Thank you for your interest in learning more about our PRISM community at McKinsey
Peter Cooper, Partner, London
Peter Cooper
Welcome! As a leader of PRISM, our network focused on progressing representation and inclusion in social mobility. I am excited to introduce you to our community, and share our commitment to fostering diversity within our firm.
The PRISM community is for colleagues interested in social mobility and broadening access to our firm from a wider range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Socioeconomic diversity can mean many different things in different parts of the world, and as such our PRISM members come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. For example, they may be the first generation in their family to attend college or university, may have faced family financial hardships, or have grown up in a low-income household. We have active groups across Europe, North America, and Latin America, and look forward to growing the PRISM community in more regions.
I've been in McKinsey for 8 years and am a Partner in our London Office. My parents grew up on neighbouring social housing blocks, walked down the road one day, met - one thing led to another - and now here I am. Both my parents left school at 16 but hustled to create a world where I could go to university twice. Coming to McKinsey was a shock; I didn't feel I had a great deal in common with my peers: I didn't go to a 'target school', have a favourite ski resort or understand the etiquette of interacting formally in 'big business' culture. But over time I realised it also gave me a hidden strength - I found it easier to connect with others from a similar background who had found themselves in the Board Room, and to in general make more relaxed, 'come-as-you' connections with clients, where they were more vulnerable about their hopes and dreams. I think a wider range of life experiences is a huge asset for McKinsey, and that is why I am so excited about increasing the socioeconomic diversity of our Firm.
We recognize that our firm is enriched and strengthened by the wide variety of experiences of our colleagues. PRISM is part of our firm’s efforts to attract and retain exceptional talent from a broader range of backgrounds and to fully support all of our colleagues so that everyone feels welcome, included and equipped to thrive. Within McKinsey, we hope to be a source of connectivity, mentorship, and support. We focus on providing all of our colleagues with opportunities to be at their best and realize their full potential.
Beyond our internal efforts, we also strive to shape the wider social mobility ecosystem, particularly through engaging with our clients. We have developed major research reports on the business case for corporate action on social mobility, convened clients to debate tangible actions leaders can take, and participated in speaker events locally and globally.
We hope PRISM can become a community that gives a sense of purpose for you - wherever you come from and whatever your experiences.
If you’d like, you can learn more about our network on our PRISM website. I also suggest you check out our Life at McKinsey on Instagram for candid stories about our colleagues’ lives.
— Peter