Finding My Path in Consulting: From the Lab to L.E.K.
Hi, I am Sydney Smith, a Senior Life Sciences Specialist at L.E.K. Consulting in the San Francisco office. Like many other advanced degree holders, I have a non-linear path into consulting shaped by a love of science, a curious mindset, and a drive to solve meaningful problems with impact.
I am originally from Portland, Oregon, and from an early age was deeply interested in studying how the human body works, namely the formation of disease. This led me to conduct undergraduate research for three years, where I studied fruit fly eyes to understand mechanisms by which neurons die in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Through this independent research, I uncovered new knowledge delineating a mechanism that drives disease, inspiring me to pursue a PhD in Immunology at the University of Michigan.

Life During My PhD
During my PhD, I identified a potential novel biomarker to detect aggressive tumors through identification of a protein sensor of neighboring cells that, when activated through cell-cell contacts, functions as a ‘brake’ on growth. Removal of this ‘brake’ proceeds in uncontrolled cell growth driven by well-established oncogenic factors. I then uncovered a potential mechanism by which individuals with Ulcerative Colitis fail to heal ulcers in their intestine, where loss of an adhesion protein results in an inability for cells to move together to heal these wounds.

While I enjoyed my PhD research and saw the impact I was generating, I found myself seeking greater variety in my work. I realized that healthcare innovations emerge through harnessing scientific insights via a solid business platform to bring therapies to patients, rather than through academic papers. This led me to seek out career options beyond academia where I could have a more direct impact on healthcare and experience greater variety and faster-paced problem solving.

Discovering Consulting
I sought out life sciences business experience by joining miLEAD Consulting Group, a student-run nonprofit organization. miLEAD, a 100+ member organization, has grown into a six-figure operation over the past 10 years, providing consulting services to local Ann Arbor startups as well as Fortune 500 companies. Three years with miLEAD proved transformative; I found the right environment of work content, project lifecycle, and people I truly enjoyed. From a consultant position, I moved up to serve as President of the company in 2023, overseeing a record-breaking revenue year and co-launching the Midwest Healthcare Case Competition, a virtual healthcare competition for advanced degree trainees that has been running for three years.

Joining L.E.K.
In 2022, I applied to the Link to L.E.K. program—a short but immersive look at life as a Life Sciences Specialist (LSS) at L.E.K. Within three days, I was sold. I knew I could do meaningful work surrounded by incredibly smart, humble, and supportive people. I received an offer shortly after the Link program ended and accepted, knowing I would be growing into the professional I wanted to become.

Day-to-Day as an LSS
One of my favorite things about working as an LSS is how often the work changes. Every four to six weeks, I am on a new project. Some recent examples include helping a client figure out how to become a billion-dollar player in the lab services space, working with a private equity firm to build an investment thesis in the drug manufacturing industry, and understanding the care path for a chronic infectious disease. Depending on the case, I might be conducting interviews with physicians, doing secondary research, building revenue models, or analyzing client data. Our days include daily team meetings, weekly client check-ins, and partner touchpoints. It is collaborative and fast-paced, and no two days are the same. We front-load our week—Monday through Wednesday is the busiest—and we protect evenings and weekends, making the workload sustainable.

A Project That Stuck With Me
My first project at L.E.K. is still the one I often come back to. We were collaborating with a pharmaceutical client to figure out how to package an injectable drug for use in lower- and middle-income countries—places like India, Mexico, and Thailand. We had to consider if the glass would break being transported on unpaved roads, how high temperatures could affect the drug product, whether the box size posed storage issues, if instructions on the box were clear for all healthcare providers, and whether packaging color or artwork might be problematic in certain countries. The project proved challenging as it was open-ended and about finding the best answer for each geography. It was made even more memorable by a client site visit where I interacted with the prototype and saw everything work together. Now, nearly 18 months later, that product has launched and is available around the world. This kind of work reminds you why you are in this business.

Culture That Values Humility
Humility is infused in L.E.K.’s culture—we even test for it in interviews. We move fast and must be honest with ourselves and our teams. If something is off, you need to flag it. If you need help, you ask. You must be open to feedback and willing to adjust quickly, creating a culture that is not only high-performing but also supportive.

People here are incredibly impressive. In past ‘fun facts’ roundtables at the SF office, I’ve learned I work with professional artists, startup founders, foodies, and yogis—but you would not know it unless you asked. My own fun fact? I am learning to do a free handstand with my yoga teacher.

Advice for Aspiring LSS Candidates
First, get practical experience before applying. Try student consulting, case competitions, or venture capital groups. These experiences help you see if consulting is for you and lend themselves to stellar case interview performance. If your school does not have something like miLEAD, there are national groups like Biotech Connection – Bay Area, or case competitions like the Midwest Healthcare Case Competition, which I co-founded.

Second, prepare seriously for interviews. Consulting is competitive, and you need appropriate time, consistency, and a strategy for your practice. Know your timeline: for advanced degree candidates, if you want to start in 2026, you need to apply in 2025. Prepare for both case interviews and the behavioral fit portions, and be ready to tell your story, including why you are specifically interested in L.E.K., and answer questions about teamwork, overcoming mistakes, and handling tough projects.

Third, prepare for the job, not just the offer. Use the time between your offer and start date to build skills. Brush up on Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and learn how to use GenAI tools (Copilot, ChatGPT) to increase efficiency. I significantly improved my Excel skills by using Copilot to write formulas and troubleshoot during my first year at L.E.K. Also, think about how your life will adapt. I went from standing in a wet lab all day to sitting at a desk looking at a computer. I did not initially plan for things like when I would work out, needing glasses for eye strain, or a standing desk. These adjustments really matter during the first six months.

In sum, this job has brought together everything I wanted: science, impact, collaboration, and growth. If you are considering this path, I hope my story helps you imagine what life in consulting could look like. Thank you for reading!