FAST FORWARD

FAST FORWARD your Career with BCG

Welcome to the FAST FORWARD community, created for the time between your internship and your full-time start.

This moment is more than simply finishing one chapter before beginning the next. It's a time to stay curious, keep learning, and remain connected to the people who make the journey meaningful. At BCG, we believe progress happens when people challenge the status quo and imagine what could be. FAST FORWARD brings that belief to life by creating a space where future colleagues stay connected, inspired, and ready for what's ahead.

On this website, you'll find everything you need to know about the FAST FORWARD community –  including upcoming events and Meet-up Waves, an introduction to your mentor, insights into the journey from today up to your full-time start, and various ways to stay connected with the community.  

As you move toward rejoining BCG, we're excited to stay in touch along the way. Keep exploring, keep exchanging ideas, and let's keep moving FAST FORWARD.

Stepping into what’s next – together​​​​​​​.

Events

As part of the FAST FORWARD community, we will be hosting Meet-up Waves, giving all FAST FORWARD members the opportunity to join an event near their current location. These social gatherings will take place across different locations within the same two-week period. The dates for Zurich have already been confirmed for 2026, so be sure to mark your calendar! Details for other locations will be shared closer to their respective date.

Upcoming Meet-up Waves in Zurich:

Date1

October 15, 2026
Timeline

Take a look at the key steps guiding your journey from internship to full-time with FAST FORWARD. 

Here's a detailed step-by-step overview:

Get to know your Mentor
Alina Gäumann

BCG Zurich

I’m Alina and grew up near Zurich. I studied International Politics at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, and after graduating, I spent nearly two years at the Swiss Embassy in Bangkok. I started my consulting journey at BCG in 2024 – since then, I have taken full advantage of the broad opportunities at BCG and worked across industries ranging from Consumer and Industrial Goods to Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Technology, Media, and Telecommunications.


Across these projects, what I have valued most is the opportunity to connect with a wide range of people. I know how many questions can arise along the way, which is why I’m particularly excited to be part of FAST FORWARD.


In my free time, I love exploring just as much as in my consulting life – from remote mountain villages to underwater worlds to vibrant cities – ideally combined with great food and good friends.
Céline Cathomas

BCG Zurich

I’m Céline, originally from Lucerne. I studied at HSG and started my BCG journey as a VA during my master’s in Business Innovation and CEMS. After finishing my studies, I returned full-time in April 2024 and have since mainly worked on projects within the Financial Industry and Insurance Practice Area. 

I truly enjoy being a FAST FORWARD mentor. Having experienced the VAship myself, I know how formative that time can be and how valuable it is to have someone to exchange with along the way.


Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, surfing, different kinds of sports, and discovering new food spots. You can often find me at a 7:30am Barry’s or Atomix class before the workday starts – even if I occasionally question that decision when the alarm goes off.
Daiana Mukhanova

BCG Zurich

I’m Daiana, originally from Kazakhstan. I studied Industrial Engineering at KIT and later MTEC at ETH Zurich. I first joined BCG as a VA in summer 2021 and returned full-time at the end of 2022.


After exploring various PAs (IG, PIPE, TMT, FI) and completing an internal secondment, I’ve now happily returned to my roots and am a core member of the Operations PA, mainly working on restructuring, full potential and M&A cases for IG clients.


Even after spending quite some time traveling for projects, I’m still surprisingly enthusiastic about long-haul flights. Beach, sun and good food are honestly all I need. I’m not the most athletic person, so I recently picked up golf..  which so far has been a lesson in patience.


Having done the VA-ship myself, I know how exciting the time after the offer can be - when you start thinking about staffing, positioning and shaping your own path at BCG. Happy to support our great VAs as a mentor in this next step.
Emily Reinhold

BCG Zurich

My name is Emily. I grew up in Düsseldorf and found my way to beautiful Switzerland via a master in Marketing Management at HSG. After my VAship, I returned to BCG full-time in November 2024. Since then, I’ve worked mostly in Health Care and TMT, supporting projects in strategy, operations, and sales.

 

In my free time I’m often traveling. Studying in different places (including exchange semesters in Lisbon and Melbourne) has the cool, but sometimes annoying, side effect that your friends are spread around the world.

