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class="CircularProfile_mck-c-circular-profile__wrapper-text__0Kp97"><h1 data-component="mdc-c-heading" class="mdc-c-heading___0fM1W_2734c4f mdc-u-ts-2"><span>Cheryl Lim</span></h1><div data-component="mdc-c-description" class="mdc-c-description___SrnQP_2734c4f mdc-u-ts-8">Partner<a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/my/overview" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Kuala Lumpur</span></a></div><div data-component="mdc-c-description" class="mdc-c-description___SrnQP_2734c4f mdc-u-ts-7 mdc-u-mt-3"><p>Advises public- and private-sector clients in education, youth employment and engagement, and tourism, as they pursue policy, system, and organization transformation</p></div><div data-component="mdc-c-link-container" class="mdc-c-link-container___xefGu_2734c4f mdc-c-link-container--display-column___X0HDD_2734c4f mdc-u-mb-2 mdc-u-mt-3 mdc-u-grid-gutter-md"><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="#" class="mdc-c-link-icon___SEKyg_2734c4f" aria-haspopup="dialog" title="Email" aria-label="Email" data-sid="542A8D31-4D9C-4621-B192-423D8BC6CB9F" data-layer-event-prefix="Exit Link" data-layer-action="click" data-layer-category="social" data-layer-subcategory="partner" data-layer-subcategory2="email" data-layer-text="Share this profile on email"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--radial___y3csX_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xl___3BEee_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--primary mck-email-icon"></span></a><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-lim-47613776/" class="mdc-c-link-icon___SEKyg_2734c4f" target="_blank" title="LinkedIn" data-sid="" aria-label="LinkedIn" data-layer-event-prefix="Exit Link" data-layer-action="click" data-layer-category="social" data-layer-subcategory="partner" data-layer-subcategory2="LinkedIn" data-layer-text="Share this profile on LinkedIn"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--radial___y3csX_2734c4f 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She is a leader in our Education, Public Sector and Social Sector Practices in Asia. Since joining McKinsey in 2008, she has worked extensively on system and organization transformation and business development in the fields of education, youth employment and engagement, and tourism, serving government-linked companies, public- and private-sector clients. She has led projects in Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.</p> <p>Cheryl’s recent work includes: </p> <ul> <li>developing a national education blueprint (from pre-school to higher education) for a Southeast Asian country</li> <li>developing the growth strategy for a major private university in a Southeast Asian country</li> <li>reviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of education spending in an Australian state</li> <li>improving the quality and productivity of a Southeast Asian Ministry’s technical vocational education and training (TVET) institutes</li> <li>developing a literacy and numeracy improvement strategy for primary school students in a Middle East country</li> <li>supporting the development of a five-year tourism development strategy for a major island destination in Asia</li> <li>supporting the development of a national, economic transformation programme for a Southeast Asian government</li> </ul> <p>Cheryl has also led research on Asian Millennial consumer patterns and workforce behavior in the travel and tourism industry, and on talent development solutions, particularly for entry-level positions. She supported the development and writing of <a href="/sitecore/service/notfound.aspx?item=web%3a%7bcf30d19c-77f2-49bb-96ef-3263fcc9dbd3%7d%40en">McKinsey’s Center for Government</a> global report, “<a href="/industries/education/our-insights/education-to-employment-designing-a-system-that-works">Education to employment: Designing a system that works</a>.”</p> <p>Prior to joining McKinsey, Cheryl worked for a London-based think tank as an education policy analyst. During this period she conducted cross-country analyses of school system policies and outcomes, with an eye towards developing recommendations for the English context. Her research includes fieldwork experience in Canada, Sweden, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and England.