I’m originally from a beautiful lakeside city in southern China, but I’ve been living in England for almost ten years. I completed my PhD in Neuroscience at the Francis Crick Institute, where I focused on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying depth perception. Outside of work, I love travelling, playing the piano, and baking sourdough.
What are some of the most important things you learnt at the True North Workshop?
The True North Workshop gave me the opportunity to connect with Bainies and gain a clearer understanding of what consulting looks like day-to-day. I really valued the candid advice on interviews and career development, and it was especially motivating to meet consultants with similar academic backgrounds and see how my academic skills could be translated into a client-facing environment.
What drew your to Bain, and do you need to be certain about a career in consulting before applying for True North?
I was particularly drawn to Bain’s culture, and the Workshop allowed me to experience the collaborative, supportive and apprenticeship-style environment first-hand. No, you don’t need to have everything figured out before applying!
What skills from university have been most helpful in your consulting role?
My research background, especially the independent project management skills cultivated during my PhD, has been incredibly transferable. Breaking down complex problems, analysing data, and communicating insights are the skills I am heavily relying on now.
What’s a project you’ve worked on that you’ve found especially interesting or rewarding?
I was involved in shaping the corporate-wide strategy for a large UK company, which was both intellectually challenging and rewarding. It was exciting to see how our work contributed to decisions with real impact for the clients.
What advice would you give someone preparing for the application process?
I would say try to approach case interviews as if you’re solving a puzzle, and enjoy the process of cracking business problems. Preparing for cases helped me develop a stronger business mindset, and it genuinely changed the way I look at the world.