Maddie McPhail

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“Bold, inclusive, collaborative female leader and lifelong learner who values character, innovation, and wellness.”

Hometown: San Francisco, California

Fun fact about yourself: I was one of the first employees at a female-led footwear company, Pashion Footwear, that sells the world’s first convertible heel. The shoes have been featured on Shark Tank and the Today Show (as one of the best holiday gifts!).

Undergraduate School and Degree: Major in Agricultural Business and Minor in Integrated Marketing & Communications at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Deloitte Consulting – Government and Public Sector Consultant

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? J.P. Morgan, New York – MBA Investment Banking Summer Associate, Consumer & Retail

Where will you be working after graduation? Deloitte Consulting, Washington D.C. – Government and Public Sector Senior Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

– Georgetown MBA Leadership Fellow

– Georgetown MBA Career Center Peer Advisor

– Winner of Georgetown MBA First Year Capstone Executive Case Challenge

– Sustainable Business Treks to London, Colombia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe

– Graduate Government MBA Senator, VP of Academic Affairs, Finance Club VP of DEI

– Member of Finance, Graduate Women in Business (GWIB), Technology, Real Estate, Net Impact, Golf, and Volunteering clubs

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of being selected as a Leadership Fellow at Georgetown. This opportunity presented itself to me when Professor Williams, a wealth of knowledge and well-esteemed professional in the leadership and management space, reached out to me over the summer and let me know I had been selected. I accepted, and as part of the position was given the opportunity to take an intensive course on Managing High Performance Teams, further developing my executive leadership skills. I was also able to help organize and take the Advanced Coaching course in my last semester and given the opportunity to coach five first year students on executive leadership, influence, and presence. Having the opportunity to impact the first-year class in a way that will benefit them in their future careers was unforgettable.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of starting a new Human Centered Design (HCD) team at Deloitte. In my first year at the firm, I was fortunate enough to work with a very innovative leader who pioneered design at Deloitte. We started by pitching and winning work at our current client on a small budget. Within our first year, this initiative brought in $4m+ in additional revenue. We were ultimately hired as a full-time team in the operations of the largest healthcare project in the firm. This was a great professional accomplishment, as I was able to take on a leadership position and pioneer something new with the client that added value. Once the pilot business case was made, I was able to manage additional teams and continue this process throughout the firm.

Why did you choose this business school? Georgetown was my clear first choice when going through the MBA selection process. When applying to graduate programs, I was also applying to the internal Graduate School Assistance Program (GSAP) program at Deloitte. Both application processes were extremely intensive and selective. After completing the MBA application process – and then my final GSAP presentation to Deloitte leadership – I was accepted into multiple schools and ultimately the GSAP program. When selecting schools, Georgetown was a win on all fronts: located at the epicenter of change at the capitol, it provided a Global Business Experience for MBA students to focus on international business challenges. It also incorporated an impact/government focus that I knew would translate seamlessly into my everyday work once I returned to Deloitte in a promoted capacity.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor was Nicholas Lovegrove because he provided such an excellent perspective on consulting in the modern age. Prior to teaching, he was the Managing Partner at the McKinsey office in Washington, D.C., and brought so much experience and insights to his lessons. While drawing on his more traditional consulting experiences, he also brought to light how technologies like AI can be implemented to create new best practices. I appreciated his willingness to make class material and readings so relevant, and felt so lucky to be exposed to his knowledge.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite class in the MBA program was Managing the Enterprise, which focused on leading teams in a hybrid work environment and through innovative technology implementations. This was hugely helpful in learning how to manage and motivate teams effectively in today’s “new normal” work environment.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth about Georgetown is that it is not a large investment banking school. Taking full advantage of alumni connections, the career center, and travel up to New York during recruiting helped me secure an investment banking summer internship at JP Morgan. I had the support of my colleagues and the school the entire way – I couldn’t be more appreciative. If you want to do investment banking but are doubting yourself for any reason (including your gender!), you can and will get there.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Washington, D.C. is such an incredible place to learn. The city gives you so many opportunities to observe national and international progress. I love that when I walk off of campus, I’m just a few minutes away from the Capitol, the White House, and the National Monument. It forces an awe-inspired pause to observe all of the work being done to push the world forward, right in the backyard of the business school.

