Chris Barry

About Chris

Hi there! I'm a former Sr Partner and Head of Recruiting at Bain. I conducted both first and second round interviews at the Consultant and Associate Consultant levels for years. In addition to my client work and overseeing recruiting, I also staffed and trained new consultants. I left Bain for Salesforce, where I was an Exec who hired from MBB on a full-time and project basis. So, in a nutshell.... I've led, coached, recruited, trained, mentored, hired consultants at all levels for years. I really enjoy this world, and I know what it takes to break-in and to thrive in it. As the Partner overseeing recruiting, I interviewed every second round candidate from all core schools and led the decision-making process around which candidates got offers. Recruiting was something I enjoyed and was passionate about from day 1! As a School Head, then Manager in charge of Recruiting (first rounds at all core schools), and finally Recruiting Partner (second rounds, all schools; reviewed all second round feedbacks, led/made final offer decisions). I always enjoy meeting someone new. And, after many years of interviewing candidates and leading teams, I have a well-honed sense for how likely someone is to make a great consultant, and specifically at Bain, how likely they are to get an offer and, if not, what's holding them back. I can speak to the things that differentiate you and make you compelling, and I can see anything that might raise questions (so you can address them proactively), and help you navigate your way forward armed with that information. I'm also familiar with what it takes to break in, if you have a non-traditional background or study at a school where Bain and other firms don't have on-campus recruiting in place. I developed and taught a university course called "Introduction to Management Consulting" to help solve for this. The class helped undergrad business school students at an excellent, yet "non-core" school access and successfully land MBB+ strategy consulting jobs. The course included over 10 weeks of guided hands-on instruction and coaching, designed to re-create the first real case experience. Working though the material together helped students understand the consultant's work, how we approach and frame that work, the analytical tool-kit, the communication strategies and protocols effective consultants use. I also introduced them to the interviewing process and ways to proactively and creatively get onto MBB radars and into the interviewing process. I personally coached students, who successfully landed summer internships and full time jobs at Bain & other top tier consultancies or strategy teams within Fortune 500 firms. In sum, I've coached, interviewed, made job offers, and led hundreds of new consultants and associate consultants, case team leaders, Managers and more junior partners over my 11 years with Bain. I worked in both the Boston headquarters and in Los Angeles, where I oversaw that office's significant growth. I also led some of Bain's most successful business transformations; my transformation teams won "Best of Bain" competitions year after year. So, I know the work and I know what makes for a highly effective and successful consultant. I really enjoy helping folks navigate their way into consulting. In my opinion, the consulting skill set is something everyone should have; I see that kind of strategic and structured approach to problem-solving and the communication skills it demands as incredibly valuable life skills that will serve you no matter what you do. And, if it is, in fact management consulting that you want to pursue as a career, I'd be very happy to partner with you to help you put your best foot forward. I find this kind of coaching incredibly meaningful and impactful! I'm a big believer in increasing access and bridging exceptional talent to extraordinary opportunities. I'd be very happy to help you on your journey!