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Headshot of Kay Zhou

Kay Zhou

Sobre Kay

Share your journey to Bain.

Before joining Bain, I spent several years working across various design consultancies and agencies, where I honed my skills and passion for creative problem-solving. However, I often found myself frustrated when innovative ideas didn’t make it past the drawing board or failed to create lasting impact after launch. I knew I wanted to shift into a role where design could drive strategic change and deliver meaningful, long-term results.

That’s when a Bain recruiter introduced me to the firm’s Innovation and Design practice. I was thrilled to join as the very first designer in the Tokyo office, where I've taken on the exciting challenge of pioneering this new practice in Japan.

How did you know that Bain was the right company for you?

I know Bain is the right company for me because I see the spark of excitement when I talk about design with colleagues and clients. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing a client smile as they connect with the voice of their customers. And, of course, having incredible teammates—work besties—to share the highs and challenges with makes the journey even more fulfilling.

Evangelizing the power of design thinking & doing while continually learning and growing in the process has been both demanding and incredibly rewarding. I'm grateful to be surrounded with some of the smartest minds and kindest hearts through this process.

Do you feel like you can do impactful work at Bain? What opportunities excite you?

What I love most about working at Bain is the strategic approach we take. As a designer, I now have the opportunity to bring my creativity and customer-centric mindset directly to C-level executives and investors, where the impact of my work is truly significant.

More importantly, my time at Bain has taught me how to turn ideas into actionable business strategies. I’m constantly challenged to think beyond the concept stage, ensuring that every idea I touch has the potential to become a real, measurable success.

Kay's Career Story

University Student

Service Designer

Senior Service Designer & Art Teacher

Senior Designer

Lead Designer

University Student

Service Designer

Senior Service Designer & Art Teacher

Senior Designer

Lead Designer

  • University Student
    2014

    Kay earned her bachelor’s in both Chemical Engineering and Industrial Design from Zhejiang University in China, then continued to pursue innovation & design while studying in Tokyo, London, and New York.

  • Service Designer
    2017

    Kay became a service designer at a global design agency. While based in Tokyo, she supported companies create new business or expand their business to global markets. She’d help a leading Japanese insurance company launching its apps and a robotics start-up release its first product in the market.

  • Senior Service Designer & Art Teacher
    2021

    She joined another global design agency to help start its design consulting arm in Japan. She supported APAC clients in automotive, cosmetic, and marine industries. She’s also taught painting in her spare time at a local art bar.

  • Senior Designer
    2022

    Kay was hired as Bain’s first designer in Tokyo. “Bain’s relentless focus on results is a good match with designers who have the superpower to put ideas into forms,” Kay says. At Bain, Kay is exposed to an even wider range of projects and clients, which excites her every day.

  • Lead Designer
    2023

    She was promoted to Lead Designer a year later. While continuously delivering results, Kay also supports with building the design team culture in APAC. 

     

2014

Kay earned her bachelor’s in both Chemical Engineering and Industrial Design from Zhejiang University in China, then continued to pursue innovation & design while studying in Tokyo, London, and New York.