Almost daily, I find myself in constant celebration and awe of the beauty and resilience of Black people. We are colorful innovators, rhythm makers and norm shakers. I look at Black History Month as a reminder for us and an opportunity for others to appreciate our vibrant stories.
Innovators and rhythm makers
When I think of pivotal Black figures in history, I can’t pick just one person who stands out, given the many heroes I’ve looked up to throughout my life. Martin Luther King, Jr. is always at the forefront in my mind, pushing the concepts of driving out hate with love, and reminding me it’s always the right time to do what’s right. I also lean on voices of those less cited, like the words of Nikki Giovanni, whose poetry about triumph, loss, love, grief, motherhood and womanhood in Black America made an impression on me early.
A sense of belonging
The McKinsey Black Network has played such a key role in my career sustainability at McKinsey. The lasting friendships I’ve built at the firm have been a sweet surprise. I have greatly enjoyed bonding with my McK-Brunch crew; checking-in monthly with a group of friends around North America to laugh, vent, or share our latest shopping finds; taking a weekend cardio dance class led by a colleague; participating in Friday small pod meet-ups to get to know Black colleagues from Texas to London; and – my favorite -- connecting with my fellow Black colleagues in Atlanta. This community helps me feel that much needed sense of belonging in the workplace. I know I can bring my authentic self to work, and that I have a number of people providing immediate and loud support whenever I need it.
Building a diverse firm
I am a senior recruiter on the NA Affinity Recruiting Team, which means I’m focused on finding and hiring a diverse group of people. I have the pleasure of working with our campus and experienced professional recruiting teams to continually increase diversity at the firm. We know from our research that the more varied backgrounds represented in an organization, the more successful its outcomes; I love being part of a team that helps reinforce these findings. I especially enjoy creating programming that connects candidates to people at McKinsey; webinars on women and intersectionality, for example, helped more than 1,000 listeners get a peek inside our diverse community.
Finding balance and positivity
I strongly believe in the transference of good energy. I try to give off and receive as much positive light as I can. I’m a huge extrovert, so finding ways to connect regularly with my friends and family has been very important for me during the pandemic. I’ve gotten quite comfortable with video chats and spontaneous virtual happy hours. I pay a lot of attention to my physical and mental well-being on a daily basis. I begin most mornings with 10 minutes of journaling and make time to workout at least 45 minutes a day. I use Headspace to get in short meditations, especially if I need to step away from the hustle and bustle of life, or need a little help falling asleep. I was excited when the firm decided to sponsor access to that app for all colleagues last year.
About me
On most days, you can find me engrossed in a book, hanging out with my kids, or enjoying the fabulous food scene in Atlanta. I love live music and sports; when there’s not a global pandemic, it’s common to find me in a crowd cheering on my favorite team or loudly singing along with whoever is on stage (mostly on-key). My favorite memories from the last couple of years were catching Janet Jackson in Vegas and going to the Superbowl. I also enjoy hopping on a plane to meet friends elsewhere (Chicago and Miami being favorites), or exploring a new city with my husband. When safe travel returns, I would love a date night in New Orleans, one of our favorite places to hang.