- McKinsey’s Forward program offers a one-of-a-kind free online learning journey for professionals in the early stages of their career
- First cohort of Forward drew participation of more than 2,700 young talent in Saudi Arabia, with 39% female representation
McKinsey & Company today launched applications for the second edition of “Forward”, its free online learning program for young talent. Forward participants from across the Middle East, Pakistan, Africa, Turkey, and Azerbaijan will have free access to a six-month learning journey developed and delivered by McKinsey experts.
The global workforce is confronting a rapidly widening skills gap, with almost 9 in every 10 executives reporting a current or expected gap in the skillsets within their organizations, according to McKinsey & Company research. Forward has been designed to trace this need to its source by equipping the next generation of talent with must-have skills defining today and tomorrow’s workplace – including adaptability, resilience, problem-solving, social-emotional skills and new ways of working and thinking in an increasingly digital world.
The second edition of Forward follows the successful roll-out of pilot programs in Africa and the enrollment of the first cohort in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey last year. More than 33,000 young professionals have embarked on their Forward journey since its inception a year ago.
In Saudi Arabia, more than 2,700 young professionals have been enrolled in the program so far, of which 39% are women. These young professionals represent more than 20 industries and around 30% are pursuing careers in entrepreneurship or small and medium-sized companies.
Speaking of his participation in Forward’s first cohort, Anas Ali, an IT professional in Saudi Arabia said, “I have never valued soft skills more in my life. The Forward program has unlocked my awareness of the effectiveness of those human skills.
“Through the simple and fun frameworks and tools, I was able to easily incorporate the learned skills into my day-to-day life. I am now more cautious about the default mindsets I carry, and I am adaptable enough to shift them. I also became more empathic in my interactions and communication with others.”
Fariha Khayyam, a specialist in Supply Chain Management from Saudi Arabia, said of her experience in last year’s program, “I can’t recommend McKinsey’s Forward program enough! It has well-curated content that is essential for any career or role. The hands-on approach with a variety of learning methodologies made it easy to grasp the knowledge and also apply it in my career!”
Tarek El Sayed, Managing Partner of McKinsey’s Riyadh Office, said, “As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia undergoes a far-reaching transformation under Vision 2030, the need to upskill the emerging talent base here has never been more important.
By developing problem-solving mindsets and individual leadership styles that can thrive in times of change, Saudi’s young talent can and will ultimately shape Saudi’s future socioeconomic landscape.”
In addition to interactive digital content and immersive virtual sessions delivered by McKinsey experts, the Forward journey also offers peer-to-peer learning activities where participants practice applying their new learnings in a safe and collaborative environment. At the end of their 6 months journey, they join a vibrant community of Forward alumni who are life-long learners and represent more than 60 countries.
At a practical level, the journey teaches young talent how to:
- turn complex business challenges into opportunities using structured and creative thinking
- communicate in a clear and impactful way to move different audiences to action
- apply agile ways of working and spot opportunities to use data and technology
- be adaptable, build resilience and emotional awareness to work successfully ― both independently and in teams ― especially in times of change
To participate in Forward, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- currently residing in Middle East, Pakistan, Africa, Turkey, or Azerbaijan
- have at least one and no more than five years of formal work experience
- have completed post-secondary education (for example, diploma, associate degree, or undergraduate)
- have a strong command of the English language since the program will be conducted in English
Applications for Forward are open until June 20, 2022. Interested candidates can now register here: https://www.mckinsey.com/forward.