Back to Careers Blog

Friends for life

Curiosity brought Yohannes around the world.

August 2015. I was a year away from graduation and considering what I wanted to do next. Coming into my degree I assumed I would continue working in family–owned businesses but halfway through, I decided to test my mettle in the corporate world. I wanted to find a place to grow and do interesting work without tying me down to a specific sector.

I first came across McKinsey when a friend from the UK mentioned it might be worth a look, given they had an Addis office. A few clicks later I discovered that in 1970 McKinsey devised a system for assigning unique codes to every product sold in the United States, the Universal Product Code or as it’s more commonly known, the barcode. A few LinkedIn conversations later I was sold. In September 2016, after the recruiting process, I joined McKinsey.

Yohannes 2
We strive to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to our website. If you would like information about this content we will be happy to work with you. Please email us at: McKinsey_Website_Accessibility@mckinsey.com

In three years, I have grown in ways I would not have thought possible. My entire view of the world and my place in it has shifted. Thanks to McKinsey I now truly believe there is no limit to human endeavour if goals are combined with teamwork and perseverance. In my time at McKinsey I have had the privilege of working across sectors covering everything from public finance to organizational health and, not including Ethiopia, I have visited four African countries (only another 49 left to go!).

Of all the things I treasure about McKinsey, it’s the people I work with that mean the most to me. From day one, I met colleagues who have challenged and inspired me. From the partner who made sure I never let self–doubt get in the way of trying new challenges to the analyst who revolutionised the way I take notes (thanks Claire!), my co–workers continuously push me to become the absolute best version of myself. Even more significant than this is that the friends I have made here are friends I know will stay with me for life.

Find the best role for you