Meet BCG Experienced Hires

At Unilever, I had been fortunate enough to work on what I considered the most exciting brand in the company, Lynx, but after 5 years I felt I had learned a lot about brand management, but not much about the wider business. I was also frustrated by how difficult it was to create change from a relatively junior operational role. BCG offered an opportunity to dip my toe into many different companies and industries and, in the process, build a much more rounded understanding of business. It was also a chance to engage with the movers and shakers at the very top of companies and influence decisions that really do change a company. I was very impressed by the calibre of people that I met at interview and I knew that BCG would be somewhere I would learn fast and be really stretched from day one.

I joined and have stayed at BCG simply because of the people and culture. Having had a 'real job' once-upon-a-time I know that even in the best organisations the quality and ability of the people you work with is mixed - at BCG it is uniformly high. For me it's great to be surrounded by motivated people who are smarter than me - something all management experts advise. It's not necessary to like everyone you work with but I am in the lucky position where I really like my colleagues - indeed some of my best friends are colleagues too! The constant challenge of short timescales, tough problems and enquiring minds makes this the best job you can have with your clothes on.

When I joined BCG my plan was to stay for two years, learn as much as I could, and then return to industry or set up my own business. Almost ten years later, I am still at BCG and am now a partner in our Financial Services and Retail practices. So why did I stay? At its simplest BCG continues to give me the stretch, personal development and satisfaction which makes every day different and interesting. At this stage in my career I cannot think of another job which would give me the opportunity to work with such a diverse and talented group of people (BCG and clients) on such a diverse range of business problems.

Leaving medicine to start a new career was a daunting (and occasionally terrifying) prospect. BCG was fully supportive both in the run up to starting - putting me in touch with other former medics - and also on an ongoing basis throughout the year. I was matched to several formal and informal mentors and had no shortage of people to turn to in times of need. My first project at BCG was based partly in the Paris office, working with a pan-European BCG team and looking at the five-year strategy for a vehicle remarketing firm. The first few days were by far the most challenging with a steep learning curve, but I was working with a team of experienced consultants who were patient and supportive at all times. I was not only made to feel welcome but also that no question was too insignificant to ask. I gained insight into an industry I had no previous knowledge of and there was a good mix of field work and analysis based both in London and Paris. The case was a great introduction to life at BCG and gave me a solid basis on which to build my skills as a consultant. Looking back the transition was far smoother than I had imagined it would be.