Marissa Riehm

How did you know that Bain was the right company for you?

I knew Bain was the right fit because I was doing meaningful work from day one. I saw early on how quickly our work could lead to transformative change for a client, and that made the work feel worthwhile. I was given real responsibility and could see how what I was working on connected to bigger decisions.

The people and culture were just as important. Everyone I worked with was supportive and made an effort to invest in my development. People took time to explain details and give me frequent feedback. The combination of meaningful work and people who genuinely wanted to see me succeed made Bain feel like the right place for me.

Do you feel like you can do impactful work at Bain? What opportunities excite you?

Absolutely. I am often surprised by the scale of the work we do and how directly our recommendations can shape a company’s decisions and operations. A project might influence how a company serves its customers, organizes its teams, enters a new market, or improves core operations. It is rewarding to know that the analysis and ideas our team develops can lead to real, measurable changes.

I’m most excited by projects where there is no clear precedent to follow. A lot of problem-solving builds on or combines approaches that have succeeded before, but I especially enjoy cases where a client is the first in its industry to attempt something. I like being part of work where companies are breaking new ground and Bain gets to help shape the path forward alongside them. These projects push me to think creatively and challenge assumptions. They also tend to be the projects where I learn the most.

What advice would you give a student who is interested in consulting and preparing for the recruiting process?

Invest time in case interview practice. Case interviews are closely connected to the work consultants do, so preparing for them helps you build skills you will use on the job. You learn how to organize your thoughts, break a complex problem into manageable parts, ask useful questions, and explain your reasoning clearly. Even taking a few moments to structure your response to a short brainstorming question can help you answer with confidence.

Casing goes beyond interview preparation. It reshapes how you approach complex questions by teaching you work through uncertainty and refine your thinking. These skills are valuable in consulting, but they also apply to classes, internships, presentations, and many other careers.