The 2021 Top 25 Consultants: Nora Gardner

Nora serves as managing partner of McKinsey's Washington, DC, office, specializing in organizational change and talent management. She supports clients across the public, private, and social sectors, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, scientific agencies, and defense.

Nora combines technical expertise with a passion for people, as a client leader and sought-after mentor within McKinsey. With a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Duke University and a BS in biochemistry from North Carolina State University, she brings a unique blend of scientific rigor and organizational expertise.

Nora is deeply committed to community engagement and founded the office's social-impact group, which connects consultants to pro bono work and other service projects at local not for profits.

Nora was named "Working Mother of the Year" by Working Mother magazine in 2015.

What does winning this award mean to you?

"At this stage of my career, it is less about what the award means to me – though obviously, it is a great honor – and more about how I hope it may inspire and energize our younger colleagues, by highlighting just how varied and fulfilling our profession can be. I haven't exactly had a traditional path to becoming a McKinsey Senior Partner. I was born on a commune in Tennessee and grew up in rural North Carolina, then pursued first a BS and ultimately a Ph.D. in biochemistry. After time in academia and government, it's hard to believe that twenty years later, here I am leading McKinsey's DC office. But that's what's so exciting about consulting today – we're at our best when we're building diverse teams and following our curiosity and passions together."

"That message needs to get out more widely. Our profession really is so interesting and varied, and can be a terrific platform, even for ex-bio-chemists! I hope people see the growing importance of cross-functional, cross-cultural skillsets and how these can blend together at top consulting firms like ours to deliver results at the highest levels of public and private-sector service."

What's been the biggest factor in your success?

"In my experience, success is generally a mix of hard work, persistence and a little luck. Like most people who've achieved careers they're proud of, I also benefitted immensely from the support of incredible colleagues, partners and teachers who helped point out the way. For me, success has always been a team sport – that's what consulting is at McKinsey. I've always over-indexed on building and strengthening our teams because I see how crucial they are to our overall enterprise and vision of where we want to go."

What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?

"In consulting, and especially at a place like McKinsey, you will find a disproportionate number of smart, extremely driven individuals, who are on track to change the world. We are sometimes referred to as the CEO factory, given how many success stories started here. People have different motivations for joining McKinsey, but as leaders, we try to channel that energy into creating, "Change that Matters." In other words, figuring out how to be effective stewards of the position we find ourselves in to be a force for good."

"I have found that this can be extremely effective in the public sector, where I have seen our teams help tackle the thorniest problems, and unleash the potential of our federal and state agencies to effect change at scale and help them deliver on their mission. That's always excited me – I love working with our clients to do big things. Now that I'm leading our office, it is the potential to also shape the future of our firm, and to help support and guide the next generation of our colleagues to achieve even greater impact that really motivates me."