The best part is the strong sense of support. It was great to immediately have a group of people wanting to help me be successful.
Prior to joining McKinsey I worked for companies that were less than two years old. While they were exciting entrepreneurial environments, I ultimately left because I felt like I wasn’t growing professionally as quickly as I would have liked.
The McKinsey Leadership Program was particularly appealing because I knew I would have accelerated professional development through the McKinsey consulting experience. It also has a strong focus on leadership development, with exposure to successful cross-sector leaders and externship opportunities to work in a field I was interested in and couldn’t access on my own.
The best part of the leadership program was the strong sense of support from the coordinators and from other fellows. It was great to immediately have a group of people wanting to help me be successful. The McKinsey Leadership Program offers great training and events.
In thinking about my most memorable project so far, it was one in which we helped a consumer-packaged-goods client. It was my dream study because I had a rock-star team, a very interesting and challenging topic, committed clients, and a beautiful location with amazing restaurants and the best food I've ever had. That experience triggered my interest in joining McKinsey after completing the leadership program.
In addition to client work at McKinsey, I've set up secondments for consultants to work with start-ups in the Innovation Hub in Pretoria, and I've worked on a digital summit that McKinsey hosted for more than 100 C-level business leaders showcasing cutting-edge digital techniques. I also led an office initiative called “Super Friday,” which is a monthly event where colleagues share client-impact stories and learn about interesting initiatives going on in the office and the firm.
Outside work, I am passionate about life hacking, behavioral economics and psychology, and finding great restaurants and spots to hang out, as well as books, apps, and podcasts.
If you’re thinking about applying to McKinsey or the McKinsey Leadership Program, be clear on why you want to join. People will help you if they know what you’re interested in and what you might want to do. Remember that you’re growing (fast), so at times you might feel uncomfortable. Your teammates are there to support you. Practice cases with current or former consultants—they will give you honest feedback on how to be successful.
