Andy Chen

“I hope that I can bring happiness to people around me, whether it’s family, friends, or colleagues.”

McKinsey Office: Taipei

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

MBA Program and Concentration: Wharton Business School, Finance and Management.

Undergraduate School, Major: Soochow University, Law

What was your favorite thing about your MBA program? In the MBA, you can explore anything you want. I joined lots of clubs while at Wharton and tried different things like private equity, venture capital, and consulting. It’s interesting because you have many choices to consider.

Can you describe your proudest pre-McKinsey accomplishment? When I was a college student, I spent a lot of time on law research and helped my professor enact several regulations in Taiwan’s biotech industry. Though it’s not a work accomplishment in which I earned money, it was rewarding and very interesting.

Why did you choose McKinsey over other consulting firms or other industries? Previously, I worked in the financial industry, which is very deal-based. But at McKinsey, I found out there is more focus on building long-term relationships with clients and helping them roll out strategies to see changes.

What are three words that describe working at McKinsey? Cool, exciting, and honest.

What were you most excited about when you accepted your full-time offer? What is something you didn’t know to be excited about then, but you are now? Every day is different here. It’s a very exciting environment and a good match for me. What surprised me most is how much my colleagues care about getting to the best answer. It isn’t just a bunch of experts drawing on their past experiences—it’s about getting to the best solution possible, even if it’s something that hasn’t been done before. I was also surprised that there’s no hierarchy here. Everyone is looked at like an equal.

Who at the Firm has been the most impactful mentor to you and why? I consider Yuning Liao a mentor to me during my start at McKinsey. Even though she was a business associate at the time, she seemed to know everything. She supported me during every step of my onboarding, from navigating the firm to how to interact with clients and partners, to understanding the standards for our work. Even though everyone is busy, Yuning and other colleagues are willing to spend so much time coaching you.

If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice during the interview process, what would you say? Don’t let a single failure defeat you.

In what area(s) do you have considerable knowledge or expertise? I will focus on financial institutions, but try to exploring fintech or applying generative AI to the industry. I have some basic knowledge in finance, but need to learn new things to keep up with industry and world trends.

Tell us about an “only at McKinsey” moment you’ve had so far? During one study, we initially focused just on strategy, but we learned that the real problem was the politics within the client’s organization. We analyzed the organization’s chart, understood each person’s position and needs, and adjusted our communication and proposal accordingly. It taught me that consulting is not just about the proposal but about how to help clients truly understand our suggestions.

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