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Ali

Capabilities and Insights Analytics SpecialistRiyadh Client Capabilities Hub

McKinsey has given me ample opportunity to analyze complex challenges and help resolve them from the perspective of a C-level executive.

Solving tough real-world problems

I am originally from Pakistan and grew up in Saudi Arabia. I moved to the UK to complete my Master’s degree in data science, specializing in neuro-linguistic programming; I also began my career there, analyzing crime data for the police. I returned to the Middle East to work as a data scientist serving banking and telecommunications clients, and I was about to initiate my PhD application when I was approached by a recruiter for a role with McKinsey.

During the interview process, it became clear that McKinsey solves tough real-world analytical problems—precisely the kinds of topics I planned to tackle in my thesis. I realized that McKinsey could offer me the opportunity to solve many such problems, far wider in scope, so I postponed my PhD plans and when I was extended an offer, I decided to join the firm instead.

Stepping out of my comfort zone

Working at McKinsey, I have sharpened my technical and analytical problem-solving skills and I have also developed the expertise to drive entire, end-to-end analytics workstreams on client projects.

I tended to be very detail-oriented, but I was given coaching to step back and understand the bigger picture, liaise with clients directly, acquire business acumen, and truly think like a product owner. McKinsey has given me ample opportunity to analyze complex challenges and help resolve them from the perspective of a C-level executive. I have been able to use our data-science approach to truly understand and address our clients’ business problems.

Widen your range of expertise

People with data-science backgrounds often dream of working at major tech companies, but I believe that this career path can limit you to very narrowly-scoped problems. You might develop deep expertise in the tech industry, but I think it’s beneficial to widen your range of experience before deciding to specialize in a specific role or field. If you’re looking to gain experience across a wide range of industries, functions, geographies, and roles, McKinsey could be the ideal place for you.