I expected to work with many highly talented people, but I had no idea that McKinsey would also pave the way for so many true friendships.

Diving right in

In the gap year after my bachelor’s degree, I was curious to see if my experience and skills would fit into the world of consulting. Coming from a university with a strong focus on business and economics, I was very keen to explore what it would be like to work in teams with people from various disciplines. Lastly, I was excited by the chance to experience two completely different industries in just 3 months.

After a 3-day introduction program in the office, I found myself staffed on my first project in Berlin, supporting a major telecommunications provider to transform its sales channels.

During the first few weeks, I was given the opportunity to participate in shop observations and conduct client interviews on my own. The trust the team placed in me—and the responsibility I got from day one—made me feel proud and motivated me a lot.

Broadening my horizons

For my second project, I was back in Switzerland—this time in the retail industry. This was a new industry, a new function, a new team, and a new client with a different working style—so many new variables. But two things remained constant: my curiosity and my enthusiasm. The opportunity to experience new challenges like this made me realize how big the learning potential at McKinsey actually is.

One of the best parts of both projects for me was definitely the strong sense of support from my teammates. My opinion was valued and demanded in every problem-solving session we had and I felt like a full-fledged member of the team from day one.

New friends and experiences

Looking back, I am genuinely grateful for all the fantastic experiences, the positive challenges, and all the new friendships I gained during this time. The latter factor is particularly worth emphasizing. I expected to work with many highly talented people, but I had no idea that McKinsey would also pave the way for so many true friendships. The positive side effect of that is that working with friends instead of “just” colleagues is much more motivating, rewarding, and simply more fun.

When my internship came to an end, I was hooked by the experience and decided to postpone my master’s and instead joined McKinsey directly. I haven’t regretted the decision for a moment!

Education

University of St.Gallen
BA, business administration