Avery White

“Anchored in curiosity and connection, I’m a lifelong learner who values people and shared experiences.”

McKinsey Office: Denver, Colorado

Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware

MBA Program and Concentration: Harvard Business School

Undergraduate School, Major: University of Delaware, Biomedical Engineering

What was your favorite thing about your MBA program? It sounds cliché, but the people. Harvard Business School gathers individuals from vastly different jobs, families, and places around the world – all at a similar life stage. Spending two years together created a uniquely rich learning environment. I learned as much from my classmates’ experiences as I did from the cases.

What’s especially unique to HBS is the “section” experience, which means you spend eight hours a day with the same 90 classmates for an entire year. That depth of connection builds trust and exposes you to many perspectives—consulting, private equity, entrepreneurship—because you come to understand where people’s viewpoints come from. Those connections, including with partners and families, were one of the most rewarding parts of the program.

Can you describe your proudest pre-McKinsey accomplishment? In what area(s) do you have considerable knowledge or expertise? Getting into business school. That might sound simple, but I came to it differently than many peers. Full-time MBA wasn’t common in my community or professional circles, so I initially applied to online part-time programs for financial reasons.

Through coffee chats with consultants and MBA grads, I realized the value of a full-time program. I withdrew my part-time applications—even ones I’d already been admitted to—and took the leap. The learning curve was steep, but within a year I was accepted to HBS. That decision required me to bet on myself, and it prepared me for consulting: entering a new space, learning quickly, and adding value.

In terms of expertise, I spent six years as a product development engineer at Terumo Medical Corporation designing cardiovascular devices. That role gave me a passion for blending design and healthcare. I became deeply interested in the voice of the customer—how patient and clinician insights inform product development. I also saw opportunities to improve how medical device companies gather and use that data. Consulting and business school gave me the chance to combine consumer insight expertise with medtech product development, and I now split my time between the two.

Why did you choose McKinsey over other consulting firms or other industries? All the firms are impressive, but McKinsey stood out for its dual focus: delivering for clients while developing its people. The “make your own McKinsey” mindset was emphasized from the start. I had a passion for combining consumer insights and product development, and the sponsorship and support I experienced—even during my internship—showed me that McKinsey truly values individual passions. When people are supported in pursuing what excites them, the client work is better too. That alignment drew me here.

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? I was excited about the variety of work and the chance to apply lessons across industries. What I didn’t fully anticipate was the extent of mentorship and sponsorship. In my first year, I’ve had more than 50 coffee chats with colleagues ranging from managers to senior partners. Those conversations have provided guidance, shared experiences, and even led to opportunities I wouldn’t have found otherwise. People have gone out of their way to listen and help me grow, which has been a huge and pleasant surprise.

Can you share a time you received mentorship while at McKinsey? How has it made you better? One standout experience has been the informal mentorship I’ve received through countless coffee chats. People don’t just share their journeys, they really listen to my goals and challenges and then help me solve problems, like a case interview for my career development. I’ve also experienced real sponsorship—people mentioning my name in rooms and opening doors for new projects. That support has shaped my path here in ways I didn’t expect.

If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice during the interview process, what would you say? Be authentic. In the personal experience interview, I debated whether to give a polished professional answer or a more personal one. I chose personal, but I wasn’t sure it was the right choice. Looking back, I’d tell myself that McKinsey values the whole person. This is a job where you sit shoulder-to-shoulder with your team every day—it’s like a dance, with flow and rhythm. To succeed, you need to bring your full self, and they want to see that from the beginning.

What’s something you’ve learned here that you know will be useful for your entire career? Agility in decision-making. Coming from medical devices, where processes are structured and highly regulated, I quickly adapted to McKinsey’s dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Here, decisions are constant: What do we know now? What gaps remain? How does this change our path? It’s like skating to where the hockey puck is going, not where it is now. That mindset of informed, fast-paced problem-solving will serve 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 second project, less than two months into the firm, I had a manager who struck the perfect balance between giving me autonomy and providing coaching. I mapped out my own workstream and built strong client relationships early on. At the end of the study, I even asked multiple clients for feedback because we’d worked so closely together. That early responsibility, paired with thoughtful support, gave me confidence and showed me what I was capable of doing.

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