Three key learnings from IAMBIC founder and Bain alumna Maeve Wang
Three key learnings from IAMBIC founder and Bain alumna Maeve Wang
How a former consultant turned a personal challenge into a custom-footwear company
Maeve Wang, a Bain & Company alumna, is using AI to transform the footwear industry with size-inclusive, custom-tailored shoes. Here are three key takeaways from her journey from her early days as an associate consultant at Bain to her current role as an entrepreneur.
1. Embrace opportunities for growth
Maeve began her career as an associate consultant at Bain’s New York office, where she worked alongside Fortune 500 leaders to tackle their most significant challenges. This hands-on experience was pivotal in developing her problem-solving skills, engaging in high-impact projects, and collaborating with diverse teams.
One of the most valuable aspects of her Bain experience was the firm’s culture of professional development, especially through monthly professional development (PD) chats. These sessions with her direct managers extended beyond discussing case performance. "It was also about who we wanted to be,” Maeve recalls.
She has carried this focus on growth into her own company by fostering open communication and encouraging regular team discussions to strengthen unity and commitment to IAMBIC’s mission.
2. Innovate from personal experience
Maeve’s transition from consultant to entrepreneur was sparked by a personal challenge—finding shoes that fit. After returning 300 pairs of shoes over three years, she realized there was a significant gap in the market for size-inclusive footwear. This frustration led to the creation of IAMBIC, a brand that offers custom-tailored shoes using innovative technology. By capturing three photos of each foot and conducting a comfort assessment, IAMBIC ensures every pair of shoes fits perfectly.
3. Leverage diverse strengths and teamwork
During her time at Bain, Maeve saw firsthand how people with different backgrounds and varied skill sets could come together to solve complex problems effectively. This insight shaped her approach to building a diverse and inclusive culture at IAMBIC.
At IAMBIC, Maeve built a diverse team, believing varied perspectives drive innovation. "People came in from such different backgrounds with different personalities and strengths, but they all shared this common thread which was the sense of teamwork and collaboration," she says.
