Oscar Gutiérrez

“Movie buff with a positive attitude who loves teamwork, humor, and making people smile.”

McKinsey Office: Mexico City

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

MBA Program and Concentration: University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Marketing Management, Business Analytics, and Entrepreneurship

Undergraduate School, Major: Tecnológico de Monterrey, Sustainable Development Engineering

What was your favorite thing about your MBA program? The best part was the people. Booth had almost 700 students, and I built close friendships with many of them that will last forever. The flexible curriculum made it possible for people to really shape their paths, and that attracted classmates with clear goals. It made for a diverse and inspiring community. From the start, I felt Booth’s “persona” was intellectually curious, friendly, and super fun.

Can you describe your proudest pre-McKinsey accomplishment? In what area(s) do you have considerable knowledge or expertise? At Procter & Gamble, I organized the company’s first all-women hackathon in Mexico City. We brought together 100 women to code and create, tying it to the Always “Like a Girl” campaign. While that campaign was best known for its focus on sports, I wanted to extend its message into STEM. As an engineering student at the time, it mattered to me to show women they belonged in tech, too. Seeing that room full of women building projects and redefining what it meant to “code like a girl” remains one of my proudest accomplishments.

In terms of expertise, I’ve worked across consumer-packaged goods—beauty at P&G, where I managed launches and public relations for leading brands, and sustainability at AB InBev, where I focused on circular economy and returnability initiatives. At McKinsey, I’ve continued working in consumer industries, and during my MBA I added entertainment through my internship at Amazon Studios.

Why did you choose McKinsey over other consulting firms or other industries? The impact. I was very young and already sitting with CEOs and CFOs. I never imagined I would have that kind of access so early. At McKinsey, we work on the most pressing issues and being part of that was very appealing.

I was also looking for variety. I didn’t want a job where I would do the same repetitive thing every day. At McKinsey, every project is different, and you’re encouraged to build your own path. The “one firm” approach—which gives people the ability to work across geographies— stood out, too. I joined as a business analyst five years ago and have already been able to contribute both in Mexico and the United States.

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 proud just to make it through the tough recruiting process. But even more, I was excited to work with the people I met during interviews. The conversations felt like solving problems together, not just answering questions. That gave me a glimpse of the collaborative culture I’d soon join.

What surprised me later was the support. At many companies, you’re left to figure things out on your own. At McKinsey, people always step up to help. I’ve never reached out for guidance and been told no. The firm is full of exceptional people, but also caring people, and that was a welcome surprise.

Can you share a time you received mentorship while at McKinsey? How has it made you better? Early on, I wasn’t strong in Microsoft Excel. An engagement manager from San Francisco set up 30-minute sessions with me every Friday, walking me through shortcuts, formulas, and best practices. What had been a weakness quickly became a skill I now rely on every day.

More recently, a senior partner joined our team dinners. We always ended up listening to him share stories from his first client projects and offering practical advice on how to navigate ours. Having someone at that level spend their Thursday evenings with us, investing in our growth outside of a formal setting, was incredibly valuable and, honestly, priceless.

If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice during the interview process, what would you say? Work hard and give your best in the interviews, but don’t just memorize frameworks. Interviewers aren’t looking for rehearsed answers. They want to see how you think and adapt. Focus on breaking down problems and finding a structure that fits. That will get you much further than forcing a textbook framework.

What’s something you’ve learned here that you know will be useful for your entire career? Three lessons stand out. First, break big problems into smaller, manageable parts. Second, always come back to the main question you’re solving for. And third, be clear about who the true client is. It’s not always the most senior person in the room—it’s sometimes the one most affected by the outcome.

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 one project, our engagement manager trusted us to pick the workstreams we thought we could contribute most to. That trust gave me confidence to lead a talent organization workstream. It meant working with stakeholders across the U.S., Europe, China, and South America. It was demanding, but it showed how combining different skills and experiences can make a team successful.

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