The year 2021 has presented unique challenges and interruptions across all aspects of our lives, but it does not stop us from celebrating the various accomplishments and achievements of women leaders of color! Throughout the month of August, we will spotlight these amazing women and share their unique perspectives, philosophies, and stories.

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Gayatri Shenai is a Partner in McKinsey & Company’s New York Office. She is a core leader in McKinsey Digital and serves clients at the intersection of healthcare and digital, across private and public sector clients. She helps her clients use digital and analytics to transform operational performance and improve competitive position. She also leads McKinsey’s state and local work, focused on leveraging technology and digital to improve lives.

Gayatri earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in engineering from Mangalore University. She also received her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where she was recognized as a Forte Fellow. Gayatri is a passionate champion of diversity and inclusion, especially focused on women in STEM, and has been closely involved in McKinsey’s decade-long research on women’s advancement. She is an active panelist, participating in numerous public events, including South by Southwest, UN conferences, and the WIN Summit. She is a cofounder of the McKinsey Women in Technology & Operations Conference, which brings together the most influential female chief technology and operations executives in North America to connect, network, and share stories of their experiences.

We are excited to announce that she will be a speaker at our panel: Built Out of the Pandemic on August 11th. When asked about her journey to success, she had a few pieces of advice to share.

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Throughout your leadership journey, from your first job to your current position, what are some key lessons you’ve learned that have shaped you as a leader?

In my 20+ years of experience, one of the valuable lessons I’ve learned is to stay curious and embrace learning with excitement and passion. This serves me well as a leader today – it helps me learn from my clients and teams quickly and identify how things are going, what problem they are looking to solve, and where I can help the most, in a way that only I can.

Did you have any mentors to help guide and support you? If so, how did you find your mentor?

Yes, I have been privileged to have mentors along my journey that have helped me grow as a professional and a leader. Without mentors, my journey may have looked very different. Finding mentors has been similar to finding friends – identifying people I am inspired by and want to learn from and finding ways to connect with them and seek their counsel. And of course, being transparent about seeking their mentorship has been critical.

What do you still want to accomplish?

I have a lot more to left to accomplish. My aspiration is to improve outcomes for millions of citizens by helping public and private sector clients better harness technology and digital.

What is the most meaningful part of your job?

The most meaningful part of my job is that the job itself is about helping others. My role provides me the platform to influence and improve lives of the people around me – across multiple clients and their organizations and teams, and for hundreds of individuals I work with.

What are three key characteristics or habits that have led to your success?

I am a big believer in taking care of myself. One of my habits is to go on a long run on weekends, while listening to music. It helps me clear my head and bring my full self to work. I make time for these runs, no matter what else might be going on in my life. The second habit is a morning prioritization routine. I begin my workday reflecting on my intention for the day and being clear on what a successful day look like. This gives me clarity and purpose. The third is ensuring my day is at least 75% about people. As a leader, I believe in being available to my people – my clients, my teams, and my family.

Every person faces their own challenges and women of color are certainly no exception. What contributes to your resilience as a professional woman of color?

I focus on the end goal and impact, and how my work will make a difference to the lives of millions of people. That big picture inspires me keep going and stay authentic and resilient. To me, success is not about me – it’s about how I enable others and make a difference in others’ lives. That keeps me going.