</p></div><div class="Profile_mck-c-profile__area-a__YIGXu container-placeholder mdc-u-grid mdc-u-grid-gutter-lg"></div></div><div class="Profile_mck-c-profile__sidebar-wrapper__E52KM"><div class="container-sidebar mdc-u-grid mdc-u-grid-gutter-xxl"><button data-component="mdc-c-button" aria-label="" type="button" id="button_id" class="mdc-c-button___U4iY2_2734c4f mdc-c-button--primary___Ed-lT_2734c4f mdc-c-button--size-large___jwpUy_2734c4f" data-layer-event-prefix="Exit Link" data-layer-action="click" data-layer-category="social" data-layer-subcategory="partner" data-layer-subcategory2="email" data-layer-text="Share this profile on email"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mck-email-icon Profile_mck-c-profile__contact-icon__Xw5Jp"></span></button><div class="mdc-u-grid mdc-u-grid-gutter-xxl" data-layer-region="profile-expertise"><div><h2 data-component="mdc-c-heading" class="mdc-c-heading___0fM1W_2734c4f mdc-c-heading--title___5qyOB_2734c4f mdc-c-heading--border___K8dj3_2734c4f"></h2><div><ul class="List_mck-c-list___Lb7q"><li><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/industries/social-sector/how-we-help-clients" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Social Sector</span></a></li><li><div class="List_mck-c-list__non-link-item__lRyc0"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span>Education</span></div></li><li><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/industries/public-sector/how-we-help-clients" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Public Sector</span></a></li><li><a data-component="mdc-c-link" href="/industries/travel-logistics-and-infrastructure/how-we-help-clients" class="mdc-c-link___lBbY1_2734c4f"><span data-component="mdc-c-icon" class="mdc-c-icon___oi7ef_2734c4f mdc-c-icon--size-xs___g8-q5_2734c4f mck-arrow-right-icon"></span><span class="mdc-c-link__label___Pfqtd_2734c4f">Travel, Logistics & Infrastructure</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div><div class="mdc-o-content-body Profile_mck-c-profile__content-body__r8B5S Profile_mck-c-profile__additional-body__hv_Ft"><h3>Published work</h3> <p>“<a href="/industries/education/our-insights/spark-and-sustain-how-school-systems-can-improve-learning-at-scale">Spark & Sustain: How all of the world’s school systems can improve learning at scale</a>,” McKinsey & Company, February 2024</p> <p>“<a href="/industries/education/our-insights/how-covid-19-caused-a-global-learning-crisis">How COVID-19 caused a global learning crisis</a>,” McKinsey & Company, April 2022</p> <p>“<a href="/industries/travel-logistics-and-infrastructure/our-insights/cracking-the-worlds-biggest-business-travel-market">Cracking the world’s biggest business-travel market</a>,” McKinsey & Company, July 2016</p> <p>“<a href="/industries/social-sector/our-insights/unleashing-youth-in-asia">Unleashing Youth in Asia</a>,” McKinsey & Company, October 2014</p> <h3>Education</h3> <p><strong>University of Oxford</strong><br />MSc, comparative social policy (2005 Malaysian Rhodes Scholar)</p> <p><strong>Wesleyan University</strong><br />BA, psychology and sociology (Freeman scholar)</p></div></div><div class="mdc-u-grid mdc-u-grid-gutter-xl mdc-u-mt-5"></div></div></div></main></div><script id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">{"props":{"pageProps":{"locale":"en","dictionary":{},"sitecoreContext":{"route":{"name":"Cheryl Lim","displayName":"Cheryl Lim","fields":null,"databaseName":"web","deviceId":"fe5d7fdf-89c0-4d99-9aa3-b5fbd009c9f3","itemId":"542a8d31-4d9c-4621-b192-423d8bc6cb9f","itemLanguage":"en","itemVersion":1,"layoutId":"ae753eb4-a035-40b4-83bf-4b4438df6742","templateId":"882cb5bd-9600-43d9-9d6b-de8134d4a7eb","templateName":"Profile","placeholders":{"jss-main":[{"uid":"8babdffb-0cfb-45a5-8364-eb32fa63d241","componentName":"Profile","dataSource":"","fields":{"data":{"profile":{"id":"542A8D314D9C4621B192423D8BC6CB9F","name":"Cheryl Lim","engTitle":"Cheryl Lim","displayName":"Cheryl Lim","url":"/sitecore/content/McKinsey/Home/Our People/Cheryl Lim","template":{"name":"Profile"},"title":{"jsonValue":{"value":"Cheryl Lim"}},"background":{"jsonValue":{"value":"\u003ch3\u003ePublished work\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\"/industries/education/our-insights/spark-and-sustain-how-school-systems-can-improve-learning-at-scale\"\u003eSpark \u0026amp; Sustain: How all of the world\u0026rsquo;s school systems can improve learning at scale\u003c/a\u003e,\u0026rdquo; McKinsey \u0026amp; Company, February 2024\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\"/industries/education/our-insights/how-covid-19-caused-a-global-learning-crisis\"\u003eHow COVID-19 caused a global learning crisis\u003c/a\u003e,\u0026rdquo; McKinsey \u0026amp; Company, April 