Dominic Rose Insights

How Dominic Rose Moved from Bain to COO

Hear Dominic’s account of leaving Bain and building a career in commercial and operational leadership. Discover 5 lessons on making the pivot, proving yourself beyond strategy, and leading with impact.

GUEST SPEAKER PROFILE

Dominic Rose

An experienced Chair, advisor and Non-Executive Director focused on growing and scaling brand-led, tech-enabled consumer businesses — particularly eCommerce brands and marketplace platforms with a strong sustainability focus.

He is currently Chair of Rise & Fall and SarahRaven.com, NED at Anansi, and Advisor to Fussy, Sous Chef and Hirestreet. He was previously a NED at Wolf & Badger (2021–2025).

His last executive role was as COO of Depop, the Gen Z resale platform, which he joined in 2018. There he led global scaling to a 400+ person team, grew revenues 250% in under two years, and played a key role in Depop’s $1.65B exit to Etsy — creating $1.5B in shareholder value since 2018.

Outside of work, Dominic founded Britain's Biggest Living Garden, an urban biodiversity initiative, and runs a local children’s gardening club.

Dominic will be our guest speaker on topics including “Building a Portfolio Career” and “From Consulting to NED: The Strategic Path Through In-House Roles.”

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Top Insights – From Bain to COO: Dominic Rose on Breaking Out of Strategy

When Dominic Rose left Bain to join NetJets, it was not the obvious next step. He accepted a lower title, took a pay cut, and bet on the long-term opportunities it could unlock. That decision became the launchpad for a career leading commercial and operational teams at ASOS and Depop, scaling the latter from 100 to more than 400 people, before moving into a portfolio of advisory and non-executive roles.

In our latest OnUpBeyond Q&A, hosted by Rich Rosser, Dominic shared what it really feels like to leave consulting and step into general management. His story is packed with candid lessons: the trade-offs required, the mindset shifts involved, and the habits that matter most in leadership.

Here are five takeaways that stood out:

1. Be Open to Sideways or Downward Moves

Breaking out of strategy often means taking a role that does not look glamorous. Dominic accepted a lower title and salary, but it gave him hands-on commercial experience and credibility that accelerated his career later.

2. Prove by Doing, Not Just Thinking

In consulting, you are paid to find the answer. In business, what matters is execution. Delivering results quickly, even small ones, changes how colleagues see you and builds momentum for bigger opportunities.

3. Empathy is Essential

Consultants are trained to bring answers. In-house, that approach can backfire. Dominic found that humility, listening, and focusing on helping others succeed built the trust and sponsorship that unlocked new roles.

4. Accept “Good Enough”

Perfectionism is rewarded in consulting but can be a liability in fast-moving organisations. Dominic learned to prioritise what matters most, let go of the polish, and push for progress over perfection.

5. Know Yourself Before Chasing Titles

Many ex-consultants aspire to be CEOs. Dominic cautioned that line roles come with pressure, firefighting, and grind alongside the highlights. Being honest about what energises you and what doesn't is crucial before pursuing P&L leadership.

🎥 Want the full story?
Dominic talks openly about leaving Bain, scaling Depop, and the mindset shifts that matter when moving from slides to P&L.

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