In day-to-day terms, BAs and Associates lead a workstream (or a part of the study). Once you’ve planned your workstream, the next step is typically collecting the necessary information or data through client and expert interviews. You will then need to design and carry out analyses, sometimes through creating models, to help derive fact-based recommendations for our client. Along the way, you will actively participate in and lead problem-solving sessions with your immediate team, and regularly with the senior members of the McKinsey or client team. Early-tenure BAs and Associates often tell stories of their experiences interviewing or presenting to senior client executives.
The final stage typically involves presenting your insights to the client and working with them to understand how they can best implement our recommendations. This often includes helping the client to build up the necessary skills to make this happen.