Strategy Simplified

S24E1: The Hottest Consulting Sectors to Target in 2026

Send us Fan Mail McKinsey is making 12% more hires this year than last. But the jobs aren't going to the same profile of candidate. Energy and utilities is projected to grow 11% in 2026 – one of the least sexy practices in consulting, and one of the hottest right now. Healthcare, private equity, and consumer/retail are all shifting too. If you're aiming at the wrong sector or the wrong skill set, you're competing for the smallest slice of the market. Namaan breaks down where the hiring is concentrated, which skills firms are paying a premium for, and why specialists are starting to out-hire generalists. Resources: If you want to know exactly which firms are hiring hardest in the sectors Namaan covers, see our 2026 sector rankings before you decide If you are serious about breaking into consulting in 2026, Black Belt pairs you with an expert coach to guide you through recruiting Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E30: Why Retail Consulting Firms Are Losing Market Share

Send us Fan Mail Consumer and retail consulting used to be one market. Now it's 4. Each lane pulls a different lever – growth, margin, or talent. Firms that used to compete on "we do consumer and retail" are getting picked apart by specialists who can prove which lever they actually move. In this episode of The Briefing, Japheth sits down with Namaan to break down the 4 lanes reshaping a $70B market, why AI stopped being enough on its own, and why private equity's longer hold periods are turning growth and profitability into the same conversation. If you're a firm leader trying to protect market position, win the talent war, or defend margin, this one's for you. Resources: Go deeper on the data: Want to see which firms are already winning in each lane? Check out our 2026 Consumer & Retail ranking Want to hear it straight from firms already competing in these lanes? Watch our Consumer & Retail panel Go act on it: If your firm doesn't have a 10-second answer to "what do we solve better than anyone else," grab time with Namaan – MC works with firms to shape how that answer gets told to candidates and PE sponsors If you're a candidate trying to figure out which lane to network into, Black Belt helps you match your profile and story to the right one, and you can see who's actually hiring on our job board Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E29: How to Build Business Acumen for Consulting

Send us Fan Mail Building business judgment is learnable – most candidates just go about it the wrong way. Tauseef Charanya spent 10 years at BCG, conducted over 300 case interviews, and coached hundreds of candidates through the process. In this episode, he explains what business acumen actually looks like in a case interview, why work experience alone doesn't build it, and the 4 layers you need to hit to get an offer. Resources: If you're ready to work on your business acumen with an MBB coach, Black Belt is the program built to get you there Not sure where you stand? Book a free 15-minute call with Katie and she'll help you figure out the right next step If you're earlier in your prep, Case Foundations is a free starting point for case prep Case Competition World Cup – Fall 2026 Applications are open. Free for all students. Apply by Sept. 13. APPLY HERE Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E28: How to Use AI in Case Prep (And How Not To)

Send us Fan Mail Using AI for case prep? For most candidates, it's costing them the offer. McKinsey and Bain are already grading how you use AI in interviews this cycle. Most candidates ask AI for answers, skip the hypothesis, and accept whatever it hands back. That skips the exact skill firms are testing: how you think through a problem, not just the answer you get to. In this episode, Namaan breaks down the 3 AI case prep mistakes, and the right way to use it like a directed junior analyst instead. Resources: If you want an MBB coach checking your process, not just your answers, Black Belt pairs you with one Want the foundational skills before you loop AI in? Grab free access to Case Foundations and build the process AI should be pressure-testing, not replacing Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E27: Former BCG Consultant Runs a Live Higher Education Case Interview

Send us Fan Mail This episode is presented by Bates White, one of the world's top economic consulting firms. If you're an undergraduate rising junior (Class of 2028), Bates White internship applications open in August. Learn more. Consulting firms are moving towards non-traditional cases. They want to see if you can think, not just if you've memorized a framework. This one is a BCG-style case built around two universities launching a joint degree from zero. Ex-BCG coach Yusuf Shaikh runs candidate Wasif through it live – the structure, the math behind a 240-student enrollment target, and the real-time correction when the numbers had no framework behind them. Wasif had the right answer and still lost the case on structure. Yusuf explains why – and what to do differently. Coaching: Black Belt is how you get a dedicated coach, a personalized prep plan, and coaching from experts like Yusuf who know what MBB is looking for Book a free 15-minute call with Katie to discuss your options Resources: Create a free account and get access to our Case Foundations course, market research, and job board – no credit card required Case Competition World Cup – Fall 2026 Applications are open. Free for all students. Apply by Sept. 13. APPLY HERE Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E26: Everyone Thinks AI Is Killing Consulting. The Data Says the Opposite

