Beyond the Bio Podcast
There's no shortage of predictions about what AI means for the consulting industry. Ron Kermisch, Bain's global head of talent acquisition, brings 30+ years of perspective to a more grounded take: how AI is actually reshaping the way Bain hires, what types of talent are we looking for, and what it means for candidates.
Ron Kermisch has had a front-row seat to some of the biggest shifts in business and technology. In this episode, Ron joins us to explore how that breadth of experience shapes his thinking on the biggest questions facing the firm today: how is AI changing the way Bain hires talent?
The short answer is that Bain is hiring more, not less, and who we’re hiring is evolving. Alongside the consultants the firm has always sought, Bain is now actively recruiting engineers, data scientists, and tech experts who work alongside consulting teams to deliver tangible solutions in real time. Across every role, Ron shares a need for hires to have “technical curiosity,” not just familiarity with today's tools, but an instinct to explore what's emerging and apply it to client problems.
Ron and Keith also get into how AI is reshaping the candidate experience itself. The firm is widening Bain's recruiting reach beyond its traditional campus footprint and developing tools like Reggie the Recruiter, Bain's recruiting bot, that improve responsiveness without sacrificing the personal approach the firm is known for.
And concerning if AI will place consultants? Ron’s answer is “no.” AI isn't replacing consultants. The better question is whether a consultant can do their job with AI, and at Bain, the answer is “yes.”
In Beyond the Bio, Keith Bevans, partner and global head of consultant recruiting, dives deeper into the stories of some extraordinary Bain people, from their perspectives.