New Horizon: Lead what’s next in AI

New Horizon: Lead what’s next in AI

In-person event, Budapest, Hungary
February 25-27, 2027

Three days of hands-on learning and collaboration with McKinsey technologists and leaders, exploring how AI moves from strategy and prototyping to real business impact.

‘New Horizon: Lead what’s next in AI’ brings together business professionals shaping how AI changes the way companies operate, and hands-on technologists in software engineering, data science, and data engineering who want to put their skills to work solving real client problems with AI.

What to expect

Explore

See where AI is heading

Hear from the McKinsey and QuantumBlack leaders and technologists building at the intersection of AI, technology, and business.

EXPERIENCE

Technology in action

Test-drive the tools, demos and technologies changing how organizations work.

SOLVE

Take on a real challenge

Work as a team to tackle a real-world problem, from shaping a business recommendation to building and testing an AI solution. Get feedback from McKinsey and QuantumBlack experts.

CONNECT

Meet your future network

Connect with McKinsey and QuantumBlack colleagues and talented participants from across Europe.

Why New Horizon?

What you will take away

Take a closer look at McKinsey’s AI work
See how business, technology, and data expertise come together on real-world problems.
Practice solving problems the McKinsey way
Take on a real-world challenge, from shaping a business recommendation to building a working AI solution. Learn directly from McKinsey and QuantumBlack experts along the way.
Build connections across Europe
Meet participants, McKinsey and QuantumBlack colleagues with different academic, professional, and technical backgrounds.
Discover where your path could lead
Explore the range of work across consulting, technology, and AI and what those paths can look like at McKinsey.

Who can apply

Who is this program for and who can apply

New Horizon: Lead what’s next in AI is designed for curious, ambitious minds who want to shape how AI changes the way businesses operate. This includes:

  • Business professionals and strategists: Graduates and early-career professionals with strong skills or a deep interest in AI, eager to sharpen their AI fluency and put it to work on real business problems.
  • Hands-on technologists: Graduates and practitioners with up to five years of experience in fields such as software engineering, data science, or data engineering who want to deepen their expertise and test their skills in new contexts.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

Eligibility criteria

To be considered for this event, you must:

  • Be based in, or have strong professional or academic ties to, Europe
  • And meet one of the following criteria:
    • Be a master’s, PhD, or MBA student graduating by 2028
    • Hold a university degree and have up to five years of professional experience in business consulting or tech and AI transformation, with strong skills or a deep interest in AI
    • Hold a university degree and have up to five years of experience in technical roles such as data science, data engineering, or software engineering

How to apply

  1. Submit your application by December 8, 2026

    Please complete your online application and provide:

    • Resume in English: List your education, grades, experience, extracurriculars, and key achievements.
    • Transcripts: May be required depending on your preferred office or practice (see FAQ).
    • Office & practice preferences: Select up to three participating offices and indicate QuantumBlack or McKinsey Tech & AI. Choose locations where you have relevant ties; local language fluency is required.

    Complete your online application by December 8, 2026.

  2. Application review (December 2026 – January 2027)

    We’ll review all applications and contact every applicant with our decision. Selected candidates will receive information about the next steps in the process, including an invitation to complete our online pre-assessment.

  3. Join us in Budapest (February 25–27, 2027)

    Selected participants will join ‘New Horizon: Lead what’s next in AI’ in person in Budapest.

Apply now

FAQs

Contact the New Horizon: Lead what’s next in AI team.

Contact us

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