Dushyant Sharma            

McKinsey Office: Melbourne, Australia

Hometown: Kota, India

MBA Program: IESE Business School

Undergraduate School, Major: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- Guwahati, Mechanical Engineering

Focus of current engagement: Corporate & portfolio strategy for one of the biggest retail companies in Australia

Why did you choose McKinsey? Conversations with McKinsey people during the MBA journey suggested a career at McKinsey would allow for an experience unparalleled for personal and professional growth, as well as client impact. I knew McKinsey works with some of the biggest companies and organizations on their most complex problems. And successfully solving these problems with some of the smartest people creates an environment of learning and a sense of satisfaction. This is what I came for and I have not been disappointed one bit.

What did you love about the business school you attended? Diversity at IESE allowed me to broaden my thinking in so many aspects. I got an opportunity to spend two great years of my life with people from such different geographies, background, skills and aspirations. Connecting and sharing thoughts with such a diverse bunch allowed to me reflect on what I really wanted out of my career and what was achievable. I loved the community feel IESE has developed and now is an intrinsic part of the IESE experience. Professors, career services, and the students/alumni were always willing to take time to talk and support each other. This stood out in my experience as I never felt alone or lost through this important phase of my professional and personal life.

What lesson from business school best prepared you for your career in consulting at McKinsey?  Coming from an engineering background, the MBA played an important role in building my foundation in finance, strategy, and marketing. This learning helps me to grasp content faster, understand broader problems, and come up with insights.  Specifically, the case method at IESE allowed me to develop the art of structured problem, which is what I do day-in and day-out at McKinsey.

Tell us about an “only at McKinsey” moment you’ve had so far. Working with CXOs at one of the biggest ASX traded companies in Australia was an only at McKinsey moment for me. Having access to and discussion with executives at that level so early in the career was absolutely great and something I couldn’t get elsewhere.

What advice would you give to someone interviewing at McKinsey? My suggestion would be to focus on personal experience questions as much as the case prep. At McKinsey we are looking for distinctive leaders and people who can communicate well and a strong story will allow you to demonstrate that. Please make sure you bring the most compelling parts of your story forward and don’t shy away from providing details.

The way you communicate is key. It will be your first lever to establish a connection with your interviewer (and then your clients).

Who has had the biggest impact on you at McKinsey and how has she/he helped you?  I would say one of the partners I worked during my first study has had the most impact on me personally. First, he is such a people person, very humble, and super connected to people here at the office. Moreover, he took an interest in how I was settling in and provided me with tips on how to navigate through my career. It was great to see leaders who might always be short of time with multiple priorities take time for people, connect with others and go in detail to explain things and to help out.

My greatest personal or professional accomplishment is…My whole journey so far has been very satisfying, but surviving two years of the party scene in Barcelona might count as an accomplishment.

A fun fact about me is…I am very connected to my iDevices. I have kept every outdated iPod, iPhone, iPad, mac book I ever owned.