The Forward program, a free six-month online learning journey offered by McKinsey, has reached its first milestone of enrolling 100,000 learners from more than 60 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan in 18 months since its inception. The program aims to reach an additional 150,000 learners in 2023.
Forward is designed to equip the next generation of young talent with practical skills necessary to succeed in the future of work. Specifically, the program focuses on the leadership, business, and digital skills that are relevant and transferrable across industries and roles and targets people with less than five years of work experience.
“This is one important way we deliver on our commitment to enabling sustainable and inclusive growth—by upskilling hundreds of thousands of young people that need practical skills to thrive in the workforce, and in turn participate in fueling economies of the region,” says McKinsey senior partner Viktor Hediger, who leads the firm’s social responsibility efforts in the region. “We believe that begins with unlocking the potential of the region’s youth and building an inclusive workforce and community that reflects society.”
May Wazzan, who leads Forward for McKinsey, believes that what makes the program particularly impactful—beyond its practical content—is the real time interaction among learners and McKinsey experts along with the ongoing connectivity the program provides its alumni. “We know that this generation of young talent is beginning their careers in an increasingly complex, fast-paced world of work,” May says. “Forward helps create a global community for young professionals to help boost their confidence, grow in their careers, and build connections with people all around the world.”
Below, three members of that community share their unique stories about what joining Forward has meant to them.
Meet Bilgesu from Turkey
Being an entrepreneur at a young age and in an emerging industry can be overwhelming. As a young sustainable fashion entrepreneur, Bilgesu from Turkey was on a search to grow her communications, leadership, problem-solving, and digital skills and found the Forward learning program to be the perfect match. “My life changed because I learned how to set intentions, how to structure my work, how to focus and manage my time intentionally,” she says. “Step by step, I started believing in myself more.”
Meet Kalada from Nigeria
Kalada, a Forward alumnus from Nigeria, conquered the uncertainty he felt as a fresh graduate through the McKinsey Forward program. In less than a year, he made a big jump in his career trajectory. Kalada is also now an active member of the Forward alumni community, volunteering his time to pay it forward to new program learners. “Forward gave me skills, recognition, and exposure,” he says. “That gave me confidence and made me believe in my value.”
Meet Bedour from UAE
Bedour is a graphic designer and Forward alumna from the UAE. Early in her career, she felt susceptible to creative blocks and fear of failure. Today, however, she uses practical tools she gained through Forward that help her overcome these challenges and reach her full potential. “[The program] gave me the confidence to be more decisive,” she says, “and not be afraid of trying something different.”
Apply now
Forward is available across Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. Participants have access to exclusive McKinsey insights, virtual workshops, and group assignments. Graduates become members of a global alumni network of the program. To date, 85 percent of them report having experienced a boost in their performance that is noticeable by their peers and managers; 96 percent of graduates say they are more confident in their skills; and 92 percent have experienced growth in their role or career.
Applications are open until November 28, 2022.