S6 E2 James Viles - Senior Partner at Bain & Company & Head of Australia's Private Equity Practice

PE can look shiny from the outside. James spends his days helping funds and port-cos create real value, and we get into the parts you don’t see on LinkedIn: leadership, resilience and building a career you actually like.
We talk about saying yes to the “weird and wacky” projects and opportunities that end up changing everything, what PE firms really look for when hiring ex-consultants (including Operating Partner roles), and whether ex-MBB leaders make great port-co CEOs.
We also dig into balance, working hard without losing yourself, and how to stay adaptable when the ground keeps moving.
🎧 Tune in for:
• Practical advice for consultants curious about PE
• A day in the life of a Bain partner advising PE clients
• Why working and living abroad can sharpen your consulting edge
• Why resilience, curiosity and self-awareness matter more than ever
• The best and the worst career advice James has picked up along the way