Send us Fan Mail Everyone assumes AI is eating consulting alive – demand shrinking, firms pulling back. That's the narrative. The data from our July Consulting Market Outlook says something else entirely. In this episode of The Briefing, Japheth sits down with Namaan to unpack what's actually happening in the market right now. Demand is up. The bottleneck isn't leads or RFPs – it's delivery. And that changes who's winning in the second half of 2026, for firms and for candidates. We cover: Why the firms stuck in the middle are getting squeezed out The 3 things on the podium now that AI is just the entry fee What candidates should be asking firms that most aren't Resources: Download the July Consulting Market Outlook Report free – the data behind everything Namaan breaks down in this episode If you represent a consulting firm and want your perspective shaping future MC research, rankings, or thought leadership, get on Namaan's calendar If your profile still reads generalist in a market that's paying for sector depth, Black Belt helps you fix that before it costs you the offer Case Competition World Cup – Fall 2026 Applications are open. Free for all students. Apply by Sept. 13. APPLY HERE Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E25: BCG HireQuotient: What It Is, How It's Scored, and How to Pass It

Send us Fan Mail BCG's HireQuotient Online Assessment is the Online Case – same test, new platform. Katie – MC's Black Belt Advisor and ex-BCG – breaks down what's on it, how it's scored, and the thing that fails candidates outright. We walk through a live demo so you can see the mechanics before BCG sends you the real thing. Finish in time, prioritize fast, rule things out. And when you get to the final video rec – you get one shot. Whatever's recorded when the clock hits zero goes to BCG. Resources: If you want chatbot cases to practice before BCG sends you the real thing – plus a coach to build your full prep plan – Black Belt is for you New to case prep? Case Foundations is free and gets you started on the right foot Not sure if your BCG profile is competitive? 15 minutes with Katie will tell you exactly where you stand Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E24: Consumer & Retail Consulting in 2026 – What the Top Firms Are Watching

Send us Fan Mail The consumer and retail consulting market is fragmenting. Specialists are winning deals that used to go to the big firms – and the clients driving that shift aren't going back. 2 partners from this year's Top Consumer & Retail Consulting Firms ranking break it down. Keith Fogerty from Advancy and Shikha Jain from Simon-Kucher share what's actually happening in the market – revenue growth pressure, AI's real role, private equity's tightening standards, and why a pretty PowerPoint that collects dust is a failed engagement. If you're building a career in consumer or retail consulting, or running a practice in this space, this is the market intelligence you can't get anywhere else. Full speaker bios and firm profiles here. Resources: See this year's Top Consumer & Retail Consulting Firms ranking Ready to break into a top consulting firm? Black Belt is where serious candidates get the coaching to do it Explore top firms hiring in Consumer and Retail on the Management Consulted Job Board Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E23: The Unsexy Habit That Landed Him a BCG Offer

Send us Fan Mail Bruno had every disadvantage on paper: international student, non-target school, three internships that didn't add up to one clear story. He didn't let it hold him back, landing a full-time offer at BCG. In this episode of Recruiting Reality Check, Katie – MC's Black Belt Advisor – breaks down what got Bruno there. Spoiler: it wasn't more cases. It was a plan he stuck to even when it felt too "boring" to work. Turns out, unsexy habits get results. We cover: Why stacking cases with peers doesn't fix a weak strategy How Bruno turned a shared home country into 3 real referrals The unsexy habit Katie tells every candidate to copy Resources: If you're stacking cases and still not landing offers, Black Belt fixes the approach, not just the reps Not sure your profile is competitive for MBB? 15 minutes with Katie will tell you where you stand Your free MC account unlocks Case Foundations and the same tools Bruno used to build his plan Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E22: Case Interviews Got Harder at MBB in 2026 – Here's What Changed

Send us Fan Mail Every McKinsey interviewee last year got at least 1 non-traditional case. Most candidates are still only prepping for standard business cases. Namaan breaks down what's actually different about case interviews in 2026, and it's not just the case types. McKinsey is piloting an AI-enabled interview round. Bain's also adding one this summer. The bar on communication and presence just went up too, because AI raised the floor on sounding prepared – but sounding ready isn't the same as being ready anymore. Resources: If you've only drilled business cases, Case Foundations will get you ready for the case types firms are actually giving in 2026 Want a coach who is up to date on 2026 cases? Black Belt builds your prep around what firms are testing for right now, not two years ago Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E21: The Real Driver Behind the Energy Consulting Boom

Send us Fan Mail Energy consulting grew in line with the market for a decade. Flat. Unremarkable. Nobody paid attention. That changed. The market's now projected to grow 11% in 2026, and leverage for candidates with ops or technical backgrounds is higher than at any point in recent history. In this episode of The Briefing, Japheth sits down with Namaan to break down what's driving the boom. Spoiler: it's not just the data center buildout you've been reading about. Whether you're hunting for your next role or you're a firm trying to win the talent war, this one's for you. Resources: Go deeper on the data: Want the full picture from the firms themselves? Watch our Energy & Utilities panel with the leaders driving this hiring wave Curious where energy consulting firms rank for 2026? Check out our Energy & Utilities ranking That 11% growth number comes straight from Business Insider's reporting on AI's power demand surge Go act on it: If you're still leading with sustainability credentials, Black Belt helps you reframe your profile around the implementation experience firms want Ready to see who's hiring right now? Browse open energy consulting roles on our job board Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E20: The 4 Case Prep Gaps Costing You the Offer