What surprised you the most about business school? I was very surprised by the multiple opportunities to engage in global experiences in business school. I knew that I would have the opportunity to travel internationally for my Global Business Experience (I’m headed to Dubai!), but I did not realize there would be so many additional opportunities throughout my two years. During the MBA, I traveled to South America, Africa, and Europe. I completed multiple sustainable business treks, and couldn’t be more appreciative of the new perspectives and insights I gained. Global experiences and cultural perspectives are so important in an increasingly internationally connected world.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? One of my MBA classmates that I truly admire is Ariel Cheng. Ariel comes from an amazing family based in Taiwan, and brings so much to the table when it comes to operations, supply chain, and managing people. Ariel worked at Amazon during her time at Georgetown and brought those findings back to our student government team – always helping us operate more efficiently and implement feedback effectively. On a personal note, I was hospitalized during the third semester of my MBA program because of a trip sickness, and she sprung into action. She created a Google spreadsheet to organize the flow of people visiting me at the hospital, and what people could bring to cheer me up. She truly started running my hospital room as her own business – something I thought was incredible and really appreciated when I was at such a low point. She is ready to tackle anything, and has the brightest future ahead of her!

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? My top two items on my professional bucket list are to succeed in the partner track at Deloitte, and to start my own wellness initiative. I believe that these two things – succeeding in my career, and succeeding in my wellness, are interconnected. I would love to be a leader at Deloitte who champions wellness and self care for my teams and the firm culture overall. It would be an amazing achievement to know that I was able to make an impact by starting a wellness initiative at Deloitte (and/or externally!) that helped prevent burnout and increase employee retention. Deloitte does an excellent job as a leader on the cutting edge of wellness initiatives, and I truly believe it affects practitioners’ ambition for the work they do. Studies show that if individuals feel taken care of, supported, and appreciated in the workplace, they will provide better products in a shorter amount of focused, productive time. I can’t wait to be part of this movement at the firm!

What made Maddie such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Maddie McPhail is a young woman who should never be underestimated. While the first thing you will notice about her is her infectious energy, big smile, and positivity, it does not take long before you realize you are talking to someone who will make a positive impact – whether it be a project or initiative, a personal relationship, a community, or even the global business environment.

One of Maddie’s standout qualities is her exceptional grit. In the face of challenges, she demonstrates remarkable perseverance and determination. Her ability to navigate complex situations with a positive attitude is inspiring. Despite being hospitalized during the fall semester, she was able to successfully complete her courses and wrap up significant co-curricular obligations.

Maddie is committed to giving back. She has been very active in supporting the career search of first year MBA students, especially those focused on diversity recruitment. She served as a Career Peer Advisor as well as the VP of Diversity for the Finance Club. As a Peer Advisor, she helped first year female students prepare for early applications and interviews with financial firms. Several students cited her support as critical to their success in the recruitment process. She also gave back to the academic community in her role as the VP of Academic Experience. In this position, she supported students preparing for case competitions, served as a liaison between her classmates and the program leadership on academic issues, and contributed to faculty workshops on Inclusive Pedagogy. Maddie is not only committed to academic and professional excellence but has also been instrumental in supporting wellness initiatives. In addition to offering to teach yoga classes during Wellness Week, she was successful in adding healthy food options to our building on campus.

Following graduation, Maddie will join Deloitte Consulting as a Senior Consultant in their Government and Public Sector division.

Maddie McPhail inspires those around her to be their best, and I am honored that she will soon represent Georgetown McDonough as an alumna. I look forward to watching the impact she makes and am confident she will continue to lead with confidence and kindness, follow with commitment and humbleness, and create a legacy that will undoubtedly spark change and serve as inspiration for future women (and men!) in business.”

Kerry J. Pace
Associate Dean, MBA Programs
McDonough School of Business
Georgetown University

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