I studied at National Economics University in Vietnam and went straight to work. Out of university, I was an economic analyst focused on transfer pricing practice for a boutique financial advisory firm. I joined McKinsey as a business analyst in 2021 in the Ho Chi Minh City office.
The work here is intense and the scope is broad. One of the things I have felt so far is a strong sense of empowerment. Team members are expected to own their workstream and deliver the work, regardless their background. If you are hired here, your colleagues believe in you, and the sense of trust is a powerful motivator.
Attending McKinsey’s Next Generation Women Leaders (NGWL)
From the time I was in high school, I knew I enjoyed helping others solve problems by offering a new perspective and putting things in context. I believed management consulting would allow me to do that.
McKinsey is one of the top names in the industry, so I joined NGWL with one purpose in mind: to test my career assumptions by getting to know the people who were doing the work. NGWL has been one of the wisest choices I have made in my career so far.
During the event, I networked and learned about the framework and the technical skills required for the job. I also gained insights about McKinsey colleagues and other participants who would be my future peers. Everyone was so cool, and I was at ease when I was talking to them. McKinsey felt like a place I wanted to be.
After the event, I joined a LinkedIn group for NGWL 2020. I reached out to ask if any participants were interested in prepping for the application process, and we formed a small group that was precious to me. We were going through a similar process, and it was wonderful to share the experience and motivate one another.
My advice to women interested in McKinsey & NGWL
NGWL is the perfect way to test if the firm is a match for you. Take advantage of the opportunity. Reach out to your peers. You will build powerful connections with people across the globe. I did case interview preparation with colleagues from Indonesia and India.
More about me
I love spending time with my friends and family at Sunday brunch, enjoying a cup of coffee at a shop I’ve gone to since high school, or riding my bike around the city. After joining McKinsey, I picked up badminton as a hobby. You can find me most weekend afternoons in the park with my friends, playing a few sets. We are still amateur, but it is all about having a good time together.