This year's 30 under 30 list for Europe has been released, and once again, there are McKinsey alumni included—just as there have been on every one since Forbes' inaugural list in 2011.
The two alums honored on the list are:
Amine Bounoughaz (DBI 15-19), co-founder and COO of Edbridg. The London-based startup offers alternative loans, enabling students to attend their 'dream schools' by committing a fixed percentage of their future income for a limited period of time.
Nigel Phan (LON 12-18), founder and Managing Director of Whirli. The UK-based children's toy subscription service gives parents and their children access to a 'toy box' for a fixed monthly price— parents can send toys back when the kids want to move on to something new, and exchange them for something else. The returned toys are then sterilized for reuse.
In a short Q&A, they each shared what their inspiration was, some memorable moments from their time at the Firm, and more.
Amine Bounoughaz and Edbridg
Tell us more about Edbridg.
At Edbridg, we finance talented students admitted to top schools in exchange of a percentage of their future revenues for a fixed time duration once they are employed. We provide financing with no collateral or co-signer because we believe talent is the only collateral that matters!
What was the inspiration for it?
The inspiration came from Walid Behar, my co-founder and friend (and handsome guy in the picture), after he struggled with paying back his own student loan during the economic crisis. He pitched me the idea, and I immediately had a flashback to the time I was an international student desperately looking for financing to attend my dream school, only to face rejections by every bank I applied to. I was lucky to receive a Fulbright scholarship, but I know many talented people don’t get that chance. So, I decided to leave the Firm and join him in building Edbridg.
What was your most memorable moment at McKinsey?
Two moments come to mind that really showcase how caring and supportive the McKinsey culture is. The first was during my recruitment. For an international student coming from Algeria, interviewing with McKinsey was very intimidating. Gemma d’Auria, one of the Partners who interviewed me, sensed my stress and went above and beyond her way to make me feel comfortable, as she welcomed and coached me even after the interview. She gave me the confidence boost I needed to ace my interviews and get the job.
The second was on one of my first projects. On my first week of the engagement, the leading Partner, Stefano Martinotti, dedicated an entire morning to coach me and set me up for success. Stefano truly exemplified being a real people leader who cares about developing talents. Both Gemma and Stefano became life-long mentors, and either invested or supported me with Edbridg.
What would you say to someone who is considering a career at McKinsey?
McKinsey was without a doubt the best first career move I’ve made. The problem-solving skills I acquired, the incredible people I met and the network it opened have made a tremendous impact on my life. Today, I continue to reap the benefits as an entrepreneur; many McKinsey leaders and alums have either invested or supported me with Edbridg.
My advice for anyone considering a career with McKinsey is to just go for it. It is an incredible place to work.
What advice would you give a new hire?
Be bold, take risks; reach out to that Partner doing work you’re passionate about even if it is across the globe, contribute in the office, invest in relationships and take the time to thank everyone who makes your life easier. Most importantly, never lose sight of your true passion, because that’s how you make McKinsey an extraordinary place for you.
Nigel Phan and Whirli
What was the inspiration for Whirli?
Whirli is a toy-sharing subscription service for parents. Pick the toys you want, play with them, and whenever a toy gets unloved just send it back and swap for something else. Much better for parents' wallets, children's playtime, and for our environment. The idea came to me at a McKinsey team dinner actually, when the ED and Associate on my team started talking about how much they spent and how frustrated they were with buying baby goods that just clutter up the home!
What do you miss most about McKinsey?
The people and community. Professionally, I miss having a whole support infrastructure and knowledge base to tap into. I've had to learn to operate in a low-data environment and be even more resourceful in seeking expertise.
What are some skills that you learned at McKinsey that you still use today?
I still use all of them! Haven't built a monster Excel model in a while, though. At the end of the day, I cherish the people and communication skills the most—it's all about being able to inspire your team, your suppliers, your investors, your customers, and everyone else about the mission you're on.
What is your most memorable moment at the Firm?
There are so many! I'll share 3. 1) When my ED and EM couldn't fly in time for a meeting, so I (the 0+9 BA) ended up leading a meeting with a national retailer's COO and CFO. 2) When I was crunching with my team at midnight and the DCS called to say the U.S. SteerCo didn't go well and the project might be cancelled, so we downed tools and went to the pub (we completed the project and it turned out to be a huge success and an incredible client story). 3) When I got to work with all the amazing Partners in the UK Consumer Practice on our war room effort and help win important pieces of client work.
What’s the best team bonding experience that you can recall?
After turning around a client situation, we got to stay in Amsterdam with our SOs for a weekend. It was King's Day and we all got dressed up and joined in the local festivities, celebrating and partying in the streets. It was a fantastic atmosphere and great way to decompress.