Michaela Koščová is a graduate of the Institute of Economic Studies (IES), where she earned her degree in Economics and Finance in 2017 and served as president of the student association E-club from 2015 to 2016. During her studies, she completed exchange programs at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the University of New Orleans, gaining her first international academic experience. Later, in 2024, she completed an MBA at Harvard Business School.

Michaela began her professional career at McKinsey & Company in 2018. Since then, she has held several roles and currently works as an Engagement Manager. She is motivated by solving complex business challenges, leading diverse teams, and supporting the development of junior colleagues. In her work, she operates across industries such as manufacturing, banking, and insurance, combining analytical precision with a strong focus on working with people.

Although she comes from Žilina in Slovakia, Michaela has spent a large part of her life studying and working abroad and has visited 55 countries so far. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and is passionate about skiing, snowboarding, and surfing.

Michaela, what does IES mean to you? How did your studies here influence you, what
do you remember?
IES means community to me. I came into my undergrad expecting a rather anonymous
experience and was hoping to find a friend or two along the way. Instead, there was a close-
knit community that spanned across years and spent an incredible amount of time together.
Living at Jednota, sharing classes, attending countless events organized by E-klub, and
eventually studying intensely together during exam periods brought us together in a way I
could never have imagined. Many of those moments became core memories I still cherish.
Academically, IES truly opened my eyes … and the door to the world. Suddenly, it felt normal
to interact with people who had studied at Oxford or Cambridge or worked for global
companies; and for the first time, all of this seemed achievable for me too. On top of that, the
strong focus on mathematics, statistics, econometrics, and analytical thinking sharpened my
mind significantly. These are skills I still rely on and use daily in my work.

You recently finished your MBA at Harvard. What does this study look like? Is it
different from a regular MA study in any way in terms of style, structure or approach?
How did you manage to get to Harvard?
The biggest difference is the teaching style. Instead of traditional lectures or tutorials led by a
professor, the learning happens through discussion. Harvard uses the so-called case
method, where you prepare cases in advance – you always know what will be discussed in
which class and on which day. In the classroom, the focus is on debating what the case
protagonist should do and why. The professor acts more as an orchestrator of the discussion
rather than a lecturer.
What makes this system special is that you truly learn from each other. Sitting in a classroom
with around 90 incredibly smart and interesting people from all over the world, with very
different backgrounds and careers, means you are constantly exposed to new perspectives.
It is often eye-opening to hear how others would approach and solve the same problem.
As for getting to Harvard, I went through the standard application process. Honestly, I was
quite convinced I wouldn’t make it. Still, I didn’t want to look back one day and regret not
even trying. So I took the GMAT and TOEFL, wrote the essays, asked for recommendations
from senior colleagues and clients, and somehow, it worked out.

You started working for McKinsey right after graduating from IES, what did you
specialize in? You went through a number of positions there, how would you assess
your career progression in this company?
At the beginning, I did a bit of everything, and I really enjoyed that. I worked across industries
such as chemicals, aircraft manufacturing, steel production, pharmaceuticals, banking, and
insurance. It was the perfect way to enter the world of business: seeing companies from the
inside, meeting people at all levels, and understanding very different areas and business
models. That kind of exposure early on is priceless.

The career progression at McKinsey is usually very smooth, and so was mine. There is a lot
of guidance and support, which allows you to develop quickly and gradually take on more
responsibility. You grow into a more independent consultant, gain senior exposure, and
eventually lead your own teams. Each step feels like a natural next chapter.

What are your next career plans?
At the moment, I am really enjoying my role as an Engagement Manager – it is my favorite
role so far. I love working with talented colleagues, not only leading them but also mentoring
and coaching them. Seeing people grow and thrive is extremely fulfilling. At the same time, I
am still developing my managerial skillset. I want to be a good manager: firm in my decisions
yet grounded and kind. Given the constantly changing environment, both in terms of clients
and teams, McKinsey provides the best environment to keep practicing and learning.
Looking further ahead, I will see where the journey takes me. At some point, I would love to
open a dance school, but that is probably not the very next chapter, not yet…

What do you enjoy most in your spare time?
Sleep! And spending time with my loved ones which often involves quite a bit of travelling,
even for weekends. My family lives in Slovakia, and my friends are spread all over the world,
but we do our best to stay in touch and meet in person as often as possible. Not gonna lie, it
can be exhausting too, so I make sure to protect at least one weekend from time to time just
to catch up on sleep and fully unwind.