It is really exciting that I can bring experts from other geographies to my clients to share their expertise and insights.
What made you choose McKinsey?
I joined McKinsey as a junior associate. Since this was my first job, I was less focused on the different industries of the firm or my specific function. For me, it was important to be in an environment where I can grow both on a professional as well as on a personal level. I found this environment in the people I met during the recruitment process, which felt very personal and easily tailorable to my needs. I got a chance to meet regional leaders during my final round of interviews, and had some great conversations about their diverse experiences and projects, both local and across the globe.
Have you been able to follow your interests?
Absolutely. I have always been interested in banking; I studied financial mathematics and interned at several financial institutions such as a payments startup, an investment bank, or an insurance company. During my studies at Warwick University in the UK, most people I knew would go into investment banking and specialize in a very specific topic. I was initially planning on becoming a banker as well but I did not want to become a specialist; I was looking for a broader experience. Following my office’s recommendation, during my first two years as a junior associate I worked as a generalist consultant, active in many different industries—including global energy and materials, pharmaceuticals, among others—, meeting people from different countries and cultures. Since joining, I’ve worked on projects across Europe and North America along with colleagues from all over the world. During one of these projects I worked with leaders from Canada, France, Brazil, and the US. Our team had consultants from Denmark, Canada, and myself from Luxembourg, to mention a few. It was a great experience which I am very grateful for as it has made me a more well-rounded professional. Shortly after, I specialized in banking and now I am one hundred percent affiliated with the banking sector.
What was the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome so far?
There are a lot of challenges along the way. For instance, within the work we do it is always a challenge to balance things the right way. As an engagement manager I need to balance relationships with clients and internal teams on the one hand and getting the process and the content right on the other. The trick is constantly adjusting. You need to have an overview on what’s happening and what the client’s and McKinsey team members’ agendas look like. You also need to be on top of the content of the specific project and have a work plan laid out; structuring things in a way that the content makes sense to the client, the team, and leadership. As an engagement manager, you have the best overview on the project and the different workstreams: you are the conductor of the orchestra, so to speak.
What difference does it make to work at a global firm?
McKinsey is a one-firm model. Thanks to our global network there is a lot of freedom in terms of being staffed abroad and getting experts from other offices on your project. For example, I worked quite a bit in North America at the beginning of my career when I wanted to travel and see different places. Now that I have evolved a bit more within the firm, it is really exciting that I can bring experts from other geographies to my clients to share their expertise and insights.