Summer Intern Spotlight: Elisa Nesi Rocha 27MBA at McKinsey & Company

Every summer, Goizueta Business School students from all programs step out of the classroom and into internships at companies around the world. These experiences are not just about gaining practical skills; they often lead to lasting memories, powerful insights, and sometimes even job offers.

In this series, we’ll highlight several students who completed exciting internships this summer, sharing their journeys, challenges, and triumphs. Stay tuned to discover the incredible work our students have been involved in and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Here, we speak with Elisa Nesi Rocha 27MBA, who spent their summer interning at McKinsey & Company.

Tell us a little about yourself and what interested you in pursuing this internship opportunity.

I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and have a background that combines Social Sciences and Business. Before my MBA, I worked in product marketing, innovation, and branding across the beauty and pharmaceutical industries. I have always loved solving problems, working in dynamic environments, and learning through project-based work, so consulting felt like a natural way to explore different industries and business challenges while staying close to areas I already love, such as marketing, consumer, and life sciences.

McKinsey stood out to me from the beginning. I participated in the McKinsey Inspire pre-MBA program, where I was drawn to how genuinely people invested in getting to know my story and supporting my development. I felt that my experiences and perspectives mattered. That sense of mentorship, development, and community — particularly within the Atlanta office — made me excited about the opportunity to join the firm.

What were your primary responsibilities, and what did a typical day look like?

I worked on a sales excellence project with three workstreams, and I was fully responsible for one focused on implementing and training teams on best sales practices. I can’t share specific details due to client confidentiality, but the experience gave me significant ownership over my workstream.

My week was structured around both client and team interactions. Mondays typically started from home with a team check-in to align on priorities and activities for the week. Later that day, I traveled to the client’s city, about two hours from Atlanta. Tuesday through Thursday, I worked on-site, starting around 8 a.m. with team and client meetings, problem-solving sessions, and working sessions with senior members of the team. We would typically wrap up around 6 p.m., align on priorities for the evening, and continue working on deliverables.

Thursday evening, I would return to Atlanta. Fridays were my opportunity to reconnect with the Atlanta office and my fellow interns. We would sit together, have coffee chats with partners, meet with our recruiters and professional development mentors, and join the office-wide lunch. And, of course, I always found time for a deserved ice cream from the office pantry! Many Fridays ended with a happy hour organized by the recruiting team.

Can you share a project, assignment, or experience from the internship that stood out to you?

Two experiences particularly stood out to me: one related to my project and another related to the sense of community at McKinsey.

On my project, during my second week, I was asked to size the potential financial impact of one of our proposals. The analysis required incorporating more than five variables, and I ultimately presented the resulting estimate to senior partners during a problem-solving session. I explained my methodology, defended the assumptions behind the number, and saw the analysis move forward. My number was presented to the Vice President of the company to sell our proposal, and she bought it. What stayed with me was the level of trust and ownership I was given so early in the internship. My perspective was genuinely valued in rooms with managers, partners, senior partners, and client leadership.

The second experience was a watch party hosted by a partner in the Atlanta office, who is also one of the leaders of the McKinsey Black Network. Black interns from across the Southeast were brought together for an evening at his home, where we watched Brazil play Morocco and the NBA Finals. We spent hours together, talked, laughed, played games, and got to know one another beyond our work. It was a great example of how McKinsey is extremely intentional in building community and creating opportunities for people to connect.

What skills or knowledge from your Goizueta experience were you able to apply in your role?

Several parts of my Goizueta experience were directly applicable to the internship. The problem-solving frameworks and tools from SPS with Professor Lynne Segall were particularly helpful in structuring ambiguous problems and breaking them down into actionable questions.

My experience working with clients through IMPACT, including my work with Professor Omar and the PERC team, also prepared me well for the client-facing aspects of consulting. It taught me how to listen carefully, communicate with different stakeholders, and translate analysis into recommendations.

Finally, my Pricing class with Saloni Firasta Vastani provided concepts that were directly relevant to the commercial and financial questions I encountered during the internship.

How has this internship influenced your career interests, and what advice would you give other students pursuing similar opportunities?

The internship confirmed that I chose the right path for me. I did not know what project or client I would be assigned to, and I initially wondered whether I would be the right fit or whether I would enjoy the work. By the end, I realized that solving complex business problems is exactly what energizes me — especially when I am surrounded by a team that challenges me, supports me, and celebrates my contributions.

For students pursuing similar opportunities, my biggest advice is: do you. Put in the hard work, stay true to who you are, and don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. Everyone comes to an MBA with a different background, is at a different stage in their personal life, and brings different strengths to the table. Comparing yourself to others is not fair to you and can create unnecessary anxiety. Instead, focus on your own path, cheer for your peers, and genuinely celebrate their wins. There is room for everyone to succeed, and supporting each other makes the experience so much better. Do the hard work, trust yourself, and it will pay off.

I would also encourage students to take advantage of early opportunities, such as pre-MBA programs. They are a great way to learn about a firm, build genuine relationships, and get to know the people and culture before recruiting begins. Research the people you meet and the office you are interested in, come prepared with a clear story about who you are and what you can bring, but also show genuine curiosity about the person on the other side of the conversation. Try to make the process personal rather than transactional — and most importantly, have fun and let people get to know you.

Explore more exciting student internships and the experiences that shaped their summer! Discover more here.

Interested in exploring Full-Time MBA opportunities? Learn more about Goizueta’s Full-Time MBA program.