When Bain & Co. started planning the design for its new office in Austin, Texas, leaders at the firm wanted their employees' input. It formed a 12-person real-estate committee led by Mackenzie Bushy, an associate partner and diversity, equity, and inclusion leader.

"Bain & Company has been working with clients in the Austin and San Antonio area for decades, and this move brings us closer to many of our enduring clients," said Peter Bowen, a partner at Bain & Company and head of the Austin office. "It will also facilitate collaboration with new clients—in industries such as technology, retail, consumer products and fintech—while creating further access to one of the country's fastest growing talent hubs."

Bain & Company launched its Austin office virtually and is preparing its physical space in downtown Austin to be a postpandemic hub for creativity and collaboration

Aldi, the discount grocer that has been on a growth tear across the United States with low prices on its own private-label brands, is also poised to gain. The company is hiring workers to staff stores and warehouses during the pandemic. Before the coronavirus outbreak, Aldi's growth was "fueled by a combination of very low price points and a growing consumer acceptance of private label," said Mikey Vu, partner at Bain & Company. "Recessions generally cause both an accelerated flight to value and an increase in private label penetration, which plays to [Aldi's] strengths."

Unprecedented change required a serious response. A week after the United States locked down, Delta began calling big corporate clients and surveying leisure travelers. What can we do, the company asked, to make you more comfortable with air travel? Customers consistently said they just didn’t feel at ease being seated next to strangers, even with mask requirements, improved air-circulation technology, and heightened cleaning.