is for you. The firm will support you to become your best self along the way.
More about Violet
Violet is a partner in the Hong Kong office. She holds an MBA from the Booth School of Business, where she studied accounting and finance. At McKinsey, Violet’s work focuses on digital and analytics transformation and ecosystem strategy and implementation for financial services across Asia-Pacific.
Outside of work, Violet enjoys spending time with family, exercising, and exploring new countries (pre COVID-19).