My pathway to McKinsey
I hadn’t planned on being a management consultant. Until a few years ago, I didn’t even know such a role existed!
After obtaining a master of science in civil engineering from Trinity College in Dublin, I spent six years in Sydney and two in Dublin working in transportation and water. While I was enjoying my role as a civil engineer, I started craving variety and decided to pursue an executive MBA at the Smurfit Graduate Business School to increase my options going forward. That program gave me time to reflect on what areas of engineering I liked and what aspects I would like to see in my future role. I knew I liked solving problems, having a structured approach to work, learning continuously, and interacting with clients. Consulting seemed to tick all the boxes.
In early 2018, I therefore applied to WomEngineering, an event that showcases all McKinsey offers and what working as a consultant is all about. After a few days in the Berlin office, I knew McKinsey was where I wanted to work once I finished my MBA. I loved the variety and opportunity to work in different industries.
Now I am an engagement manager in McKinsey’s Dublin office. Since joining I have supported clients on transforming digitally, adapting to changes in mobility, and reaching sustainability objectives. Each project has been different and fun. The wealth of knowledge my colleagues have and their willingness to share their insights to ensure we all succeed is truly amazing.
The Dublin office and its strong support network
The best part of working in Dublin is I get all the benefits of a small office, while having access the full suite of McKinsey resources. The support I receive from the Dublin community is unparalleled. For example, in the middle of lockdown because of the pandemic, I had one of those, “What am I doing with my career? Am I even good enough to work here?” moments. I reached out to one of my colleagues for a chat and to get their advice. We talked about what I had done so far, where my interests were and what next steps I could take to make sure I continued to focus on areas of work that I was most passionate about. We also chatted about life outside McKinsey, how lockdown was going and our plans for once it was over. In that moment, I started to truly understand the support that exists between colleagues at McKinsey; everyone is so willing to give their time to help someone else. That’s what makes McKinsey, and especially the Dublin office (perhaps I’m biased!), such a special place to work.
Outside of work
One of my favourite activities is Pilates, and I am trying to re-ignite my passion for triathlons. I have signed up to do the half ironman in Ireland this year as part of a relay team. Signing up is the easy part; I have quite a bit of training to do to get back to my pre-lockdown fitness level, but I am looking forward to it.