Sameera Bhamidipati was looking to have a more direct professional impact in her career in biotechnology research. She pursued an MBA to transition to a business role where she could make a more significant impact much faster. She chose Rice Business for its small class size, tight-knit community, and extensive network. In this installment of our Real Humans: Alumni series, read her story to learn how she achieved a successful career transition and landed at Bain & Company.
Sameera Bhamidipati, Rice Business MBA ’24, Consultant at Bain & Company
Age: 31
Hometown: Vizianagaram, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: BITS-Pilani Hyderabad campus, India,bachelor’s in electrical & electronics engineering and master’s in biology; Texas A&M University, master’s in biotechnology
Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration: Rice Business Class of 2024, MBA with focus in Strategy and Marketing
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Research associate at Rubedo Life Sciences, three years, biotechnology research
Post-MBA Work Experience: Consultant at Bain & Company, 1 year, consulting
Why did you choose to attend business school?
As a biotechnology research associate, I gained extensive training in analytical and hypothesis-driven approaches. However, I wanted to have a more direct professional impact. Research cycles were very long, and the impact felt indirect at my level. I chose an MBA to learn management fundamentals and transition into a business role where I could make a faster, more significant contribution in a variety of industries.
Why Rice Business? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Rice Business’ small class size and tight-knit community were the primary factors. During the admissions process, the friendliness and humility of the students and alumni deeply resonated with me. As a student, I experienced the strength of this network firsthand; while serving as President of PAWS, every alumnus I contacted for a professional panel responded immediately and wanted to be part of the panel. Rice provided the personalized guidance and supportive environment I needed to succeed.
What about your MBA experience prepared you for your current career? How do you feel that your MBA has been an asset when it comes to navigating new challenges, such as AI?
The academic rigor and the breadth of the Rice MBA helped me, as a career switcher, to become proficient in business language. The program required me to remain flexible and explore new skills each quadmester, which has been invaluable in navigating a rapidly changing professional landscape. The curriculum evolved quickly. I even took a “Strategy for AI” class in my final semester in early 2024 that acquainted me with the advent of AI in business/strategy fields.
What was your internship during business school? How did that inform your post-MBA career choice?
I interned at the Bain & Company Houston office during business school. I truly enjoyed pivoting into a new field and learning skills at such an accelerated pace. For someone looking to have a larger impact with their work, consulting proved to be the best canvas to learn and grow in my career. The ability to solve complex problems, work on intellectually challenging large scale projects, and be so close to leadership (both within consulting and at clients’ organizations) are the primary reasons I pursued consulting as my post-MBA career choice.
Why did you choose your current company? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
The primary factor was the company culture. Every interaction I had with the firm’s people was incredible, and I felt a strong connection to its methods. Consulting is demanding, so I anchored my decision on working with the right people. It has proven to be the best choice for my professional growth.
Advice to current MBA students:
-One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
Network extensively with relevant alumni over LinkedIn and via coffee chats. Even if the “success rate” of a great chat feels low, the sheer volume of conversations provided me with essential insights into different company cultures and the nature of the consulting industry.
–One thing you would change or do differently as part of the job search?
I would avoid anchoring too heavily on a few specific firms or preemptively deciding I didn’t have a chance with others. It is important to keep an open mind throughout the process.
–Were there any surprises regarding your current employer’s recruiting process?
At the time, Bain lacked a large alumni presence at Rice, which made the process feel like a “black box.” I was later surprised to learn how even limited interactions can significantly impact recruiting outcomes.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA?
While wanting to give back is a great instinct, do not spread yourself too thin trying to “do it all.” Overextending yourself leads to burnout, which isn’t helpful for you or the organizations you support.
