Reading time: 3 minsAfter studying Maths at the University of Oxford, Noush joined Bain’s London office in January 2020 but her journey started even earlier, through the True North Scholarship for Women.
I joined Bain in 2020 after studying Maths at Oxford. I first discovered Bain through the Women’s True North Scholarship workshop in 2018. I didn’t know much about consulting at the time, but the experience gave me a great introduction to the work and culture. After receiving a job offer through the programme, it was a no-brainer to accept!
Do you have a particular highlight from your TNSW experience?
I loved the workshop, especially as someone who came in knowing very little about consulting. It was a great way to learn about what consultants actually do and to get a feel for Bain. My favourite part was meeting a wide range of Bainies at different tenures, especially my buddy, who stayed in touch with me all the way through the interview process.
What initially drew you to consulting, and what has motivated you to grow your career here since?
What drew me to consulting was the variety. I liked the idea of working across different projects, teams, and industries it felt like a great fit for someone who wasn’t sure exactly what they wanted to specialise in early on.
Since joining Bain, one of my biggest motivations has been the opportunity to learn from inspiring mentors and supervisors. Watching how they lead teams and manage projects gives you something to aspire to.
“Build Your Own Bain” means creating a thriving career on your own terms. How have you been able to “Build Your Own Bain”?
I’ve had a lot of flexibility over the years from working on social impact projects with nonprofits to travelling internationally for casework (including a project in India). I also took a four-month leave of absence to travel around Southeast Asia. Outside of client work, I’ve been involved in running the South Asians at Bain network and supporting the True North Scholarship workshops, both have been incredibly rewarding.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I now mainly work in our Private Equity Group, and my day tends to be more meeting-heavy than it used to be. I’ll usually start with internal check-ins with workstream leads to align on where we’re heading and how best to get there. I’ll also update leadership on our progress and connect with clients regularly to share updates and align on priorities. That said, I still make sure to carve out time for deep, focused work myself.
Have you had any mentors, teams, or programmes that were particularly impactful in your journey?
Too many to count! I’ve had official mentors and sponsors who I know I can reach out to anytime, as well as a wide range of supervisors I keep in touch with. Their guidance, both formal and informal has been incredibly valuable throughout my career.
What advice would you give someone early in their Bain journey who’s curious about long-term opportunities here?
Ask questions and don’t be afraid to reach out to people, even if you don’t know them yet. If there’s something you want to explore at Bain, like secondments, internal rotations, or international travel, chances are someone else has done it before. They’ll be able to share advice on how to make it happen and Bain really supports you in figuring out your own path.