McKinsey is committed to an inclusive environment and is passionate about developing diverse leaders. This summer, we launched the McKinsey Achievement Awards to help women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and first-generation college students get to know our firm better. This was the first edition of the awards and just one of our many programs for prospective candidates from all geographies, backgrounds and industries. This year’s awardees are matched with a McKinsey Mentor and receive $2,500 to support their academic pursuits or professional development. In this post, we introduce you to the women’s award recipients from Africa and the Middle East.
Jeanette Gitobu - Kenya
Winning the McKinsey’s Women’s Achievement Award has opened doors for greater professional opportunities such as speaking engagements, requests to become a mentor, and additional awards. As a woman in the early stages of my career, I am part of the generation responsible for innovating solutions towards the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals . While I am proud of the contributions I have made thus far, I needed help to further develop my knowledge and skills, learn new perspectives, and build my network in an environment that promotes excellence. McKinsey provides all of that.
I am grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to connecting with changemakers across the world via the McKinsey network, bringing awareness to youth empowerment and sustainable development in the renewable energy sector, and inspiring a generation of young people to solve challenging problems.
Kemi Adetu - Nigeria
I am humbled to have been selected for this award from a pool of talented women. I grew up as a Pan African, living and schooling in Nairobi, Accra, and Lagos before relocating to London, New York and Houston as a professional. Spending my formative years in Africa exposed me to the constraints and expectations of women in a predominantly patriarchal society. Working as a double minority in a competitive field in Europe and North America exposed me to inequalities such as a lack of sponsorship and underrepresentation at senior levels. In both environments, I had Imposter Syndrome – I discounted my achievements and preferred to stay behind the scenes.
The Achievement Award selection process gave me the opportunity to be introspective and speak candidly about the challenges I have faced, how I overcame them, and, in doing so, found my passion to help others in similar positions unlock their full potential fearlessly.
I never imagined my application would make it this far but I went for it anyway. Through this experience, I have learned the importance of taking a bet on myself.
The funding I received will go toward scaling my commitment to help female orphans across Africa become economic leaders in their communities. According to McKinsey Global Institute’s 2019 report, The Power of Parity: Advancing Women’s Equality in Africa, “accelerating progress toward parity could boost African economies by the equivalent of 10 percent of their collective GDP by 2025.” I envision an Africa where women are at the forefront of good governance, economic growth, and sustainable development.
Arooj Naveed- Pakistan
After finishing my undergraduate program in economics and politics at Lahore University of Management Sciences, I joined Teach For Pakistan. I was wide-eyed and eager to make a difference. During the next two years, I witnessed the severity of educational inequity in our public schools and did my best to make my classroom a safe and nourishing space, far from the violence engulfing my students' school and community. Now, I will begin my master’s degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education as a Fulbright Scholar. It's been an honor to make it through the selection process with McKinsey's Achievement Award, and I am excited to closely work with my McKinsey Mentor to learn and develop my skillset.
Ilham A. Said – United Arab Emirates
I am a Middle Eastern aerospace engineer and tech entrepreneur. I applied for the McKinsey Achievement Award because I take responsibility for inspiring the next generation of girls to make their own seat at the table in industries dominated by men. I hope to inspire women through sharing my story and personal experiences and to advise other women in similar situations. My advice for others applying for this award is to be authentic and unapologetically you. Don't try to fit into a mold or be an "ideal candidate." Share your personal story in a way that is authentic, relatable, and organic.
Hamel Brahimi - United Arab Emirates
After completing my master’s degree in business law, I studied at ESCP Business School to obtain my master’s in management.
Over the course of my studies, I worked as a legal intern in M&A and financial services for an international law firm in Paris and Algiers. Then, I became a junior consultant at an international consulting firm in Paris, where I learned to implement projects domestically and internationally.
In April 2019, I joined YOCO, a South African fintech based in Cape Town, as a strategic finance and legal intern. I have also completed an internship at the Economic Section of the US Embassy in Paris. Additionally, I am involved with various programs supporting students from modest neighborhoods to succeed in their studies. During my free time, I enjoy being a DJ.
Apply for one of the global McKinsey Achievement Awards by May 21, 2021 here.