5 Questions with a senior manager at Bain on making an impact
5 Questions with a senior manager at Bain on making an impact
Lana Kahaleh, a senior manager in Bain & Company’s Public Sector practice, reflects on her consulting journey and her passion for early childhood development in the Middle East. In this Q&A, discover how she has navigated her path to Bain and her dedication to making a meaningful impact in the community.
1. Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I'm Syrian, born and raised in Damascus, currently living in Dubai. Being Syrian means a lot of things to me. I am very proud to come from a country with such a rich culture and heritage, a country that is home to many diverse communities and, most importantly, a resilient society. This has shaped me in many ways, instilling a sense of determination that I put into everything I do.
2. How did your upbringing influence your career choices?
Together with my two siblings, I was raised in a family that really stressed the importance of education. My parents always placed education as a priority – pushing me to pursue a bachelor’s from Carnegie Mellon and a master’s in finance from the London School of Economics. It was during my master’s program that I realized I wanted a career in strategy consulting.
3. What was your experience like joining Bain?
During the recruitment process, I found myself making such real and supportive connections. I felt like I belonged here before I even joined. I find that Bain makes a huge investment in our people and their professional development.
This particularly resonated with me given the emphasis my parents placed on learning growing up. I have had opportunities to attend trainings around the world, which has helped me grow and develop personally and professionally. This isn’t just about what I can do within my case team; it's also about becoming the best version of myself.
4. Can you share more about your role and what projects you are passionate about?
Today, I'm a senior manager in Bain’s Public Sector practice. One of the topics I work on which I am also very passionate about is early childhood development in the Middle East. I’m working on projects that directly impact children, families, and communities to make sure they have the best outcomes possible.
Research shows that investments made in a child’s enrichment during their early years yield higher returns compared to interventions at later stages in life. As such, my work involves speaking to families to identify the roadblocks they face when it comes to their children’s development, whether this be on enrolment in schools, inclusion for children of determination or finding the right support to care for their children.
We then work with different stakeholders to develop interventions that can help alleviate the challenges parents face in the short term. Along with interventions, we also intervene at the community level, which then helps transform the early childhood landscape in the Middle East. I find this to be very inspiring, rewarding, and impactful work.
5. How do you balance work and personal interests?
Work-life balance to me is very important to recharge. My personal interests that help me achieve this balance are food and travel. This has led me to take on new experiences, such as trying out culinary courses in different countries to learn more about communities through their cuisines.
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