The early days

In 1926, James O. McKinsey, founded the business to give local companies financial and accounting advice. Before long, he realized that clients' financial data could be interpreted to help make better management decisions. Thanks to this innovation, McKinsey is credited with the idea of using consultants, or "management engineers", for the first time. Although the firm is his namesake, it was one of his protégés, Marvin Bower, who is most remembered for shaping the direction of the firm.

Most notably, Bower is known for molding the McKinsey culture, mainly through a three-part code of conduct outlining certain ideals the firm was to uphold—something that remains in place today. Among these values are putting client interests ahead of those of the firm, giving superior service and maintaining the highest ethical standards. McKinsey’s values have been updated in small ways to reflect the changing times. They inform both the firm’s long-term strategy and the way it serves its clients on a daily basis. McKinsey is committed to adhering to the highest professional standards, improving clients’ performance significantly and creating an unrivaled environment for exceptional people

Degrees of success

McKinsey looks at talent, not because of where they are or where they studied, but because of who they are and their potential. Today the firm hires candidates from a far broader range of institutions, not just MBAs from the top schools. McKinsey knows that high potential talent is anywhere and everywhere. As the firm grows, McKinsey has an exciting opportunity to open its doors and welcome new and more diverse people who come with different backgrounds and experiences, who are ready to learn and grow. McKinsey knows that talent is everywhere and is looking in places where people may not expect, assessing for potential rather than pedigree.

Those who choose to move beyond the firm—regardless of their tenure when they depart—tend to have a better-than-average chance of finding success. Nearly a quarter of the firm's former consultants have gone on to found their own businesses—more than 20 of which have become unicorns ($1 billion+ valuation)—while 500+ alumni are leading $1 billion enterprises worldwide, including almost 50 leaders in equivalent public and social sector organizations.

One-firm partnership

As a single, global entity, McKinsey has no headquarters office. Instead, the firm operates what it calls a "one-firm" partnership model, with offices across the world sharing values and cultural norms. This allows the firm to assemble teams of experts in ways that best serve their clients. Consultants are attached to a particular office and quickly build a local community, and they also work with colleagues from other locations. Individuals may choose to transfer to other offices for engagements or for the long term.

Social Impact

The firm is committed to social impact and uses its intellectual, financial and convening power to help address issues such as disease, poverty, climate change, and natural disasters. The firm invests its resources in research on topics such as education, and in extensive pro bono and volunteer work. It recently published its Social Responsibility Report, to capture in one place some of the ways it strives to have a broader impact on society.

The firm also invests to advance an understanding of resource productivity issues, including carbon abatement. McKinsey is committed to achieving net-zero climate impact by 2030.

Through McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), the firm publishes research on pressing socio-economic issues which it hopes helps to build a better society by providing business and political leaders with the insights they need to make good decisions.