Meet McKinsey’s MBA Class of 2019

Derek Debruhl

McKinsey office: Charlotte, NC

Hometown: Davie, FL

MBA Program, Concentration: UVA Darden

Undergraduate School, Major: US Military Academy at West Point, Human Geography

Focus of current engagement: Maintenance program transformation at a large chemical plant

Why did you choose McKinsey? The most important career aspect for me was to gain exposure to the greatest breadth of industries and functions after getting an MBA. I knew McKinsey would give me the best chance to do that. In my first year, I have been challenged to implement the theories of business school on engagements ranging from government agency re-organization to grocery store procurement. Gaining that exposure while working with some of the most intelligent, committed colleagues has reinforced the fact that this is the best place for me personally to learn and grow.

What did you love about the business school you attended? The tight-knit Darden community was the best part of my business school experience. My classmates were always willing to share their experiences and lend a hand both in and out of the classroom. One of the best examples is the global food festival where international students cooked dishes representing their countries and everyone tasted the food and celebrated one another. It was amazing to see the pride my peers had as we shared in their respective cultures and it was so satisfying to experience that with the whole Darden community.

What lesson or skill did you learn from training at McKinsey and how has it helped in your role? One lesson I learned is the importance of clear, effective communication. It is something I observed in colleagues who have the greatest impact on their work. Whether it is coaching a client to take action, updating a leader in the lunchroom, or writing a PowerPoint page to highlight a business opportunity, clear and concise communication is a skill that adds credibility to the message and has helped me build better client relationships.

Tell us about an “only at McKinsey” moment you’ve had so far. As a summer associate, one of the local partners invited 20 of us to his house for dinner. The menu was Thai, which naturally brought up stories of travel to Southeast Asia. At some point, there was a show of hands for who had visited Thailand and more than 75% of the room had been there. I was shocked at how adventurous and well-traveled the group was.

What advice would you give someone interviewing at McKinsey? I have found many people preparing for interviews spend a lot of time trying to build up areas of perceived weakness but spend far less time strengthening areas where they are already strong. McKinsey is a strengths-based environment so turning a relative strength into a “spike” would go a long way to showing interviewers what really makes someone distinctive. My advice would be to lean more into your personal strengths and show the interviewer what you could bring to the team.

Who has had the biggest impact on you at McKinsey and how has she/he helped you? I’m married with two daughters, so I often ask people with families how they make it all work. One of my favorite people at the firm told me “McKinsey is more than a job but less than a life.” She prioritizes time with her husband and is a great role model for me as I balance a fast-paced career with being the best father and husband I can be for my family.

My most meaningful achievement (professional or personal) and how it made a difference is…I have always been passionate about helping people achieve their professional goals. Some of the best days of my Army time were when I could pin a new rank on a soldier’s uniform and watch them assume greater positions of responsibility. While at business school, I helped coach veterans through the application process and was a student interviewer for admissions. At McKinsey, I help guide applicants through case prep and networking calls. Watching soldiers take charge, having candidates I interviewed show up for class at Darden, and hearing an offeree accepted their McKinsey offer has been immensely fulfilling and meaningful to me.

A fun fact about me is…I proposed to my wife while skydiving. While she was sitting at the edge of the door, I popped the question and then pushed her out before she could respond. My parachute was smaller than hers, so I fell faster and was on one knee when she finally landed. Despite that experience, she still said yes.

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