From intern to associate: Enabling cutting-edge technology in Life Sciences
“During my internship, I worked on an analytics-fueled approach for product portfolio optimization. I was surprised by the technical content and even did some initial coding with the client’s data. I also really liked the diversity of roles on the team. We were working with many specialists who were true experts in the field.”
Throughout her studies, Anna developed a strong interest in engineering applications in life sciences. She took up courses in medical engineering and researched neuromodulation for migraine for her thesis. After graduating, Anna decided to join McKinsey full-time. She rejoined McKinsey because she felt it was the right place to learn first-hand the potential of technology to solve real-world problems in the life science industry.
As an Associate, Anna focuses most of her work on Digital & Analytics in Life Sciences. “The topics I work on range from core tech (e.g., tech stack modernization, MLOps) to analytics (e.g., data assessment, using advanced analytics for real-world evidence). I truly appreciate the diversity of the topics I work on – It’s interesting to have a hand in developing technologies that directly impact patient experience and laying the ‘foundation’ to enable their implementation. Each area of focus is integral to the overall goal of creating meaningful impact.”
For example, this year, Anna worked closely with QuantumBlack, the AI consulting arm of McKinsey. Anna acted as a ‘translator’, translating between medical and technical requirements to help clients leverage insights from medical data. She worked with a team of data engineers, data scientists and clinical experts. “As a translator, I was responsible for preparing the right inputs for the analytics pipelines based on clinical expertise and scientific literature, working with the data science team to support the design choices for the model, explaining the analytics approach to a variety of stakeholders and finally, interpret the results from the machine learning models to derive actionable insights. To me, this project was a true example of both the breadth & depth of knowledge we have at the firm.”
Lastly, Anna shared what she finds unique about working at McKinsey. “Feedback and mentorship are an integral part of the company culture. We have regular feedback sessions with the working team, that are encouraged and valued in both directions. Additionally, I have several mentors who I regularly check in with. These have been drivers of both my professional and personal growth.”