This Women’s History Month, we’re chatting with McKinsey leaders about their role as women in the workplace and beyond. Today, we’ll hear from Jill Zucker, a senior partner in New York who brings a unique perspective to help clients anticipate the changing needs of consumers in financial services and adjacent markets. For more Q&As throughout the month, bookmark this page.
Tell us about a career-defining moment.
As I think about my career, I had a mentor before I joined the firm who told me, “Never say no to a job you don’t have.” And that is 100% why I’m at McKinsey today. A colleague of ours called me when I was at Columbia, out of the resume book. That was the recruiting strategy at the time. I think all my classmates at Columbia were called by members of the New York office at McKinsey & Company. He said, “You should apply to McKinsey.” I said, “Oh, no. I’m going to go back to investment banking.” That’s what I had done before the firm.
And he said, “Well, we have the corporate finance group very similar to investment banking,” which, of course, we know is not entirely true, but I had this birdie in my head that said, ”Never say no to a job you don’t have.” So I dropped my resume.
I like to think of myself very much as an accidental consultant who, 17 years later, loves what I do.
But if it weren’t for that advice I got a lot the way very early in my career, like many of my classmates, I would not have returned the phone call and would not have pursued the opportunity to work at the firm.
What are you most proud of?
Two things that I’m most proud of. One is I’m really proud to be a role model to my three daughters. When my 11-year-old says, out of the blue, “I want to be like you, Mommy, when I grow up,” it is one of my proudest moments. To be present at home for three girls and show them that you can have an important role in your community, and in society, and in business, is something that I’m incredibly proud of.
The other thing that I take a lot of pride in is seeing those who I’ve mentored, both clients and colleagues, succeed. It is among my proudest moments when people that have come up in the ranks are elected partner or elevated in their role, or get a leadership position in their company, and I feel like I’m helping them accomplish their own objectives, their own dreams, is really a moment of pride.
What’s a big or surprising lesson you’ve learned as a woman in the workplace?
I think you have to, like all colleagues, really stand up for yourself. I remember probably a less inspiring moment, when I was about seven months pregnant with my second daughter and I had been working on developing a client opportunity for many, many months. It finally came to fruition, and a colleague of mine said, “Well, of course you’re not going to the work.” And I said, “Why wouldn’t I do the work? It’s six weeks of work. I’m seven months pregnant. I see no reason why I can’t do the work.” And they had just assumed that a male colleague was going to take the opportunity forward.
I was really upset, and I spent the weekend going back through my calendar and showing, on email, all the meetings I had attended to create this opportunity for the firm. I sent an email saying, “I’m really disappointed. These are the seven or eight interactions that I’ve personally had, and I want to be part of this. And I don’t see why I would be asked to step down at this moment.”
I think I just raised awareness, because they had assumed I didn’t want to do it because it was in Boston, and I was in New York, and I would need to travel. I said, “Well, I’m okay to go there. I have advice of my doctor that it’s fine. By the way, there’s conference calls, and it’ll be fine.” And the client was okay with it, so I think you do need to stand up for your own values. You need to stand up for what you believe in. And hopefully others can lift you up, but there are moments where you need to take advantage of lifting yourself up, and that is what I did in that moment.
How do you stay energized?
I think my family and my own personal values really keep me grounded. We have a family tradition of being together on Friday night to welcome the Jewish Sabbath together. No matter what’s happening, at 6:00 or 6:30, my doorbell rings, and usually guests and friends arrive for dinner.
My whole family has figured out how to get dinner on the table for ten or 15 people on Friday. We all have our jobs so that we can do it. And no matter what’s happening at work, I answer the door and I maintain that family tradition.
Otherwise, I could stay at my desk for many hours, as many of our colleagues do. I think having that moment of pause and reflection in the week—for me, it’s tied to my own tradition and my values, but for others, it’ll be tied to other things—is just a moment to reset and it gives me a ton of energy every week. I know no matter how hectic things are, that I have that moment together with family and friends to get energized.
What advice do you have for women in their professional journeys?
I, too, would say the advice that I have is sort of never say no to the job that you don’t have. But importantly, there will be moments of highs and lows in all our careers. I described some of those over the course of this discussion.
I really take the advice of, “This too shall pass.” The best times will not always be the best times. The worst times certainly will not always be the worst times. If you can continue to stay focused and keep your energy up through the conversations we just had, times ahead will always be better than the times behind. To keep that perspective is important for people as they go through this journey. Whether male or female, it’s an important lesson.
PUBLISHED WORK
Choosing to grow: The leader’s blueprint
Closing the gender and race gaps in North American financial services