Life as a consultant can be hard, but it is also very rewarding. Working with a team of highly talented people, on some of the most exciting business issues around, helps to ensure motivation even when hours are long.
Most people are actively involved with sports, travel, music and theatre. All are committed to preserve their personal life outside Bain.
Leave-of-absence and part-time programs have been developed to allow our consultants to increase their personal time when they need it (e.g., birth of a child, round-the-world trip or start-up of their own business). Many Bain consultants do take advantage of such programs during their career.
The atmosphere in the office is friendly and informal. "Business casual dress" is the norm when no client meetings are scheduled. Numerous events and parties are organized throughout the year, ranging from office weekends and sports events to Friday night drinks.
Bain has been chosen as "Best Firm to Work For" by Consulting magazine for the sixth year in a row, which shows people really value the atmosphere and quality of their work at Bain.
Bain consultants install solar panels in African hospital
Recently a new solar system has been installed at Panguma hospital in Sierra Leone. Now there is a continuous power supply for life-saving equipment such as blood bank refrigeration and oxygen concentrators. This is the result of a charity initiative by Bain consultants.
A Dutch tropical doctor expressed the need for a solar system at the African hospital, which has been cut off from the structural power supply since the civil war. Panguma hospital was carefully selected as a Bain charity project for 2009 because of the direct lines (no intermediary), green and sustainable nature of the project, the great need and measurable impact. Right away it was taken seriously by Bain consultants Tessa Houben and Jorre Bonjer. They felt the need to take action. Within a couple of months they raised funds and orchestrated the design, purchasing, transportation and final installation of the solar panels.
After extensive preparation the panels were transported by boat from the Netherlands to Africa. A joint team of African and Dutch professionals worked on the installation, which was completed in two weeks. It has been a true teamwork exercise with various organizations involved such as Cordaid, PUM, the Dutch Royal Navy and other experts.
"It was quite a puzzle and hard work, but it is very rewarding to see how grateful the hospital staff was with the structural improvements," says Jorre Bonjer.
"And still, there is a lot more to accomplish in Sierra Leone, so I would advise anyone to be open for such ideas and take action and make it happen."
