Recently after finishing my undergraduate and selling my start-up company, I joined BCG looking for a challenge. And I quickly learned that at BCG continuous challenge and stimulation is the norm.

I have been given the opportunity to stretch my horizons by covering a wide spectrum of industries, strategic topics, and locations, and my experience at BCG ranges from the design of a pricing strategy for a global credit-card player to the closure of an acquisition deal for a cement conglomerate in India.

Wim obtained an undergraduate degree in applied economics, including an exchange semester at The Wharton School, and a master's degree in financial economics Summa Cum Laude, from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL).

Prior to joining BCG, Wim was an assistant at KUL and founder of an online marketing start-up.

My choice to study commercial engineering was based on my interest in both sciences and economics. During my studies I had the opportunity to do an internship at BCG, where I experienced first-hand that I could continue deepening my knowledge in both directions without the need to make a trade-off.

Since starting at BCG, I worked on several projects on a variety of sectors (healthcare, industrial goods, financial services, etc) where both my scientific and economic backgrounds are of great use. The wide variety of projects implies that I am confronted each time with new challenges pushing my curiosity and broadening my knowledge.
What I especially like is that the Project Leaders continuously teach me their strategic insight, push me to take ownership, and coach me to develop faster than I would ever have imagined.

In my first years at BCG, I worked on a broad range of industries: from pharmaceuticals and banking to building materials and pet food. What ultimately attracts me is the effort we make to grasp each topic and develop clear, thorough answers.

For every case, we apply our business understanding and industry knowledge to the client's specific situation and perspectives. Supported by our broad network of experts, we identify the right questions, match the issues with the correct facts, challenge perceptions, and deliver a clear course of action.

When I decided to transition from academia to the business world, I knew that I wanted to work in an environment where I would be challenged intellectually, and where both my partner and I would feel fully welcome. Through BCG's LGBT Initiative, I have been able to connect with a tremendous group of peers spanning all regions of the globe and all levels of tenure. The network has truly become my extended BCG family. The corporate support given to the LGBT Initiative demonstrates BCG's commitment to diversity, and it is no surprise that there has been tremendous growth in membership in recent years.

Coming to BCG with a background in archaeology and anthropology, I wanted the opportunity to use my nontraditional skills when approaching business problems. Whether it is around the case team table or in working directly with clients, I have been strongly encouraged to offer my unique approaches to tackling problems and to push my thinking further in ways that go well beyond my base of experience.

As I chart my course through BCG, I know that my career development is strongly supported by both the formal mentor network in my office and the mentoring provided by the LGBT Initiative. Through these networks, I have established relationships with a number of senior leaders in the firm who have shown a clear interest in ensuring that I grow as a consulting professional, find intellectual challenge, and have a positive experience at BCG.