Beyond the Bio

Bain’s commitment to sustainability impacts not only our clients, but the firm. Sam Israelit, our first Chief Sustainability Officer, is focused on our dedication to the social and environmental standards we’ve set for ourselves on a global scale. Listen to how he is implementing the same ESG initiatives we advocate for our clients and our plans to reduce our environmental footprint, enhance employee well-being, and maintain high standards of integrity in creating a more sustainable world.

After rising in her career, Sharona Sankar-King was faced with deciding to run a company or doing what she loved within her previous operational roles. Now an expert partner in our New York office who is able to bring her extensive knowledge of data science to the firm, Sharona is shedding light into how Bain’s capabilities allow her to have a career she is passionate about outside of traditional data science opportunities.

Using data to fuel customer needs is important now more than ever. Nikolaus Zacher, a partner in our Munich office, has substantial experience in advanced analytics with a focus in retail and consumer products. Knowing first-hand the importance of data-driven decision-making, Nikolaus is leading our clients’ business growth by the power of our digital and advanced analytics capabilities. Listen to Nikolaus share his extensive analytics background along with how Bain is using this capability to support better customer experiences.

A great customer experience creates loyal consumers, and loyal consumers proudly promote the businesses they love. Darci Darnell, a Partner in our Chicago office and the leader of our Global Customer Strategy and Marketing practice, has extensive knowledge on how to create outstanding customer experiences. On this episode, Keith talks to Darci about how her globetrotting career gave her the experience needed to lead a practice, and how Bain's consulting, advanced analytics, data science and marketing roles all come together to drive client success and sustainable growth.

Beyond the Bio listeners, we want your feedback. You’re invited to share your thoughts with us in our listeners' survey. It will take less than 3 minutes to complete and will help us shape the direction of future episodes. Head over to atbain.co/btbsurvey to share your feedback.

We’ve known our host, Keith Bevans, to lead insightful conversations with some remarkable guests throughout the years, but this episode is slightly different. Keith is sitting in the guest seat and answering questions from consultant and Beyond the Bio producer, Daniel Yellin, to share some insight into the why of Beyond the Bio, dive a little deeper into a few topics we’ve covered on DEI, mergers & acquisitions, mental health in the workplace, and our work in ESG, and share some insight into what’s to come for the firm’s business, capabilities, and recruiting efforts in 2023.

Beyond the Bio listeners, we want your feedback. You’re invited to share your thoughts with us in our listeners' survey. It will take less than 3 minutes to complete and will help us shape the direction of future episodes. Head over to atbain.co/btbsurvey to share your feedback. 

Robert Cercós and Juan Pablo (JP) Garcia, founders of Spike SpA - a leading provider of advanced analytics and machine learning solutions - joined the Bain family after Spike was acquired by the firm earlier this year. As part of Bain adding more client-demanding capabilities to our toolkit, Robert and JP bring a new expertise to the firm that not only provides resources for our clients but opportunities for advanced analytics and machine learning experts to work on impactful projects and solve the world’s most challenging problems. Listen to this duo’s journey from engineers to entrepreneurs and how their friendship led them into consultancy.

Lauren Kelley, CEO of OPEXEngine, a member-based benchmarking community for software and SaaS companies that joined Bain in 2021, found a gap in how companies measure data and chose to do something about it. Lauren joins us to share not only her journey to entrepreneurship and what’s driven her throughout her career, but how OPEXEngine is meeting the needs and answering the hard questions companies are asking around performance and what led to its recent acquisition as part of Bain’s aim to build a larger suite of capabilities to support our clients.

Neil Shah, Executive Vice President of Global Mergers & Acquisitions, studied government at Harvard. After graduating, Neil joined Bain as Associate Consultant for a few years before pursuing a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Boomeranging back to Bain after a few career opportunities in banking and policies, Neil now leads our global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) that help meet capability demands that support our clients. Listen to Neil’s journeys to Bain, how his government background supports his impact at the firm, and gain some insight into our recent M&As that are helping grow our capabilities in advanced analytics, marketing, innovation & design, and more.

Arpan Sheth, Bain’s Global Capability Leader of our digital delivery platform, Vector, is all about embracing open doors. Following his father's footsteps and becoming an engineer, Arpan shifted to consulting after hearing inspiring stories from people he knew in business. Throughout his time at Bain, Arpan has combined his engineering and business expertise to help build and grow our practices in India, lead our Innovation and Design capability, and support mergers and acquisitions of digital capabilities in Vector. Listen to Arpan share his journey to Bain and how he expanded our practices in APAC as well as give insight into our fast-growing digital platform, Vector. Additionally, learn how Bain is integrating engineers, data scientists, marketers, and innovators into how we’re supporting our clients.

After many years at Bain helping start our Retail practice, Erika Serow left to become the US CEO of Sweaty Betty before returning to the firm as our Chief Marketing Officer. Erika’s leadership career stems from her desire to be an operator and run a retail business, but over time found that she truly enjoys working with smart and skillful people for a brand that she believes in. On this episode, Erika shares her journey to Bain, what made her choose the firm as a place to build her career, and how her passions led her to become our Chief Marketing Officer.