Mentorship started at interviews
McKinsey has supported me to be at my best since before my interview process began. I had never done a case interview, and I felt overwhelmed. However, as soon as my application to the Sophomore Diversity Leaders Internship program was accepted, a consultant called to happily offer his help. We went through one case; I received detailed feedback. We developed a plan that inspired me to continue preparing for interviews. And, the support did not stop there…
After I received the amazing news I was going to intern with McKinsey last summer, I was contacted by many colleagues who were there to answer any questions before I started. Then, once I joined, the firm dedicated a whole week solely to our personal and professional development. This was special and taught me how people-centered McKinsey is. The partnership invests a lot in every one of us. Again, the support continued…
Once the training had finished, I was staffed on my first client project. My team kicked off with an opportunity to get to know every person, and we had a conversation centered on my goals and expectations. They really wanted me to succeed and learn every day.
No day was the same as the other, and no matter what the challenge was, I always had someone on the team who taught me and supported me along the way. After the first few weeks I was amazed by how much I had learned.
Presenting with impact
During my internship, I wanted to develop my skills presenting to clients and discussing my ideas with my team. My teammates made sure I got opportunities to do those things frequently with a solid support and constant feedback. I couldn’t be more thankful. I was amazed how non-hierarchical McKinsey is, and by how much trust and responsibility I got in my work. In every discussion, my thoughts, ideas, and concerns were heard and considered by every person in the room, no matter how senior they were. Every task I did was meaningful for our clients and my development. This is something I had not seen anywhere else and it made a huge difference.
Outside of working with clients and my team, I wanted to get to know the rest of the interns and the people from my office. McKinsey made that possible. During the summer, there were tons of connectivity events ranging from dinners to an incredible Summer Conference for all interns in North America in 2019. I hear that wasn’t possible this year with COVID but that the firm still worked really hard to connect people virtually.
Advising a US Sports team
During my internship, I served a major US sports team. Every detail about this project exceeded my expectations: I travelled internationally to interview coaches and players and get to know their infrastructure. I learned to analyze data and speak with clients in an impactful way, and I was able to maintain a great balance between work and my life outside of work. Every detail about this experience was incredible for me.
Living my consulting dream at McKinsey
Looking back to pick my favorite part about working at McKinsey is quite challenging. It was not one thing that makes working at McKinsey special; it was a combination – of incredible mentorship, exceptional experiences, and opportunities to really change the world. I can’t wait to come back in a few years, once I’ve finished undergrad, to the place that allowed me to live my dreams.
About me
On the weekends I like to play soccer, build and design drones, and create music, especially on the guitar, which holds a special place in my heart since I have been playing since I was seven.
I am an avid traveler with a goal to visit all seven continents, thanks to my dad. When he was a little kid, he did not get the opportunity to travel; when he grew up, he made it a goal to travel the world with his family. I am eagerly waiting for the opportunity to reach my goal… Antarctica, here I come!
Our Sophomore Summer Business Analyst (SSBA) program is a program with a focus on exposing members of historically underrepresented groups to the management consulting profession. Candidates who are currently undergraduate sophomores or in their second-year of undergraduate studies at U.S. or Canadian universities are eligible to apply.