Get Active in Our Amazing Community of Over 451,000 Peers!

Schedule mock interviews on the Meeting Board, join the latest community discussions in our Consulting Q&A and find like-minded Case Partners to connect and practice with!

Leadership in PEI

leadership McKinsey PEI personal experience interview
New answer on Dec 30, 2023
5 Answers
2.6 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Jan 03, 2019

Hi everyone!

I don't know if I will sound quite silly with the question but let's go. Regarding the leadership question that might be faced during the interviews, talking about an experience as my football team captain would be fine or completely inappropriate?

My story is about how I motivated and fixed the problems of the team in the break of the finals in an important tournament.

Thanks!

Overview of answers

Upvotes
  • Upvotes
  • Date ascending
  • Date descending
Best answer
Alberto
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 30, 2023
Ex-McKinsey Associate Partner | +15 years in consulting | +200 McKinsey 1st & 2nd round interviews

Hi there,

Being asked for a leadership story you should focus on your best experience leading a team (of any size), either on a personal or professional situation. Keys here:

  • You leading style is and how you inspire the team to reach a challenging goal
  • Your teamwork skills to coordinate work and make everyone shine
  • Your ability to understand and act on team dynamics, even the personal ones (motivations, frustrations)

I hope this helps.

Alberto

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Was this answer helpful?
Sidi
Expert
replied on Jan 03, 2019
McKinsey Senior EM & BCG Consultant | Interviewer at McK & BCG for 7 years | Coached 350+ candidates secure MBB offers

Yes, this is totally fine! If you exhibited the required qualities that McKinsey wants evidence form then this can be an excellent story! Leadership essentially means enabling the people around you to reach a common goal in the face of adversity/obstacles. This you can further break down by means of a logic tree - very similar to how you break down case problems.

Cheers, Sidi

Was this answer helpful?
Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 31, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

On top of the insights already shared in the post, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)

It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.

Feel free to PM me for disccount codes, since we still have some left from the launch!

Hope you find it useful!

Best,

Clara

Was this answer helpful?
Guennael
Expert
replied on Jan 03, 2019
Ex-MBB, Experienced Hire; I will teach you not only the how, but also the why of case interviews

Not only is this fine - related properly, your story would also be very distinctive and memorable so interviewers remember you. Do it!

Was this answer helpful?
Anonymous replied on Jul 25, 2020

Dea A,

Your story is absolutely fine. In telling it you can follow the STAR structure.

Also, to double check you story line, find below the questions that helps you to line your story in a right direction:

  • Tell me about a time you led others.
  • Tell me about a time when you were on a team that had a conflict that was keeping it from achieving its objective.
  • How do you motivate people?

Hope it helps,

André

Was this answer helpful?
0
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or fellow student?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0 = Not likely
10 = Very likely