Krista Ridgway first joined Bain as an associate consultant upon graduating from Duke University, where she majored in biomedical engineering. Throughout her career, Krista has advised clients across multiple industries on business challenges such as developing growth strategies and identifying supply chain efficiencies. Clients have commended Krista not only for her business advice but also for personally investing in their professional development.

In 2002, Krista was appointed Director of HR and Staffing , where she now “sets the tone for our management teams in terms of being at cause and looking out for the best outcomes for our people every single day,” explains Bain Partner Keith Bevans.

For more than 20 years, Krista has served as a trainer and manager for Bain’s global training programs, where she has helped shape the professional development of countless women and men.

As a dedicated mentor and coach, Krista is a role model for her team and more broadly, for the entire office. Colleagues often seek her out for advice and support on career opportunities and challenges.

Krista is a recipient of Bain’s prestigious Bright-Dix award in recognition of her work fostering professional development both through mentoring her teams and participating in Bain’s global training programs. In the words of one female consultant: “Krista's coaching and mentoring helped me build a successful career at Bain.”

Outside of the office, Krista and her family are outdoor enthusiasts, participating in a variety of sports, including skiing and hiking (especially mountain hiking above 10,000 ft). She also enjoys attending her sons’ baseball games and watching her daughter ride horses.

Creative work arrangements are a hallmark of this management consulting firm, where all employees can flex their schedules and nearly all of them worked off-site at some point last year. Women may reduce their schedules by 40% and still be considered for promotions; in fact, most of the female partners here have worked part-time. Employees who desire more freedom can get it, too, as demonstrated by a group of administrative staffers who recently scored a formal flextime program. Moms love the firm’s two-month sabbaticals and educational leaves of absence (which include tuition aid). “Bain has been incredibly flexible in helping me create a career path tailored to my interests and priorities,” says Rebecca Tadikonda, a New York City–based manager and mom of two.

Worldwide Managing Director Steve Ellis

Partner & Chief Talent Officer Russ Hagey

Women managers/execs 35% 

Women among top earners 20% 

Women hires in 2010 46% 

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave offered 12 

Allows new moms to “phase back” into work with reduced hours? Yes

Offers affinity group for new mothers? No

Offers backup childcare? Yes

Employees working flexibly 87%

Nearly 70% of Bain & Company’s female consulting staff say that they have a senior leader at the firm looking out for their success.

This management consulting firm is committed to advancing and retaining the talented women who work for it. In addition to launching a Global Women's Leadership Council to guide its women's initiatives internationally, the firm recently created a department that specifically serves the interests of its female employees and appointed a "Women's Champion‚" in every office. Individual sites are offering an array of new programming for women, from seminars on self promotion and effective communication to bimonthly conference calls for working moms. Under a recent initiative, female consultants can even sign up for job sharing arrangements that give them full benefits. Other perks include 12 fully paid weeks of maternity leave from date of hire, plus five days of subsidized backup care annually. Primary caregivers who adopt get four fully paid weeks off, with a $10,000 benefit.

Worldwide Managing Director Steve Ellis

Partner & Chief Talent Officer Russ Hagey

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 37%

Women among top earners 24%

Women on board of directors Private  

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 0%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* 55%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year* N/A  

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement 100%  

Do formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance? No

*Percentages reflect number of women participants versus company’s total female workforce.