Bekinwari Idoniboye

McKinsey Office: Chicago

Hometown: Charlottesville, VA

MBA Program, Concentration: Kellogg School of Management, General Management

Undergraduate School, Major: University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Finance

Focus of current engagement: Helping a logistics provider redesign its frontline supervisor role.

Why did you choose McKinsey?

1) It was the chance to work with some of the smartest people in the world to deliver distinctive and long-lasting improvements for clients. To this end, two of the firm’s values –the obligation to dissent and building enduring relationships based on trust – really resonated with me. The first of those values has meant that I have been in problem-solving sessions with senior partners and engagement managers who were willing to be questioned and challenged if it meant getting to the best answer for the client. On the second of those values, it was clear to me that McKinsey’s clients were industry leaders and disruptors from Fortune 100 companies to social enterprises. I wanted the opportunity to work with these clients to help them refine their strategic approaches and bolster their competitive advantages.

2) Its unrivaled global reach was especially relevant to me as I considered where I would continue my career post-MBA. McKinsey has offices in more than 130 cities. Even more important to me was that the firm has been serving clients on the African continent for more than 20 years. Given my interest in African agricultural development, I wanted to be at a firm that offered me a real chance to work in the space.

3) McKinsey’s investment in its black consultants was important to me. The McKinsey Black Network is more than 25 years old has more than 400 members worldwide with nearly half of them are in the US. The firm’s recognition, support, and development of people who look like me meant it inherently understood the challenges black people face in the world, and specifically in the US. McKinsey has put resources in place to ensure we succeed. From the global McKinsey Black Network conference that hosted nearly 250 black consultants last June to dedicated professional development managers, the firm has made it explicitly clear that progressing and retaining its black firm members is a priority.

What did you love about the business school you attended? I loved the people, classes, and international experiences. Kellogg introduced me to students from all over the world who became lifelong friends. I went to a classmate’s wedding in India, and traveled to Kellogg friends’ homes in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Pakistan. I was pushed outside my comfort zone in Professor Therese McGuire’s public economics course where I debated classmates on solutions to issues faced by state and local governments. During the winter quarter of my second year, I studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. While there, I did an independent study on the history of the South African education system and effective education policy reforms the South African government should enact. On the whole, Kellogg was truly a transformational experience.

What lesson or skill did you learn from training at McKinsey and how has it helped in your role? During Embark, the weeklong orientation for new associates, I learned how to strategically approach problem-solving. McKinsey’s distinct problem-solving methodology ensures all key elements of a potential solution are captured. On each study, I have been able to prioritize the critical components of my workstream, plan relevant analyses, and collaborate with my team to develop a distinctive recommendation.

Tell us about an “only at McKinsey” moment you’ve had so far. The summer after graduating from Kellogg, I traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to become part of the ALX founding team. ALX is a lifelong learning community whose mission is to develop three million ethical and entrepreneurial African leaders by 2035, which is the year Africa will have more than one billion people in its workforce.

I met the CEO & Founder, Fred Swaniker, when he came to speak during my second year at Kellogg. After meeting and chatting with him, Fred asked if I could join the ALX team for a couple of months between graduation and starting back at McKinsey. Given he was a McKinsey alum and had notable success with entrepreneurial ventures in the past (i.e., he founded the African Leadership Academy and African Leadership University), I knew working with him would be an incredible professional opportunity. Without hesitation, I left for Nairobi in June 2018. I led business development efforts – securing corporate partnerships with Kenyan enterprises and multinational companies alike. What was meant to be a few months turned into a year.

McKinsey recognized my impact on the organization and allowed me to defer my start date to June 2019 so I could help launch ALX. Moreover, McKinsey understood I would return to the firm equipped to be a better consultant. My time at ALX bolstered my skillset and my entrepreneurial abilities.

What advice would you give someone interviewing at McKinsey? Use the interview as a time to showcase who you are and what has led you to this point. During the interview, it is imperative you communicate what drives you and how you have made a meaningful impact at organizations throughout your career. More than anything, be authentic.

Who has had the biggest impact on you at McKinsey and how has she/he helped you? The person who has had the biggest impact on me at McKinsey is David Keeling, a senior partner in the Chicago office. Before I signed my offer, David had been instrumental in helping me navigate the firm. Early on, he explained how he “made his own McKinsey” by crafting a nearly 30-year career here to fit his personal needs and professional interests. He advised, sponsored, and supported my decision to defer my start at the firm. Further still, while I was in Kenya, he made sure I had a support network by introducing me to colleagues in the McKinsey Nairobi office.

David has been a sounding board as I considered staffing opportunities and navigated challenging situations, readily available to call or text when needed. Moreover, he has been a role model as I begin to think about how managing a career and family will look in the future. David is quick to start every conversation with an update on his children and their most recent activities or accomplishments. I’m extremely appreciative of David’s mentorship and support.

My most meaningful achievement (professional or personal) and how it made a difference was…taking my mom on her first two international trips. Since my brothers and I were born, my mother has rarely taken a vacation and always prioritized our needs above her own. Having traveled to more than forty countries myself, I wanted to share my love of and excitement for travel with her. She is by far the most selfless person I know and deserves the world. I figured showing her my favorite places would be a great start.

A fun fact about me is… I really enjoy cooking soul food. The first dish I learned to make was cornbread!