More on Social Impact

BCG's involvement in social impact work is motivated by the desire to contribute our unique skills and capabilities. We believe that collectively we can make a greater contribution to the world than any one of us could individually. BCG partners with social impact organisations at both local and global levels. Our global efforts seek to support the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. We partner with the U.N. World Food Programme, Save the Children, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other organisations involved in global health initiatives. On the local-office level, we aim to have a direct, measurable impact in the communities where we live. In the last year, BCG completed more than 140 projects with about 80 social sector organisations worldwide. Many of our staff also engage in volunteer activities and BCG offices around the world strive to reduce the firm’s environmental footprint.

I have had the opportunity to contribute to BCG's social impact work both through case and non-casework. We have extended BCG's partnership with the World Food Programme beyond casework and colleagues are always enthusiastic about getting involved and supporting the cause. I was a member of the team that organised our office's participation in the World Food Programme's annual charity walk. At BCG, consultants frequently work together with their colleagues to support causes they believe in. Two years ago we started a team to help reduce the office's carbon footprint. The initiative gained support at all levels and has resulted in a significant "greening" of the office.

Social impact cases are a refreshing change of pace from the normal BCG caseload, but they draw on the exact same tools and skills. One of my social impact clients was a theatre, concert hall and art gallery complex in central London - our client wanted to generate additional revenue to reduce its reliance on a £50m government grant. To help them, I took an idea which we had developed for the mortgages department of a retail bank, and then applied it successfully to the theatre company- it showed me that what I learn in my work at BCG is truly useful and transferable to multiple industries and problems.