Katie Williamson

Share your journey to Bain.

I came to Bain just out of undergrad. I knew that I loved problem solving (long math word problems , logic puzzles, etc.) but I had a hard time narrowing down on the specific industry that I was most interested in. I wanted to open more doors rather than narrowing my career path. I learned about consulting - and Bain's generalist model - and it felt like a great fit, so I applied for the Associate Consultant Intern program. I loved my summer as an ACI and genuinely looked forward to coming to the office on Monday - and ever since then I've stayed because of the unparalleled learning and opportunities to explore.

“Build Your Own Bain” means creating a thriving career on your own terms. How have you been able to “Build Your Own Bain?”

During my time as an AC, I became really interested in advanced analytics. I talked with my mentors and the program management team about that interest and was able to get connected in a variety of different ways -- through chatting with leadership team members in different offices, getting staffed on case work that allowed me to further hone my skills in that area, and ultimately by experimenting with an externship in fintech investing. All of those experiences led me to choose an MBA program focused on AI and since I've been back, I've been able to apply that expertise in nearly all of my projects. While we're a generalist firm with a home office staffing model, there are so many different ways to develop "your Bain" -- and when everyone does that, it creates a really diverse set of interests and opportunities in each office.

What advice would you give a candidate who is interested in recruiting for consulting?

Everyone always gets nervous about the case interview, but remember - it's designed to test how you think! As you're preparing, try to really let yourself think through the problem rather than trying to impress with the "perfect" answer. You want to feel comfortable with the process, but don't try to memorize every possible framework. We're ultimately trying to see how we could work with you on a team, so engage your interviewer (or your friends who are helping you practice), ask questions, and don't be afraid to think out loud!