Lien Pham

“Creative and adventurous; I connect with people through board games, music, and shared experiences.”

McKinsey Office: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam

MBA Program and Concentration: INSEAD, Digital Strategy and Entrepreneurship

Undergraduate School, Major: Connecticut College, Economics and International Relations, with a minor in Psychology

What was your favorite thing about your MBA program? The best part of my MBA was friendships. At INSEAD, every nationality is a minority, meaning the school tries not to have a big majority from any country. I worked with classmates from all over the world. My study group of six included someone from Brunei, India, America, France, Spain, and me (Vietnamese). Almost everyone spoke multiple languages and had international experiences. It really broadened my view of the world; I never imagined living in the Middle East, but friends from the region gave me the confidence to move to Dubai after graduation even though I had never even traveled here before.

Can you describe your proudest pre-McKinsey accomplishment? In what area(s) do you have considerable knowledge or expertise? I’m proud of weaving my passions for music and games into both work and life. My biggest pre-McKinsey pivot was moving from corporate HR to product management at a startup, where I helped create a gamified mobile app that taught people to play piano, turning my hobbies into a dream job. At INSEAD, I built community through board games by hosting regular game nights. It became my way of connecting with classmates, many of whom are still close friends. I’ve continued the tradition in Dubai, where I play violin in a community orchestra and join different Dungeons & Dragons groups, including one with McKinsey colleagues across tenure and seniority. These experiences remind me how shared passions can break down barriers and bring people together.

Why did you choose McKinsey over other consulting firms or other industries? I initially planned to focus on specific roles in tech, but during my MBA, I realized consulting would give me exposure to many industries and broaden my long-term career prospects. The interview experience then convinced me McKinsey could be a great fit. Rather than pure business frameworks, the case interviews focused on logical reasoning and diverse topics, which I found very interesting. Every interviewer also took time to connect with me as a person, not just a candidate. I felt like I was having a real conversation.

Those conversations made me think: If this is what daily life at McKinsey is like, I’d enjoy working 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? It was truly a life-changing opportunity: a triple change in industry, function, and geography. I had never worked in consulting or lived in the Middle East, so I was excited and nervous. What surprised me was how supportive my colleagues were. I had feared I’d be expected to perform at full speed from day one, but instead I was given space to learn and build my toolkit, even in industries that were new to me.

People were patient and open to questions, which eased my early self-doubt and gave me the confidence to explore projects beyond my comfort zone.

Can you share a time you received mentorship while at McKinsey? How has it made you better? I’ve had many meaningful moments of coaching already. On my first project, a senior associate coached me on how to structure my workstream and encouraged me to present my own work to leadership instead of letting others take the lead. That gave me exposure and confidence.

I also had a younger business analyst who, despite not being assigned to mentor me, patiently taught me best practices after working hours. And one engagement manager, even after rolling off, continued advising me on the project to support my development goals. Those experiences showed me that mentorship at McKinsey can come from anyone: teammates, peers, or leaders.

If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice during the interview process, what would you say? Relax and be yourself. When I applied, I honestly didn’t expect much at first, so I approached the interviews as conversations for both sides to get to know each other better. Ironically, that mindset helped me stay calm. If I could give my younger self advice, it would still be the same: don’t over-stress and show up authentically. Presenting a version of yourself that isn’t genuine is hard to sustain, and culture fit matters just as much as having the “right” answers.

What’s something you’ve learned here that you know will be useful for your entire career? Three lessons stand out: prioritization, communication, and confidence. I learned about the 80/20 rule: focusing on what matters most instead of trying to do everything. I’ve also learned to structure my communication so that the key message comes across clearly and sticks. And I’m continuing to build the confidence to carry myself in a way that earns trust and helps move things forward. These skills will serve me well in any 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 first client project, I was challenged to manage multiple stakeholders on my own. I had to piece the process together and follow through assertively even without formal authority. Coming from a background where communication is often more indirect, adapting to this style was daunting at first. My teammates not only encouraged me, but also showed me how to do it effectively. Seeing how they balanced persistence with tact inspired me to push myself and step up with greater confidence. Their support helped me adapt to the new ways of working and grow as a consultant.

DON’T MISS: MEET MCKINSEY & COMPANY’S MBA CLASS OF 2024

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.