 

If I happen to be at home, you’ll usually find me doing sports. Zurich is the perfect city for that. However, I must admit: I only started learning to ski at the beginning of this year (thanks to a BCG event and a lot of colleagues/friends insisting). :)
Eros Carnieletto

BCG Zurich

I’m Eros, originally from Venice, Italy. I studied Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano and Management, Technology & Economics at ETH Zurich. My first contact with consulting was at the Bob Camp 2023 (aka the coolest recruiting event ever), which then brought me into my VA in January 2024. After graduating, I followed the advice of several BCGers I met along the way, i.e., empty my bank account on random cool stuff until I returned full-time in October 2024. Since then, I worked on projects within the MedTech and Insurance Practice Area, in Switzerland and across Europe.

 

Other random facts about me in no particular order and of no particular interest: I enjoy traveling, eating exotic food, and buying unnecessary but cool consumer electronics; I play (badly) classical piano and basketball; I had very long hair until few years ago; I cook pasta better than you.

 

Excited to become a FAST FORWARD mentor! I know how exciting but also full of questions the experience can be, and I’m happy to support you along your journey.
Kevin Pahud

BCG Geneva

I’m Kevin, originally from Turkey & Switzerland, but did not grow up in either country! I studied at EPFL and started my BCG journey as an Associate after finishing my studies in June 2024. I have since mainly worked on projects within the Health Care industry, and Operations functional area.

 

Outside of work, I’m passionate about two things; I’m a dive instructor and love cooking, so you will hear me talk a lot about it, but never at the same time!
Michael Toren

BCG Zurich

I am Michael, I grew up in Zurich and studied Economics at the University of Zurich. While I did various internships during my time at university, my VAship in 2021 convinced me to start full time after finishing my studies in 2024. At BCG, I have worked primarily in the Financial Institutions and PIPE Practice Areas.

 

One of the things that stood out to me during the VA ship was the culture and sense of community of BCG – both in the case teams and also across the offices. I am looking forward to contributing to this with the next class of VAs.

 

In my free time, I enjoy running and swimming in the lake in summer (you will find me in Utoquai or Tiefenbrunnen) and skiing in the winter. I have also been an avid football fan my whole life.
Moritz Helpap

BCG Zurich

I’m Moritz, originally from Bonn, Germany. I studied at HSG and started my BCG journey as a VA during my master’s in Finance and CEMS. After finishing my studies, I returned full-time in October 2023 and have since mainly worked on projects within the Travel, Financial and Insurance Industry, recently with a focus on (Gen)AI.

 

Being a FAST FORWARD mentor means a lot to me. As a former VA, I know how impactful that time can be and what a valuable experience should look like. I truly enjoy exchanging with people who are going down the same way.


Outside of work, I enjoy travelling (current focus on south-east Asia and South America), skiing, experiencing new cuisines and I am a big aviation fan. I am trying to weave in my personal interest into my work life at BCG – trust me, there is more potential than you think. ;)
Lara Kanike

BCG Zurich

I'm Lara, and I grew up in the eastern region of Switzerland. I studied Banking and Finance at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) before joining BCG full-time in 2024. Since then, I've been focusing primarily on Financial Institutions.

What I've valued most at BCG is the genuinely collaborative culture. From day one, I've been surrounded by colleagues who challenge, support, and invest in each other's growth. I know that starting your consulting journey comes with lots of questions, which is why I'm excited to be part of FAST FORWARD. I'm looking forward to sharing my experience, answering questions, and helping participants get a first-hand impression.

Outside of work, I enjoy staying active through sports, exploring new places, and spending time with friends and family.
Your Job Package at BCG

Joining BCG full-time is much more than just a job –  it's a complete package. You'll benefit from a wide range of offerings,  continuous feedback, wellbeing programs, and diverse training and development opportunities designed to support your growth and accelerate your career, all within a supportive environment defined by a strong culture and team spirit.

Our key benefits at a glance:
Individual mentoring program
Flexible working hours, including part-time models
Teamwork, group spirit & events
Family support programs
Development opportunities through personalized training
A variety of initiatives and wellbeing programs
International projects and assignments in Switzerland and abroad
Excellent career progression opportunities supported by regular feedback

STUDIO HENDERSON

STUDIO HENDERSON is a tribute to our founder, Bruce Henderson –  inspired by his spirit of curiosity, innovation, and the courage to shape what's next. The very mindset that defines this community. 

As you become part of the FAST FORWARD community, you'll receive an exclusive piece from our STUDIO HENDERSON collection. Stay tuned!

Questions? Contact Selina.

Hi! My name is Selina Rossi and as Talent Acquisition Specialist at BCG Zurich, I am responsible for the FAST FORWARD program. Feel free to reach out to me in case of any questions!
 

FAQ's