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Shaun

Associate PartnerNew Jersey

I wanted to feel that every day is different—a new opportunity for growth.

After college I spent three years in finance.Although it was a valuable learning experience, it made me realize I was looking for a job that prioritized strategic thinking and personal development, where I would not only gain knowledge but learn to be a more effective leader.

McKinsey gave me this and more. One of the biggest surprises to me has been the culture of mentoring. Since starting at McKinsey, I have been blown away by the support I received from my new colleagues, including partners from my earliest days here; mentoring is a core part of the McKinsey DNA. There’s a “pay it forward” mentality to mentoring at McKinsey and now I embrace the opportunity to provide mentoring and support to incoming classes.

Solving the biggest problems

One of my projects stands out because we had completely free rein in determining how to help a client solve a major problem. A major packaged food company was trying to understand what was driving recent declines in performance: Was it performance in international markets? Operations? Marketing? We worked together as partners to identify the issues and collaboratively define solutions. The client ended up adopting many of the project’s ultimate recommendations, and is now on a much sounder footing. Tackling such a salient question for an iconic company is something I’d be unlikely to experience outside of McKinsey, and it was hugely rewarding to be part of it.

Belonging to a community

McKinsey gives us opportunities to make lasting impact not just at our clients and in the office, but also in our local community. The New Jersey office encourages us to take leadership roles from the moment we join, whether through leading recruiting initiatives or organizing the office to give back to our community. After Hurricane Sandy devastated the east coast, for instance, we partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild homes along the New Jersey shore.

Our office is a close-knit community with down-to-earth, friendly people and an entrepreneurial spirit. We pride ourselves on our diversity, including working with colleagues with multiple backgrounds: MBAs, PhDs, JDs, MDs, and experienced hires.

Education

Columbia University
MBA

Princeton University
AB, international political economics