INSIDE MY MCKINSEY SUMMER ASSOCIATE INTERNSHIP
As part of my MBA journey at BITSoM, I spent eight weeks as a Summer Associate at McKinsey. When I think about my internship, I remember it as an experience that was exciting, fun, challenging, stressful at times, and above all, full of learning. It was one of those experiences that pushed me outside my comfort zone almost every day, while also giving me the confidence to handle responsibilities I had never imagined taking on as a Summer Associate.
WHAT DID I WORK ON AS A MCKINSEY SUMMER ASSOCIATE?
My internship began in Gurgaon with a three-day induction program, where I met fellow interns and got introduced to the firm’s culture, values, and ways of working. Soon after, I travelled to Gandhinagar to join my study team. My primary responsibility was to evaluate two to three business diversification opportunities for the client. From understanding unfamiliar industries to conducting research, building analyses, and presenting recommendations, every day brought a new challenge.
Having previously interned at Optum (UnitedHealth Group) and JPMorgan Chase during my undergraduate studies, I can confidently say that McKinsey was the most enriching internship experience I have had. The pace, the ownership, and the opportunity to work alongside incredibly smart people made it a truly unique learning experience.
WHAT SKILLS DID I DEVELOP DURING MY CONSULTING INTERNSHIP?
One of the biggest differences was the level of responsibility I was given. Even as a Summer Associate, I was the owner of my workstream. That meant understanding the problem, planning my approach, solving challenges independently, and ensuring that my work met the team’s expectations. At the same time, I was never left on my own. My manager was always there to guide me through regular check-ins where we discussed priorities, solved roadblocks, and aligned on the next steps. Through these interactions, I learnt how to manage stakeholders, understand client expectations, ask better questions, and communicate my ideas more effectively.
As the project progressed, I developed skills that went beyond problem solving. One of the classroom learnings that I found myself applying the most was from Business Presentation Skills course taught at BITSoM, which helped me become a more effective and confident communicator. I learnt how to present ideas in a structured, top-down manner and became more thoughtful about how I communicated my analyses and recommendations.
WHAT MADE MY MCKINSEY INTERNSHIP A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE?
The people I worked with made the experience even more memorable. Everyone around me was exceptionally talented, and what stood out even more was how approachable and supportive they were. Whether it was discussing ideas, reviewing work, or simply sharing a laugh after a long day, my teammates created an environment where learning felt natural. Their curiosity, work ethic, and willingness to help inspired me to continuously raise my own standards.
We wrapped up the internship with a celebration in Mumbai before heading back home. As I looked back on the past eight weeks, I realised that what I was taking away was much more than project experience. I was leaving with new skills, greater confidence, meaningful friendships, and memories that I will always cherish.
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