Main Responsibilities of an Associate at Mckinsey And Company
As a McKinsey Associate, two primary responsibilities are developing project strategy—"in the weeds like building out an Excel model"—and managing internal/external stakeholders. This involves "interviewing industry experts," collaborating closely with clients to communicate recommendations and implement strategies, thus showcasing a blend of analytical and interpersonal skills crucial for early career success.
Project Management, Communication, Data Analysis, Problem-Solving, Client Relationship Management
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Jacqueline Pageau
Associate
Mckinsey & Company
Queen's University
UCLA Anderson
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Energy & Utilities
Consulting
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Developing project strategy: This involves building Excel models, creating PowerPoint presentations, conducting research (including interviewing industry experts), and drawing data-driven conclusions to form recommendations for clients.
2. Managing internal and external relationships: Associates are responsible for communicating project strategies effectively to both internal teams and clients, working collaboratively to implement solutions and ensure client satisfaction.
3. Building expertise and learning on the job: The role requires continuous learning, collaboration, and leveraging collective knowledge to address complex client challenges and build effective strategies. Associates may not initially possess all the expertise but learn rapidly through experience and mentorship within the firm
Transcript
Q2: Main responsibilities
As an associate at a firm like McKinsey, you generally have two main responsibilities. The first is to help develop the overall project strategy that will ultimately be delivered to the client.
The second responsibility involves managing internal and external client relationships and stakeholders. Starting with the first, driving the project strategy often means you're building Excel models or creating PowerPoint content and slides. This helps develop the recommendation or strategy for the client and communicates it effectively.
When you first start as an associate, you may not have all the expertise needed to determine the right recommendation. To gain this, you might interview industry experts to understand market conditions or assumptions. This helps build your hypothesis and strategy, alongside conducting in-depth research to strengthen your proposed strategy and arrive at substantiated conclusions.
The second main area is managing your internal and external stakeholders. This includes effectively communicating your project strategy, whether through PowerPoint content. You also work closely with your internal project team and clients.
As an associate, you own your client relationships. You collaborate with clients to communicate your strategy and recommendations, working together to find the best answers. You also work hand-in-hand with them on implementing those strategies. In essence, these are your primary responsibilities as an associate.
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