When I started at BCG, I was already used to being one of very few women, whether in my academic classes of econometrics and formal logic or as an intern in the Ukraine. At BCG, I quickly realized that there are so many diverse backgrounds that there is no room for gender stereotypes. Instead, there is an explicit invitation to define your individual way and style as you strive to succeed.

Consulting requires analytical rigor and structured thinking to solve client problems intellectually. But it also requires instinct and sensitivity to implement solutions effectively—attributes that are commonly seen as linked to “female intelligence.”

It was unusual for many of my senior client counterparts to work with me as a young female consultant on the key strategic questions of their businesses. Yet, consistently, they accepted and respected me in this role. This early exposure and responsibility at a high level gave me the accelerated and intense learning experience I was looking for. Being supported by a mentorship network of successful women at BCG, I always felt prepared to go to the next step.

In my current position, as a principal at BCG and the mother of two young children, I perceive BCG as unique: it accommodates individual needs, offers great flexibility, and creates a platform to succeed in a highly demanding business environment. It allows me to drive change and to assume responsibility. Since I started a family, flexibility has been very important to me as I seek to continue my business career. I can truly say that BCG is determined not only to recruit, but to retain, female talent.

My decision to join BCG was driven mostly by the firm’s culture and the BCGers I met with throughout the recruiting process. Putting aside the pretty marketing material and the cocktail parties, at the end of the day, I asked myself, “Where will I be able to best develop my career and most enjoy doing so?” At BCG, I’ve found a diverse group of extremely smart and down-to-earth people who, from day one, gave me the feeling that part of their goal is to help me grow professionally toward achieving my personal goals.

I have worked with great teams and clients to solve complex business challenges and drive to significant impact. I have definitely grown professionally, and I’ve been exposed to many opportunities to continue growing.

What excited me about joining BCG is what continues to excite me today: working with incredibly talented, down-to-earth people who share a common goal of helping the world’s best organizations improve their performance. The learning I’ve done from working with the top minds in business from around the globe has been the greatest surprise.

Working side-by-side with these top minds as we tackled some of the most challenging issues—leading enterprise-wide transformations, addressing demographic risk, developing new processes to drive performance, and shifting corporate cost-structures—I was at the rock-face of innovation, and have learned firsthand from incredible people both at our firm and with our clients.
 
I’ve always understood that our BCG culture was unique in the sense that we work so collaboratively with our clients. I realize now that not only does this afford our clients greater impact from our work, it has also provided me with an incredible platform for professional development and personal growth.

This is such a stimulating, exciting, and challenging place to work.