Careers in the United Kingdom

Leadership Academy 2021

Our Leadership Academy 2021 is a chance to have fun, connect with other students from the UK and Ireland, learn about leadership and develop practical work skills. You’ll also learn about management consulting as a possible career option. Leadership Academy will now be hosted through a series of online and in-person workshops.

Be a leader in life

As an upper sixth/Year 13 student, you’re facing big choices. What career path should I choose? What passions do I want to pursue?

Whatever your plans, we would like to help. Our Leadership Academy 2021 is a chance to have fun, meet other students from the UK and Ireland, learn about leadership and develop practical work skills that will enable you to become a great leader. You’ll also learn about management consulting as a possible career option.

Leadership is vital in every walk of life. It’s about having the drive and intellectual curiosity to tackle tough challenges, plus the ability to help other people do their best. By developing your leadership skills, you open up opportunities for the future.

We’re looking for students with an excellent track record of academic and other personal achievements who can demonstrate:

Intellectual curiosity
Personal initiative
Teamwork
Creativity
Impact

How does the programme work?

In 2021, the McKinsey Leadership Academy will accept a new class students. Over two years, you will be invited to attend programs—‘Academy’ and ‘Reunion’—with the following objectives.

Build leadership skills

Through challenging group and individual tasks, and intensive coaching from our staff, you will build a new toolkit of practical leadership skills.

Learn about leadership

We will provide access to exceptional business leaders through our speaker series, and opportunities to reflect on different forms of leadership in informal discussions, to broaden your horizons. Previous speakers have included Dominic Barton (Global Managing Director, McKinsey & Company), Kieran West MBE (former GB rower and Olympic champion), and Justin Maciejewski (former Brigadier, British Army).

Explore career opportunities

Our coaches and world-class recruiters will give advice to help you make the most of future career opportunities, and will highlight experiences to seek out that could open doors in the future.

Be part of a wider network

You will meet high performing, like-minded peers from other colleges and start building a strong personal network.

Beyond the two residential events, attendees become a part of the wider McKinsey network, and receive mentorship from our coaches (all full-time McKinsey consultants) on the leadership opportunities that they are pursuing.

Who are McKinsey & Company?

McKinsey & Company is a world-leading management consultancy who work with companies, governments and not-for-profit organisations to help them tackle their biggest challenges. Our clients are leaders in business and public life. We help them make long lasting and impactful improvement within their organisations. Those who join McKinsey, join a global network of leaders and are encouraged to pursue their passions and build impactful and rewarding careers.

How to apply

Applications for Leadership Academy 2021 are now open! Please submit your one page CV by Sunday 30th May.

Apply

Former participants about Leadership Academy

“An incredible, eye-opening and inspirational two days—invaluable.”

“It was fantastic, I learned rigorous ways to approach problems and ways of thinking differently.”

“I had an absolutely amazing time here, learning valuable skills and meeting such inspirational people!”

“A fast paced, amazing learning curve in my life.”

It's an action packed few days where you get to meet so many interesting and talented people and make lasting friendships. It's also a chance to really challenge yourself and learn new skills in a supportive and fun environment. I particularly valued McKinsey's emphasis on identifying and building our strengths, it was a different way of thinking about myself and it has changed the way I approach challenges and work in a team.

– Lillie Westcott, Leadership Academy alum 2019 and incoming McKinsey Summer Intern

Throughout the programme, we practised some of the frameworks McKinsey use to tackle problems and learnt how they come up with creative solutions.

I came away having experienced the unique and supportive McKinsey culture, made some amazing new friends, and learnt a new set of leadership tools that I still actively use to this day.

– Michael Bakare, Leadership Academy alum 2019 and incoming McKinsey Summer Intern

I'm Tomi, and I participated in the Leadership Academy in the summer of 2019 and I'm joining McKinsey as a Summer Business Analyst. Fresh from exams, I was looking for opportunities to learn more about McKinsey, consulting and to meet other students in similar positions to myself. Leadership Academy allows young students to develop leadership and problem-solving skills in a fun, light-hearted environment. I'm happy that I was able to meet such a great group of people, both currently at McKinsey and elsewhere.