Charlie Lewis: Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company

The Old Grad Story: 

Charlie commissioned into the Field Artillery and served in numerous positions, eventually accepting the opportunity to earn his MPP at Harvard’s Kennedy School. He went on to teach in the USMA Department of Social Sciences, and lead in the Army’s first Cyber Training Battalion. After a total of thirteen and a half years of uniformed service, Charlie left the Army to start at McKinsey as a Cyber Expert. Last July, after a little less than three years with the firm, Charlie was promoted into his current role, Cybersecurity Expert Associate Partner.

Old Grad Knowledge:

The Veterans@McKinsey group provides a variety of opportunities to stay connected. From recruiting at specific conferences (e.g., SACC) as well on-boarding support when you join to sharing project staffing opportunities, the veterans find ways to connect.

On the whole, the Firm is very supportive of the veteran community. I receive notes from all over the globe on Veteran’ Day and have been asked to speak to new vets joining the Firm. Veterans can also spend a lot of time mentoring in the community, with structured volunteering with American Corporate Partners.

McKinsey is a big place, providing you opportunities to find your core group of sponsors and mentors. This allows you to identify what problems you enjoy solving and who you like to solve them with. Solving for the people plus the problem creates a great environment to work with people from a variety of backgrounds with similar passions and interests to you.

Client success drives everything. On projects, we look for ways to support our client outside of the scope of the effort, spending additional time with our core clients to address their core concerns. Additionally, McKinsey works hard to support clients and non-clients alike through a variety of reach and relevance activities, where we convene leaders across industries to engage on topics that are top of mind to them.

McKinsey – “The Firm”

·         McKinsey is known for collegiality of its leadership, which is underscored by its structure as one “global office.”

·         Management incentives are centered on driving collaboration, providing support, and cultivating engagement. Quotas and commissions are omitted entirely, in favor of metrics that focus on creating followership within the firm and delivering long-term value to its clients.

·         For many, the best days as a consultant are those spent working on challenging problem sets with a talented, engaged team. Leveraging insights from across the group, while melding industry experience, case precedent, and situational nuance to craft the best recommendations for the client stands out as a key source of job satisfaction for veteran consultants.

·         Conversely, the most difficult days often result from missed assumptions that create the feeling of “spinning wheels in the mud” as the team works to get back on track. To some degree, “rework days” are unavoidable for consultants, although firms that prioritize mentorship and development can greatly mitigate their frequency.

·         At McKinsey, the typical track runs: Analyst, Associate, Engagement Manager, Associate Partner and then Partner. Experienced, expert, and/or MBA hires often start at a higher level than those fresh out of undergrad.

·         Those starting at McKinsey are well-advised to be deliberate selecting their first project; team composition, the Engagement Manger’s reputation as a coach, and the industry(ies) involved are all important factors for consideration.

o   Regardless of the project, new hires should focus on being receptive, eager, and excited to learn and contribute.

Veterans@McKinsey

·         Veterans@McKinsey is an employee affinity group that provides community and networking opportunities, and is active in recruiting, screening, and helping McKinsey vets work together professionally.

·         Given the strength of the veteran community at McKinsey, most veterans are more than willing to help other vets learn more about the company and set themselves up for a successful transition into the firm.

·         Connect with other vets (via LinkedIn or other platforms) to learn more!

Recruiting Advice

·         Network like crazy! Talk to others to better understand the life of a consultant, the recruiting process, and what firms are looking for in candidates.

·         When preparing for interviews, structure your stories around consistent themes. Military candidates bring many relevant skills and experiences to consulting companies; successful veteran applicants highlight these points through deliberately structured themes.

When preparing for the case interview, it’s critical to get the reps in, with the right people, with the right feedback. Try to practice with individuals (especially veterans) who have successfully navigated the process themselves; they’ll be able to offer the most help!