Eddie Shih

“I have innovative ideas. I like to brainstorm and try different things.”

McKinsey Office: Taipei

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

MBA Program and Concentration: London Business School, Entrepreneurship Management

Undergraduate School, Major: National Chengchi University, Finance

What was your favorite thing about your MBA program? I liked that I had a lot of exposure to local businesses. For example, I got to engage with the local startup community, interned at a startup founded by an alumnus, and engaged with famous venture capitalists. The curriculum also offered a lot of courses on how to found a startup and the financial aspects of startups.

Can you describe your proudest pre-McKinsey accomplishment? Pre-MBA, my role was quite different. I was part of the corporate strategy and development team at BlackRock. We made some important decisions for the firm, and I think those projects and decisions created a real difference to the organization.

Why did you choose McKinsey over other consulting firms or other industries? When I was at BlackRock, many of my colleagues were McKinsey alumni, including my first boss, the original head of corporate strategy. My training was heavily influenced by McKinsey methods. My first manager used a seven-step problem-solving approach to train me, creating specific materials for me and the team. This approach to organizing work and creating deliverables was inspiring.

What are three words that describe working at McKinsey? Autonomy, challenging, growth.

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? The level of autonomy you have here exceeded my expectations. This is especially true compared to the predictability of corporate life, which often follows a very clear trajectory. You really need to think about what you want and how you want to progress and grow, because the opportunities are here.

I’ve also been surprised—in a positive way—by the way feedback is delivered. It’s frequent and straightforward. For example, an engagement manager shared their observations and suggestions for ways I could better manage client conversations. As a new joiner, the honest feedback is very valuable.

Who at the Firm has been the most impactful mentor to you and why? Sophie Guo and Scarlett Lin, who are both engagement managers, have been impactful mentors. They are always supportive, honest and transparent about what is expected of me. As a new joiner, you have very realistic expectations of what you are going to experience in the Firm.

In what area(s) do you have considerable knowledge or expertise? My expertise, from my previous experience at BlackRock, in asset management and wealth management.

Tell us about an “only at McKinsey” moment you’ve had so far: In the Taipei office, we have this series where a few partners host a lunch or dinner together with the colleagues in the office. I signed up for one a few weeks ago and it turned out the venue was very special. The partner invited us to his home. His family was there too, and I got to chat with colleagues from all over the world including New York and Malaysia.

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