2022\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\"/industries/travel-logistics-and-infrastructure/our-insights/cracking-the-worlds-biggest-business-travel-market\"\u003eCracking the world\u0026rsquo;s biggest business-travel market\u003c/a\u003e,\u0026rdquo; McKinsey \u0026amp; Company, July 2016\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\"/industries/social-sector/our-insights/unleashing-youth-in-asia\"\u003eUnleashing Youth in Asia\u003c/a\u003e,\u0026rdquo; McKinsey \u0026amp; Company, October 2014\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eEducation\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUniversity of Oxford\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eMSc, comparative social policy (2005 Malaysian Rhodes Scholar)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWesleyan University\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eBA, psychology and sociology (Freeman scholar)\u003c/p\u003e"}},"about":{"jsonValue":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eCheryl Lim is a partner in McKinsey\u0026rsquo;s Kuala Lumpur office. She is a leader in our Education, Public Sector and Social Sector Practices in Asia. Since joining McKinsey in 2008, she has worked extensively on system and organization transformation and business development in the fields of education, youth employment and engagement, and tourism, serving government-linked companies, public- and private-sector clients. She has led projects in Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCheryl\u0026rsquo;s recent work includes: \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003edeveloping a national education blueprint (from pre-school to higher education) for a Southeast Asian country\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003edeveloping the growth strategy for a major private university in a Southeast Asian country\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ereviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of education spending in an Australian state\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eimproving the quality and productivity of a Southeast Asian Ministry\u0026rsquo;s technical vocational education and training (TVET) institutes\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003edeveloping a literacy and numeracy improvement strategy for primary school students in a Middle East country\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esupporting the development of a five-year tourism development strategy for a major island destination in Asia\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esupporting the development of a national, economic transformation programme for a Southeast Asian government\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCheryl has also led research on Asian Millennial consumer patterns and workforce behavior in the travel and tourism industry, and on talent development solutions, particularly for entry-level positions. She supported the development and writing of \u003ca href=\"/sitecore/service/notfound.aspx?item=web%3a%7bcf30d19c-77f2-49bb-96ef-3263fcc9dbd3%7d%40en\"\u003eMcKinsey\u0026rsquo;s Center for Government\u003c/a\u003e global report, \u0026ldquo;\u003ca href=\"/industries/education/our-insights/education-to-employment-designing-a-system-that-works\"\u003eEducation to employment: Designing a system that works\u003c/a\u003e.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrior to joining McKinsey, Cheryl worked for a London-based think tank as an education policy analyst. During this period she conducted cross-country analyses of school system policies and outcomes, with an eye towards developing recommendations for the English context. Her research includes fieldwork experience in Canada, Sweden, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and England.\u003c/p\u003e"}},"additionalExpertise":{"jsonValue":{"value":""}},"expertisePosition":{"jsonValue":null},"autoFetchPublishedWork":{"boolValue":false},"externalPublishedWork":{"jsonValue":{"value":""}},"aboutName":{"jsonValue":{"value":"Cheryl"}},"expertise":{"jsonValue":[{"id":"46898d3c-ba9b-4b62-9a55-c3a61e01d2de","url":"","name":"Social Sector","displayName":"Social Sector","fields":{"Related Link":{"value":{"href":"/industries/social-sector/how-we-help-clients","text":"","anchor":"","linktype":"internal","class":"","title":"","target":"","querystring":"","id":"{CC2F4687-8BCC-4967-9A8A-2FE4890CEE59}","name":"How We Help Clients"}},"Title":{"value":"Social Sector"},"Faceted Search":[],"Practice E-mail":{"value":"social_sector_practice@mckinsey.com"},"Closer Tout 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