Forward in the Middle East & Pakistan

Ready to advance your career? Take a step Forward.

Forward is a free, ten-week online learning program offered by McKinsey to equip individuals at different stages of their work life with practical skills to succeed in the future of work.

What you can expect

Whether you are in the early days of your career or navigating a new opportunity, the Forward learning journey will help you develop new ways of thinking, expand your skill set and boost your confidence.

At the end of the program, you will receive a McKinsey Forward digital badge and join an exclusive global network of lifelong learners.

Interactive learning journey

Variety of formats: digital courses, virtual-learning events, assignments, and reflection exercises
Dedicating about two hours a week over ten weeks

Workplace skills you can use immediately

Gain the skills and tools to do the following:

Turn business problems into opportunities by using structured and creative thinking.
Communicate in a clear and impactful way that makes your audience take action.
Be adaptable and build emotional awareness for working in a team or alone, especially in times of change.
Build strong relationships and maintain your well-being at work.
Develop your digital tool kit and plan to navigate the modern digital world.

Eligibility criteria

To access Forward, you must meet the following criteria:

currently reside in the Middle East region (currently, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen) and Pakistan
are currently employed, self-employed, or between jobs
have less than five years of total work experience
or
have more than five years of work experience but have never been responsible for directly managing any colleagues in a corporate setting
completed at least a secondary education / high school degree
have a good command of the English language (the program will be conducted in English)

Mark your growth

Earn the McKinsey Forward badge

Participants who complete the Core Skills level will earn a personalized digital badge, which is shareable across social media and other digital channels.

What Forward alumni are saying

Meet Abdelrahman

As a fresh graduate from Egypt, Abdelrahman was on the lookout to gain an extra edge in his first job. Forward gave him practical skills and frameworks that helped him stand out at work. What made an even bigger difference for him was the opportunity to interact with a global network of young professionals.

Meet Bedour

Bedour, a graphic designer from the United Arab Emirates, reveals how her fear of failure sometimes gets in her way. She describes the practical thinking tools she acquired and the mindset shift she experienced thanks to Forward.