BrazilApplications due to close for McKinsey WomenHack event
Professional and aspiring female coders from the Middle East, Africa and Turkey are running out of time to get their applications in for this year’s virtual McKinsey WomenHack event, which is set to take place in three weeks time.
Self-identifying women have until the end of the month to apply for this year’s virtual McKinsey WomenHack hackathon event for experienced coders in the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and the CIS. Set to take place online over two days from Friday the 16th of April, the event aims to provide an insight into the types of problems McKinsey & Company data scientists are confronted with and seek to solve on a daily basis.
In addition to the hackathon component of the event, which will altogether run from 6pm Friday (Eastern European Time) and conclude late the following evening, participants will have the opportunity to network with McKinsey colleagues and present them with any questions. Those in attendance will also learn about the firm’s work with clients and impact it creates, as well as various opportunities McKinsey offers to tech talent.
Although previous hackathon experience isn’t necessary to apply, eligible applicants are required to be experienced professionals or studying a relevant bachelor’s or postgraduate university degree, as well as be fluent in English and at least one local language from the participating regions. Applications will close on the 31st of March, with those successful then having one week to network and form teams.
The latter process will be conducted via an event app provided by McKinsey, through which participants can connect with one another prior to the event, with the firm recommending teams of four and those with three also accepted – however those with fewer than three members at the conclusion of the event will be able to compete but are ineligible for prizes. Anyone not already in a team will be assigned to one.
“The most important thing is a good team and time management,” said Daria, a member of last year’s winning crew. “Good team spirit is really important. Our team had sprints lasting half an hour to an hour. During these sprints each team member worked on one task. At the end of each sprint we held a short stand-up, where we shared the results and planned the next sprint.”
Diversity at McKinsey
The WomanHack event is one of a number of diversity initiatives the management consulting giant has instituted in recent times to encourage women into digital and leadership roles – both internationally and locally. Recently, the Middle East branch hosted a special women-only 10th anniversary edition of its edad programme, a professional development event for young, Arab-speaking students.
“We were excited to mark this special occasion with a programme dedicated to this group of female young professionals, “McKinsey Middle East partner Eefke Post said of the event, which welcomed 100 female participants. “The region is filled with amazing youth, full of talent and promise. Programmes like edad help unlock opportunities for this potential to be realised and we’re grateful to play a small part.”
