Bain & Company

#BestofBain2024: Herd on the Street: So Many Unicorns, So Little Cash 🦄 Every start-up thinks they're a unicorn, but only 1% dance with the stars, generating $1 billion in both revenue and cash. Dive into the strategic priorities of the founders guiding these extraordinary companies towards scalable profitability. https://atbain.co/3VLPJKo

#BestofBain2024: How Companies Got So Good at M&A M&A success doesn’t happen by chance. For over 20 years, the most successful acquirers have excelled in four critical areas that set them apart. What are they doing differently, and how can others replicate their success? https://atbain.co/3P68iW8

Keith Bevans returns to Beyond the Bio after his sabbatical, joining guest host Daniel Yellin to reflect on this year’s episodes. They explore themes of professional growth and development highlighted through stories of role transitions and career advancements among guests. The episode also offers a preview of what’s to come for the podcast in 2025. 🔊 Listen now: https://atbain.co/3P1eNJO

This season reminds us to reflect, celebrate, and embrace what’s possible. Wishing you joy, gratitude, and a bright year ahead—from all of us at Bain.

Haley Diamond, Senior Specialist, Dallas 🧪 “When I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I was completely blindsided. Like many people, I assumed type 1 diabetes was a juvenile condition – something only kids developed. I was living an active lifestyle, and had no family history, it just didn’t seem possible. But toward the end of 2022, I was experiencing a strange mix of symptoms, like constant thirst and fatigue. After a physical and some tests, I got the call. It felt surreal, and the sudden need to learn about insulin, blood sugar levels, and glucose monitors was overwhelming. 👩🏽 In those early days, I remember making a few drastic changes at first which felt restrictive and exhausting. I soon realized that this approach wasn’t sustainable and that I needed help, so I joined a group program for other women with type 1 diabetes. Having people around me who “got it” made a huge difference – I could see a way forward. 🏀 As I learned more, I figured out how to integrate diabetes into my life rather than letting it rule me. Starting each day mindfully has been key, allowing me to plan for the things I love—whether it’s a morning workout, a delicious meal, or just a busy workday. There’s definitely more thought and adjusting, but having routines helps me find balance. I feel most like myself when I’m doing what I love, like coaching basketball, leading Bible study, hiking, or spending time with friends and my fiancé. With these routines in place, I can manage the disease to the best of my ability. 🎙️ The biggest lesson has been being vulnerable enough to ask for help and seek support from a broader community. My team at Bain has been incredibly supportive, showing real curiosity and openness in learning how to support me and asking what they can do to help. Through Bain, I’ve also connected with my colleague Emma in London, who’s managing type 1 diabetes too. Having people who understand what it’s like has inspired me to share my story, so others feel less alone. Living with diabetes is unpredictable, and while some days are harder than others, I know I have the support to handle whatever comes my way.”

A striking disconnect hinders energy transition-related businesses: While consumer concern about climate change is growing, too few are willing to shoulder the costs to address it. In our 2024 industry survey, 70% of executives cited customer reluctance to pay or insufficient ROI as a significant barrier to scaling #EnergyTransition efforts—a 14-percentage-point increase from last year. Success will come from engaging customers with precision, rethinking value delivery, and rigorously managing capital projects to lead the energy transition. https://atbain.co/3ZY7IQB

How can companies transform their performance by adopting an owner’s mindset? In a study of more than 400 companies undergoing major changes, we found that only 12% achieved or exceeded their ambitions, while 13% fell short entirely. The key to success? Build your productivity muscle by embedding agile routines, redesigning work processes, and empowering middle management to drive sustainable results. Learn how to make it happen: https://atbain.co/4gxGRAk

To succeed in the energy transition, leading energy and natural resource companies are rethinking their capital deployment models to allocate unprecedented amounts of capital with unparalleled speed and efficiency. Leadership teams that adopt a holistic approach to their portfolios and reshape their stage-gate processes, operating models, and technology will be best positioned to navigate the challenges of this transition and generate meaningful returns: https://atbain.co/41EZKx4

Andrew Shen, an associate consultant (AC) in our NYC office, participated in this year's Ironman World Championships. Discover how Andrew blends a passion for endurance sports with a dynamic consulting career ➡️ https://atbain.co/4flx4w0

Tariffs are manifestations of a broader economic realignment, one that will reshape how businesses operate. Companies that respond with urgency and sophistication will not only weather the disruption but position themselves as leaders in a post-global era. To win in this new world, businesses can mobilize around three key imperatives: 1️⃣ Understand your value chain—upstream and downstream—and where it crosses borders. 2️⃣ Develop scenarios to test impacts. 3️⃣ Identify where you have negotiating and pricing leverage and where you need to develop it. Explore how leadership teams can act on short-term decisions and plan with long-term strategies, which are essential to mitigate risks and capitalize on shifting opportunities. https://atbain.co/4fhkgHd