Malachi W. Randolph

Location: Chicago

Hometown: Goshen, Indiana

MBA program: University of Notre Dame (Mendoza)

Undergraduate school, major: Ball State University, Business Administration

Focus of current case: Tech Private Equity

What word best describes Bain and why? 
Holistic. In an industry often hyper-focused on financial results, it’s refreshing to be somewhere that cares about the whole me, the whole client, and the whole issue at hand – even when that means forgoing shorter-term upsides.

Why did you choose to work at Bain? 
It was the way I was supported by Bainies who never met me in person was convincing. Now that I’m here, I can say that the supportive culture is not an accident, but rather the intention of this place: we don’t let each other fail.

What did you love about the business school you attended? 
The smaller cohort size at Notre Dame – especially within the 1-year program – invited an intimacy that made my experience special. The family-like friendships extend to the alumni network, which is a business school’s greatest asset and Notre Dame’s pièce de resistance.

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far at Bain? 
To do my best, focus on what I can control, and put perfection off the pedestal. A partner once told me: “When problem solving, it is better to be specifically wrong than generally right.” That has helped me hold space for early mistake-making and get to faster answers.

Which manager or peer has had the biggest impact on you at Bain, and how has he or she made you a better consultant? Keith Bevans gave me advice during my first week that has carried me through my first year. He said, “As a new consultant, there are 3 things to focus on: having a good attitude, showing interest in the work, and earning a reputation for being reliable. If you do these 3 things well, everything else will fall into place in its own time.” These guiding principles have kept me on track.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work for Bain? 
The recruiting is not easy because the job is not easy; the former reflects the latter. If you don’t like doing cases, networking, or putting yourself out there, you may not like the job. But once you’re in, know that you belong – no matter where you’ve come from, what you look like, or the type or quantity of experience you have. You’re enough.

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