Rodrigo Giarola

McKinsey office: São Paulo, Brazil

Hometown: Brasília, Brazil

MBA Program, Concentration: INSEAD

Undergraduate School, Major: Brazilian Air Force Academy – Aeronautical Science and Public Administration

Focus of current engagement: I am currently “on the beach,” which means being in between projects. It offers a great opportunity to learn and help with several internal activities across the firm. My previous engagement was product-cost optimization in advanced industries.

Why did you choose McKinsey? For me, it boiled down to two things. Firstly, at INSEAD, I met a lot of very collaborative and smart people. It stood out to me that on top of those characteristics, my McKinsey colleagues were also down-to-earth and matter-of-fact.

Secondly, McKinsey’s efforts to push for diversity is inspiring. Given the uncommon nature of my transition from the military to a new career, something rare here in Brazil, I believed McKinsey would be a great place to be.

What did you love about the business school you attended? Everyone I met there. Being at INSEAD was a remarkable opportunity to connect with incredibly smart and driven people with different backgrounds. The opportunities the school opens up for you, the excellent academic program, and the multi-campus set-up were also part of what made INSEAD a great experience.

What lesson or skill did you learn from training at McKinsey and how has it helped in your role? McKinsey is all about training and feedback. Though the training itself is enriching, the peer-to-peer interactions benefited me the most. It might seem simple, but the fact that everyone is so keen to help one another was an amazing lesson. People work hard and are in an extremely collaborative environment.

Tell us about an “only at McKinsey” moment you’ve had so far. The amount of information, references and supporting materials on our intranet never ceases to impress me. It is incredible how much McKinsey works to perpetuate its knowledge. Plus, people are incredibly responsive when you ask for help… they respond and are willing to share their time and expertise. That aspect of McKinsey tells me I am in a special place.

What advice would you give someone interviewing at McKinsey? Try not to over-prepare, do not be afraid to ask questions, and dare to say what you are thinking. The process is very similar to day-to-day activities, in which you discover new pieces of information, structure your thoughts, and learn things on the go.

On a practical side, one should prepare equally for both parts of the interview, the personal experience, and the case. About the former, McKinsey is genuinely interested in you so think in advance of one or two stories about your leadership, teamwork and personal skills and how your values and experience have brought to this place.

Who has had the biggest impact on you at McKinsey and how has she/he helped you?

Given my short tenure here and without trying to be too vague, I can answer that everyone I’ve worked with so far has taught me a lesson about empathy, hard work, work ethics, mentorship, camaraderie, and/or intelligence. It is gratifying to be in a place that gathers people who blend these traits on a daily basis.

To name a few, Renata Giarola, Leo Cabral, João Pedro Branco, Ricardo Capitanio, Ricardo Tassi, Juan Sanchez, Daniela Spinardi, Vandrez Perez, Nathalia Fernandes, and Luis Oliani have been great examples to me.

My most meaningful achievement (professional or personal) and how it made a difference is…Before McKinsey, I was a pilot and had the opportunity to serve and protect my country, and to help save lives while doing so. Most importantly, as a pilot, I had to trust in the ability and commitment of my peers, and they in mine as our lives could literally depend on it. It was incredible to be part of an environment with such levels of trust.

A fun fact about me is…that I love diving and flying. Despite the differences in speed and height you face in these activities, they are very similar: the more you prepare and the less you stress, the more you enjoy it. People often laugh when I say flying is relaxing or diving is like yoga underwater.