Class Of ’17: Meet Bain & Co’s Newest MBA Hires

Valentina Rudik

Bain Moscow

Hometown: Moscow. Russia

MBA program, concentration: London Business School, Private Equity

Undergraduate school, major: National Research Nuclear University, Solid State Physics and Quantum Radiophysics

Focus of current case: Creating a digital innovation strategy for an airline company.

Why did you choose to work at Bain?

I joined Bain as an Associate Consultant in 2013 with a few years of professional experience, including as an engineer at a biophysics laboratory, a consultant in a boutique firm developing retail banking products by applying advanced statistical methods, and a product manager at Samsung Electronics. I was rapidly developing my self-awareness during that time—understanding my strengths and growth areas, as well as what energizes me.

I became confident that the place where I could add maximum value is the one where people work hard collaboratively to solve problems in a structured way.

As soon as I received Bain’s offer, I stopped seeking work with other firms. I loved the atmosphere of the office from the first sight, and was particularly impressed with how smart, pleasant and supportive the interviewers and HR team were.

What lesson from business school best prepared you for your career at Bain?

Learning to balance all of your professional and personal pursuits, while obtaining the most from the MBA experience without burning out. Business school requires students to be efficient and organized, as well as learn how to prioritize effectively.

A job in consulting is not the easiest, and sometimes requires spending long hours at the office. Bain works with its employees to achieve a sustainable life, focused on career success AND an active, meaningful life outside the office. But the multitasking skills acquired at business school come in very handy for finding the right work-life balance. 

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far at Bain?

The importance of a consistently responsible attitude toward work. Some people may consider that the quality and effort they put into their job should depend on a particular situation. Of course, different circumstances require various approaches. At the same time, those who constantly follow through on their commitments and exceed expectations, build reputations as reliable professionals that will help them throughout their careers. I strive to create the best results possible for my clients and am constantly learning from colleagues that do the same.

Hard work, passion for results, honesty and integrity among our teams are what make Bain clients come back over and over again.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work for Bain?

Reflect on whether analyzing complex problems, preparing for case interviews and helping others reach success are enjoyable activities for you. Moreover, you should be eager to exchange part of your free time for working out complex problems, together with a group of the smartest people. If you answer yes to these questions, then I would recommend pursuing a career at Bain. Prepare diligently, be confident in the interview and enjoy – the consulting recruiting process can be fun!

What do you want your career to look like in 10 years?

I love my job and have enjoyed it more and more over the years. I feel very motivated when I see the results of our work in my daily life, when solutions developed by clients—with Bain’s input—are implemented to make people’s lives better. I do not know what the future will bring, but I firmly believe in my values and want to continue helping people while solving exciting problems.

My greatest personal or professional accomplishment is…climbing the Elbrus Mountain, the highest peak in Europe, with seven of my Bain colleagues. Our commitment to teamwork and group achievement helped us overcome the pain and difficulty we experienced during our final ascent.

A fun fact about me people would be surprised to know is…even though I work in consulting now, I graduated with a major in quantum physics and planned to become a scientists afterwards. At school, though, I was dreaming about becoming a surgeon, while, in reality, I was preparing for a professional career in music. I still play violin from time to time and regularly drag my friends to karaoke clubs.