The key skills I learned during my time at Bain included tight project management along with the capacity to quickly understand a company’s financials and operations.

• Background

  After my MBA in Switzerland, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in management consulting. I was attracted to this sector by the challenging environment, the broad industrial exposure, the diversity of projects and the incomparable learning curve it offered. I was initially undecided as to which firm I wanted to join, but Bain created by far the best impression. I really enjoyed the people I met and the type of opportunities Bain would offer me. This is why I joined this great firm, and there was a not a single moment when I thought I had made the wrong choice.
  
  I left after two-and-a-half years for the Kennedy School of Government (Harvard University) to get a master's in public administration. My initial intention was to come back to Bain. During my studies, however, I was given the amazing opportunity to help create the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in Geneva. While everybody was starting dot-com firms, I helped launch a "dot-org!"
  
  The foundation's mission is to raise the awareness of social entrepreneurship as a key element to advance societies and address social problems in an innovative and effective manner. With partners in almost 30 countries, the foundation selects the "Social Entrepreneur of the Year" and provides a national, regional and global platform for leading social entrepreneurs to highlight and disseminate their sustainable innovations in a wide range of fields. The foundation works closely with its sister organization, the World Economic Forum, to open this unique networking platform to social entrepreneurs.
  
  I am currently the director of the foundation. My key responsibilities are to define the strategic direction in this fast-paced field, coordinate the team (five people) and operations, and manage contacts with our corporate and media partners.

• My Bain experience

  During my time at Bain, I managed to work with a number of key clients in financial services, IT and the public sector, while developing a strong expertise in marketing and sales strategy. I also worked extensively with other offices like Stockholm and Boston, and traveled often but on an ad hoc basis.
  
  My favorite case was when I worked for the German forestry management company in a project to restore profitability. During this project, I realized I wanted to focus my career on initiatives that also have a strong social and ecological component.
  
  The key skills I learned during my time at Bain included tight project management along with the capacity to quickly understand a company's financials and operations. But more than anything, I was taught to use an inductive way of thinking (what Bain calls "answer first") when looking at a business topic. This approach helps me form an initial hypothesis and then let the data validate or disprove it. It allows me to manage the operations and the team of the Schwab Foundation in a very efficient manner.
  
  At Bain I was very involved in recruiting, which helps me in my current responsibilities to get a very quick feel for people and build a solid team.

• My alumni experience

  I did not really leave Bain - I simply decided to do something else during my master's work. I still have great and close friends there. Bain alumni events are highlighted in my calendar, and there would have to be some serious reason for me to miss one.
  
  The alumni network is really important to me, and it goes both ways. On one hand, I am regularly approached by Bainies who are interested in pursuing a career in my field and ask me for advice. On the other hand, I use the Bain alumni network and website to post job openings for our network of social entrepreneurs.
  
  It is also rewarding to see that the German and Swiss Bain networks are now offering pro bono consulting services to the social entrepreneurs in our network, something I would have loved to do during my time at Bain. And the feedback I have received is that Bainies have a strong sensitivity about social/ecological projects. This is why I am very proud to be part of the Bain alumni network, and I know that I definitely made the right choice 10 years ago when I decided to join Bain.