McKinsey Unpacked - August 2026

Curious about what it’s really like to work at McKinsey? Want to go beyond our careers site and hear ‘real talk’ from McKinsey colleagues about our firm culture, partnering with clients, and day-to-day realities?

Join us for McKinsey Unpacked, our webcast where we unpack the real McKinsey experience.

We’re Marie Padberg and Blair Ciesil, partners at the firm and long-time friends who share a passion for helping top talent find their place here. We started this series to give you an inside look at our firm: who we are, what makes us tick, and why we’ve stuck around for over 20 years (spoiler: it’s the people and the impact).

Each session, we dive into a specific topic and often bring in guests who share their own journeys—no two stories are the same. This is a no-pressure, no-strings-attached space for anyone who would like to get to know McKinsey from the inside out.

McKinsey Unpacked is non-evaluative and open to individuals from all regions and backgrounds who are interested in learning more about our firm, our people, and the work we do.

Upcoming sessions

In our next McKinsey Unpacked, co-hosts Blair and Marie talk to Sven Houthuys about using AI to help one of the world's top cycling teams transform race-day decision making.

Our hosts

Blair Ciesil

Partner, Talent Attraction, Washington DC

One of McKinsey’s global people leaders and coleader of talent attraction teams worldwide

Marie Christine Padberg

Partner, Talent Attraction, Amsterdam

One of McKinsey’s global people leaders and coleader of talent attraction teams worldwide