Why Bain?
I chose Bain mostly because of the people, as well as its data driven approach and results oriented attitude. I found Bain to have the most approachable and friendly staff. The office is structured such that you are surrounded by peers at different levels and are always in a position to leverage each other's expertise and knowledge. It is an apprenticeship approach to learning. Bain's extensive and global training programs, mentorship model, and continual support to help you succeed were all contributing factors to my choice. Finally, the exciting opportunities offered by Bain really sealed the deal: international transfers, the leader in private equity consulting, potential MBA support and so much more!
My passion at Bain and outside of the office
My passion at Bain is definitely the great work we do. It is very exciting to see clients engage in our analysis and recommendations, and ultimately move to action. I love to learn and travel and I feel Bain is a great place to do both. I am starting to think about applying for Business School and doing an international transfer! I am looking to complete my MBA at a top school - Harvard, Wharton, or Stanford - and would love to do a transfer to one of our newer offices in Dubai or Johannesburg. The opportunities really are endless!
My favorite (recent) case
I recently finished a case in the airline industry working on revenue integrity enhancement. Although it was just a 2 person team, it was definitely one of my favourite cases. Being on a small team meant that I had the opportunity to really contribute to 'cracking' the case, interacting with clients on a daily basis, and taking ownership of different pieces of analysis. Not to mention, it was a very interesting piece of work; we looked at different fraud mechanisms and avenues of revenue leakage within an airline from booking to ticketing to employees. This was the first time Bain worked on these issues so we were in 'unchartered territories,' continually challenged to create frameworks, ensure all possibilities were investigated and drill down on the most important and valuable issues. The team uncovered ~$75M+ annual savings for the company, saw the implementation of 3 new projects with more to come, and got the company to create a dedicated Revenue Integrity department for ongoing investigation of revenue leaks.
My personal results story
Although I have only been at Bain a year I feel that I have learned so much and have really been an integral part of each and every team I have work with. Even in both of my summer internships I was given the responsibilities and opportunities of a full-time employee. One thing about Bain that has always resonated with me was the fact that they never let a good candidate go! When I first applied to Bain for a summer internship in 2007 I was in my 3rd year of a 5-year dual degree program, therefore, I would not be graduating and ready to start full-time a year after the internship. Although many other firms asked if I would consider not completing my engineering degree if I was offered an internship and/or decided to let me go during the interview process and stress 'Make sure you apply next summer,' Bain did not! They know how important their people are to their success and are never willing to let a good candidate fall through the cracks. Not only did I get the summer internship, I was offered a full time position at the end of that summer with the opportunity to complete a second summer in Toronto or another office. They were willing to invest a second summer internship position in me and wait another year so that I could complete my engineering degree as well, knowing it would also be a great asset to my future success at the firm. Bain proved to me that I was not just another employee, but a valuable part of the team and is something I will never forget!
My perspective on diversity at Bain
Personally, one of the most important diversity initiatives for me at Bain is the Women's Program. The women's program is a great support network for females at Bain. Each office has a group that holds at least one event per month to help women connect, encourage female mentorship and finally to have fun! We have speakers, dinners, participate in charity work and so much more. It is great to see to share experiences and see that women can be very successful at Bain while maintaining a work/life balance and having a family.
A final thought
To sum it all up: I really love my job. I look forward to coming into work and that really says a lot about Bain, its people, and the work. There are a lot of consulting firms out there, but each has its own unique culture and it is important that they not only 'pick' you, but you 'pick' them too! Do your research, ask questions, and try to picture yourself as part of the firm. I did and I will never look back!
