Alexia Kyriakopoulous

“I’ve always followed curiosity—across countries, technologies, and people—and embraced uncertainty along the way.”

McKinsey Office: Athens, Greece

Hometown: Athens, Greece

MBA Program: London Business School

Undergraduate School, Major: Emerson College, Marketing and Communications

Graduate School, Major: NYU, Interactive Technology

What was your favorite thing about your MBA program? Being in the heart of London made LBS really special because you are surrounded by major companies, industry events, and speakers who regularly came to campus. The global community of classmates from diverse backgrounds made the experience even richer, and the strong emphasis on entrepreneurship—which isn’t common in European MBA programs—created many opportunities to experiment with new ideas. I also really valued the two-year format because it gave me the space to reflect on my career path while immersing myself fully in London’s business ecosystem.

Can you describe your proudest pre-McKinsey accomplishment? In what area(s) do you have considerable knowledge or expertise? One of my proudest accomplishments was winning an Emmy Award for Innovation in Interactive Media.

After graduating from NYU, I pursued opportunities in emerging media, working with technologies such as virtual and augmented reality and expanding the boundaries of what was possible in the metaverse. At the Tribeca Film Festival, I met the founder of a VR gaming startup and took a leap of faith by joining their team in Brazil. I had never been to the country before, did not speak Portuguese, and knew no one in São Paulo. Four months later, I was entrusted to represent them in their new office in Los Angeles, where I not only helped lead projects that blended technology with storytelling, but also built partnerships with major entertainment studios.

That decision to follow my instinct and immerse myself in such an unfamiliar environment shaped my career. One of my favorite quotes is, “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” Stepping out of my comfort zone, finding the courage, and trusting my instinct is what ultimately led me to my biggest success.

Why did you choose McKinsey over other consulting firms or other industries?  During my MBA, I really enjoyed all the case studies and learning about different industries—it kind of opened a whole other world for me. I also worked on a consulting project that I really loved, and it made me realize how much this path excited me compared to what I was doing before, which felt a little limiting.

When I graduated, I thought about growing my own company, but I knew I needed more personal growth and structure as well as a place where my curiosity would be fulfilled. I felt McKinsey could offer all of that in an unparalleled way. And the firm’s work in tech and AI just tied in so well with everything I’d been doing before.

What were you most excited about when you accepted your full-time offer? I was most excited about the personal growth opportunities, knowing I would be challenged not just to build technical skills, but also to grow as a leader. I was also eager to be surrounded by such talented colleagues, whose caliber pushes me to raise the bar and make the work incredibly rewarding.

What is something you didn’t know to be excited about then, but you are now? What excites me most is the truly global nature of McKinsey. I’m constantly collaborating with colleagues and experts from all over the world. On one project, for example, we brought in a specialist from Germany because they were the leading expert in that particular industry. That global reach and spirit of “one firm” is incredibly unique and energizing.

Can you share a time you received mentorship while at McKinsey? How has it made you better? I’m still new at McKinsey, having joined in May 2025, but the mentorship I’ve received has already been invaluable. What’s been especially meaningful is the guidance from women at the firm who have started families, as I am also about to start my own. Their openness in sharing their experiences has given me confidence and perspective on balancing this new chapter with my career. Combined with the professional feedback and tools my mentors provide, that personal support has made me feel truly encouraged and accelerated my growth.

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 feel you need to adhere to one specific framework. The interviewer wants to find out how you think and communicate and what’s unique about you and your perspective. Bring passion and open-mindedness.

And for McKinsey, specifically, the PEI (Personal Experience Interview) plays an important role.
It is an opportunity to show who you are beyond your resume, to share the experiences that have shaped you, and to highlight soft skills such as leadership, resilience, empathy and problem solving that are harder to teach.

What’s something you’ve learned here that you know will be useful for your entire career? The most important thing that I’m learning is how to be comfortable with uncertainty. Whether it’s working in a new industry or navigating an unfamiliar client problem, I’ve realized that the ability to stay calm, adapt, and structure clarity out of ambiguity is a skill I will carry with me throughout my career.

What’s an example of a time when a teammate challenged you, inspired you, or pushed you to think bigger or go further than you would have on your own?  On my very first project, I worked with a teammate who encouraged me not just to answer the client’s immediate question but to step back and consider the bigger picture in terms of how our insights could influence the client’s long-term strategy. That push shifted my perspective. Instead of focusing only on the “what,” I learned to always ask “so what” and “what next.” It was a valuable lesson in thinking beyond the deliverable to the broader impact we can create for clients. I also find it inspiring how people here can motivate you and support you even when the work gets hard and you’re working long hours. There’s a good understanding of when you need a break or when pushing farther will bring the next big idea.

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