James Wells, a Senior Life Sciences Specialist (SLSS) at L.E.K.’s Life Sciences Sector, tells us about his journey into consulting, his day-to-day experiences, and his advice for aspiring consultants.
Tell us about yourself and your journey to L.E.K.
I grew up in Ontario, Canada, where I received my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Queen’s University. My interest in disease and translatable medicines led me to pursue my PhD in Interdisciplinary Oncology at the University of British Columbia on the Pacific Coast.
While I was finishing my PhD, right when COVID hit, I joined a nonprofit consulting club, and that’s what really put consulting on my radar. After working on a few pro bono cases, I realized how much I enjoyed the problem-solving, impact, and strategy behind consulting. Several cases weren’t even related to life sciences—I even worked with a voting rights organization. I knew I wanted to leverage my expertise in biochemistry and oncology. When I started looking at firms, L.E.K. stood out as a consulting firm with a strong life sciences practice. I reached out to people at L.E.K., and they affirmed that it could be a great fit—the types of cases, people, and values all matched what I was looking for. That’s what brought me here.
What does a typical day look like for a Senior Life Sciences Specialist?
It really depends on the team makeup because L.E.K. is an international firm. I’m located in LA, but I’ve worked with teams on the East Coast, in London, and even on a joint venture with the Japanese branch. On a typical day, I’m logging in by 8:30 AM to check emails and get a sense of what’s been happening—especially if there are team members elsewhere who have already started their workday. The first BOD (beginning-of-day) meeting helps set the tone, aligning the team on key tasks and upcoming meetings.
My work involves a mix of quantitative analysis, such as building financial models, working with client databases, or identifying key competitors within a specific market. Secondary research plays a big role as well, where I sift through reports, scientific literature, and databases to support our findings. Sometimes, I also conduct primary research, running expert interviews with scientists, executives, and medical directors to validate assumptions and refine our insights. Finally, this work needs to be synthesized and translated into a clear, structured format, which means preparing presentations for internal discussion or for our clients. The afternoon and evening are about iterative problem-solving, refining our work, and preparing the next round of deliverables. It’s all about communicating insights effectively so that we can drive decisions forward.
What has been your most exciting and challenging project so far?
One of the most difficult and rewarding projects I worked on was for a large diagnostics company. The goal was to understand the patient journey for individuals with acute myeloid leukemia—how they move through diagnosis and treatment, and where gaps in care exist. I was tasked with modeling the entire process, from when a patient first interacts with a doctor to receive a diagnostic test, all the way through treatment. We needed to understand where these tests were being done—whether at community hospitals or centers of excellence—which diagnostics were being used, and where opportunities to reduce delays in treatment exist.
This case was a challenge because it presented our team with an open-ended problem—there was no clear framework to follow. It was about piecing together data from different sources, building accurate models, and finding actionable insights. In the end, we were able to help the client identify key areas where diagnostics could be improved, which was rewarding.
Tell us about the culture at L.E.K.
L.E.K. has a culture of curiosity and problem-solving. People here are highly motivated and push each other to succeed, but there’s also a strong sense of support and camaraderie. Each sub-sector within the firm has its own micro-culture, but overall, there’s a shared drive for impact. You’re constantly learning and growing, which makes it a great environment for people who are interested in self-development. Another thing I appreciate is that when you’re on a challenging project, there’s a real sense of being in the trenches together. Everyone works hard, but there’s always support from your teammates. It’s a fast-paced environment but one where people genuinely want to see each other succeed.
What advice do you have for someone hoping to join the LSS practice at L.E.K.?
I’d break it down into three key things. First, gain real consulting experience before interviews. One of the best ways to do this is through nonprofit consulting groups. I worked with 180 Degrees Consulting, which gave me exposure to real cases before I ever stepped into an interview. It helped me develop problem-solving skills and gave me real examples to talk about. Second, build your analytical and technical skills. Excel and financial modeling are a big part of the job, so taking a financial modeling course or gaining experience with Excel is a great way to prepare. Finally, network and practice case interviews. Reaching out to people in consulting and setting up coffee chats can connect you with others who are also preparing, which is incredibly valuable. Case prep is key—not just as an interviewee, but also by practicing as the interviewer. Seeing both sides of a case will help improve your problem-solving skills. Consulting is a competitive field, but if you’re proactive about gaining experience, developing your skills, and connecting with people, you’ll set yourself up for success.