Finding a new path from PhD to consulting
Finding a new path from PhD to consulting
A consultant in our New York office shares how Bain’s ADvantage program opened the door from academia to consulting
For many advanced degree candidates, consulting represents a bold career pivot and the chance to apply years of research and analytical training to fast-paced, high-impact work. For Chiara Giovanni, a PhD in Comparative Literature from Stanford, that pivot began with Bain’s ADvantage program. In this Q&A, she shares how she transitioned from academia to consulting, what her ADvantage experience was really like, and her advice for others considering this path.
From PhD to consulting: Chiara’s journey
Before joining Bain, Chiara spent years immersed in literary research and teaching as part of her PhD in Comparative Literature at Stanford University. Like many academics, she initially expected to pursue a university career, until the realities of the academic job market and her growing curiosity about other paths led her to explore new options.
When she discovered the world of management consulting, she was drawn to the pace, collaboration, and variety of the work. Through informational interviews, student consulting clubs, and eventually Bain’s ADvantage program in New York, Chiara found a career that combined her love of analysis and storytelling with tangible impact and teamwork.
Q&A on transitioning from academia to consulting
What first drew you toward consulting?
At first, management consulting was not remotely on my radar. I was targeting UX research roles and hoping that the sudden influx of academics also scrambling to rebrand themselves as mixed-methods researchers wouldn’t dampen my chances.
A fellow Stanford PhD student was kind enough to talk to me, and I’ll forever be grateful that she did. She helped dispel many of my misconceptions about management consulting, explaining that it was full of smart, socially gifted people who liked to work in teams and even enjoyed spending time together outside of work. She also shared stories of consultants she’d meet through virtual recruiting sessions, especially from Bain, who had PhDs in fields like biochemistry, engineering, and Russian literature.
I was very drawn to a job that sounded like it was full of razor-sharp people who got to work on different things all the time, instead of spending years toiling away at one problem—people who were accepted or even rewarded, instead of penalized, for their unwillingness to entrench themselves in one field.
Chiara goes on a walk with Bainie friends at Central Park on a chilly Saturday.
How did you learn more about the recruiting process?
Through my research, I learned that Bain, along with a few other leading firms, actively recruit PhDs, JDs, MDs, and postdocs who bring deep analytical skills and subject matter expertise to the table. I was especially drawn to Bain’s supportive environment where generalists can thrive without needing prior business experience, and where generalists are encouraged to explore different industries, learn quickly, and grow through hands-on mentorship and training.
What was your experience of the ADvantage program?
The week of ADvantage was truly wonderful. Yes, it was stressful and it felt like there was a lot at stake, but it was also my first immersive experience of something beyond academia that wasn’t just a workshop, a talk, or a book.
The people I met, especially my case team, were the best part of the week. I was amazed by the diversity I saw around me. That week, some of the affinity groups (including Black at Bain, Familia at Bain, and Pride at Bain) had major events, and I would frequently walk through the office kitchen to see groups of elegantly dressed consultants absorbed in thoughtful conversations about inclusion at work.
I went to New York with the mindset of wanting to interview Bain just as much as they were interviewing me. By the second day of the week, I had decided that if they offered me a job, I would take it. Even when I was up late, stressed, or intimidated, I was excited to be at work for the first time in a long time.
How did your humanities background help you succeed?
Chiara with her line dance class after finishing her third semester of weekly lessons.
I like to think I’m good at reading and understanding things very fast, at drawing connections between discrete pieces of information, at understanding culture, aesthetics, and vibes, and at telling stories. I leaned on that during the week, even when I felt like I knew nothing compared to my peers who were actively bringing in their STEM PhD backgrounds during their week of work with their case teams.
Now that I’m over two years into the job, I’ve found that one of my biggest strengths is empathy for my clients. I’m committed to understanding each client as a whole, complex person, within the broader context of their professional aspirations and environment, as well as the dynamics within the client organization itself. For this, I credit my background in literature, which I think helps train you to look for nuances in fictional characters and their arcs.
What advice would you give to advanced degree candidates considering consulting?
If you’re interested in learning how the world works in a totally different space, if you like the idea of problem-solving in real time, if you want to work in a team instead of writing by yourself to make your own name, if you want the effects of your work to be felt sooner than three years after you first create it, then consulting could be a great option to consider. I’m entering my third year at Bain and I genuinely love my job – I feel so happy to be here every day, and I’m so grateful that a chance conversation led me to build a life (of which Bain New York is a huge part) that brings me so much joy and fulfillment.
Ready to explore a new path?
Explore how Bain’s ADvantage program helps advanced degree candidates build meaningful careers in consulting.
