Building Entrepreneurial Leaders (BEL)
Building Entrepreneurial Leaders (BEL)
We welcome second-year (sophomore) students in a four-year program who have Black, Hispanic/Latin American, or Indigenous heritage for a weeklong program working as an associate consultant. You’ll join us in-person at one of our US or Canada offices in early summer, analyze a real client situation, and present your findings to leadership.
Try out consulting to see if this career is for you
We founded the BEL program in 2009 to help students like yourself explore a career in management consulting. You’ll get trained like one of our associate consultants and be staffed on a case team where you’ll analyze a piece of the project and share your analysis. It’s an opportunity to sharpen your business acumen and see what you could gain from a career at Bain.
Tackle an important business challenge
Work side-by-side with case team consultants.
Get paired with a mentor
An experienced consultant is there to help and answer questions.
Social and networking events
Get to know your BEL peers and others at Bain.
Receive a stipend
You’ll be paid for attending this program.
Spend a week in one of our offices
Meet and work in-person, for a real feel for what it’s like, in one of our offices in the US or Canada.
Get a feel for the work and test your skills

Interview for a position
At the end, all participants will be invited to interview for an associate consultant intern role.

Strengthen your leadership skills
Get experience tackling real challenges.

Early exposure to a career in consulting
Plus, meet people at Bain and build your network.
This program is for those who have Black, Hispanic/Latin American, or Indigenous heritage

This program is for undergraduate second-year (sophomore) bachelor’s degree candidates completing their degree at a four-year institution in the US or Canada, who have Black, Hispanic/Latin American or Indigenous (Native American, Alaska Native, Inuit, Métis and First Nations) heritage.
Apply in Early 2024
Applications will open up in January 2024. When applying, you’ll be asked to select up to three office preferences, as well as submit your:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Educational information
- Unofficial transcript
- Test scores (if applicable)
In the meantime, join us at one of our marketing events and talk to our team virtually or in-person.
Everything you need to know
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Who is eligible for the BEL program?
Second-year (sophomore) bachelor’s degree students completing their degree at a four-year institution, who have Black, Hispanic/Latin American, or Indigenous (Native American, Alaska Native, Inuit, Métis and First Nations) heritage. Non-US citizens are eligible, but you must be attending a university in the US or Canada at that time.
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What offices participate in the BEL programs?
The BEL program is available in our US and Toronto offices.
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How are participants assigned to a Bain office for BEL?
We’ll ask where you'd like to work and, in combination with your early summer availability, assign you to an office.
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Do I need to have any prior experience in consulting to participate?
Not at all. You don’t need a prior background in consulting to apply, nor to enjoy this program. We encourage you to apply no matter your major or background.
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If I’m not selected for BEL, can I still apply to Bain in the future?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. BEL is highly selective and if you aren’t selected, please stay in touch and apply for an associate consultant intern position in the summer prior to your third (junior) year.
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I’m already interviewing for a summer internship. Is there a way to interview early for the associate consultant intern role?
You’ll have to ask your school’s recruiter. Find their contact information by navigating to your school’s homepage.
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I have additional questions. Who can I reach out to?
Contact our recruiting team at NAundergradrecruiting@bain.com.