Send us Fan Mail The reality of MBB recruiting: 100 candidates apply. 15 get an interview. 1 gets the offer. Most of the 99 who don't get it aren't underqualified. They just had a bad plan. Kabreya Ghaderi, who coached hundreds of candidates and spent time at McKinsey, PwC, and Bridgespan, sees strong candidates still miss because their prep plan has a hole in it they can't see from the inside. In this episode, Kabreya walks through the 4 gaps that sink even candidates who are doing everything "right." What stood out: Logging more cases can actually lock in the wrong habits, faster One candidate did 80 practice cases and was still nowhere near ready Feeling ready and being ready are two different things, and most people can't tell which one they are Resources: Get the personalized plan you need + expert coaching by joining Black Belt Book 15 minutes with Katie to get your questions answered Start building case proficiency today with our free Case Foundations starter course Book 1:1 coaching with Kabreya Case Competition World Cup – Fall 2026 Applications are open. Free for all students. Apply by Sept. 13. Graduate Track – Presented by Adobe Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E19: BCG Case Interview – Solar Energy Revenue Decline

Send us Fan Mail Ish Mawla ran a BCG case in front of a live audience. Real candidate, real pressure. The case: a solar company in an emerging market watching its revenue fall while the broader market keeps growing. Aditya has to figure out why – and what to do about it. Then Ish breaks down the whole thing – what Aditya did well and where he left points on the table. Here's what stood out: Why your framework can work against you – and the one thing most candidates build in that they shouldn't How to read an exhibit under time pressure without glossing over the math that's sitting right in front of you What it takes to brainstorm boldly when the ask is doubling revenue, not incremental growth Coaching: Want this kind of feedback on your own cases? Start with a free 15-minute call with Katie – she'll tell you where you stand and whether Black Belt is the right fit Black Belt is how you get a dedicated advisor, a personalized prep plan, and coaching from experts like Ish who know what MBB is looking for Resources: New to MC? Create a free account and get access to our Case Foundations course, market research, and job board – no credit card required Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E18: 5 Candidates Share What Actually Got Them MBB Offers

Send us Fan Mail 5 people just landed offers at McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, and L.E.K. We got them all in one room and asked them the same question: what actually worked? The real stuff – how many cases they did, how they networked, what they wish they'd done differently, and the misconceptions that almost cost them. Aisha did 50 cases her first recruiting cycle and didn't get the offer. She did 25 the second time and got it. That contrast says more than any framework guide will. You'll learn: Why quality beats volume in case prep – and what "quality" actually looks like How each of these 5 built their firm lists and network from scratch The misconception every candidate walked in with (and when they figured out it was wrong) Resources: 4 of the 5 panelists worked with an MC coach – learn more about Black Belt coaching Not sure if coaching is the right fit? Book a free 15-min call with Katie – she'll tell you where you stand Create a free MC account to start building your case prep foundation Consulting Deadlines: McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E17: Ex-Bain Interviewer Shares What Gets You Hired at Bain

Send us Fan Mail Mitali Jalan was told she couldn't break into consulting as a chartered accountant. She was told it was unlikely she'd land Bain as an international MBA student. She got the offers anyway. She worked at Deloitte India and Bain London, then sat on the other side of the table as a Bain interviewer. She's coached over 350 candidates and knows where people lose the offer. The thing she kept seeing? Candidates who spent weeks on case prep, walked in technically ready, and still didn't get it. The gap wasn't knowledge. We cover: How to recruit for a firm in a country that isn't yours Why "nice" is not a soft factor at Bain – and how to train for it What made Mitali stop reading a CV in seconds How to track your prep so you're fixing the right things, not just logging cases Resources: Work with Mitali directly Ready to break into MBB? Black Belt is the case prep program for serious candidates Book a free 15-minute call with Katie to map out your path Consulting Deadlines: McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E16: How AI is Disrupting the Consulting Model | Arda Ecevit, Ex-Bain & NexStrat AI Founder

Send us Fan Mail Every week we hear the same question from candidates: Is AI going to gut consulting before I can break in? Short answer: No. Longer answer: The model is changing fast, and you need to know what's shifting and what isn't. Arda Ecevit spent over 13 years at Deloitte, Strategy&, and Bain before co-founding NexStrat AI. He sat down with Namaan to talk about what AI is doing to consulting – and the parts of the job it can't touch. What AI is taking off the junior consultant's plate The skills that still get you hired (and promoted) at MBB Why MBB is still worth joining, even with AI doing more junior analyst work Where partners and clients still need humans in the room Resources: Try NexStrat AI free for 14 days, then 50% off your first month with code MC50OFF – click here Connect with Arda on LinkedIn Land your consulting offer – join Black Belt for 1:1 coaching from MBB advisors Book a 15-min strategy call with Katie Consulting Deadlines: McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E15: He Quit His Job to Break Into Consulting

Send us Fan Mail Walter applied to consulting out of undergrad and didn't get an offer. Went into investment banking, got another shot a year and a half later, and still wasn't ready – too busy, not focused enough, cramming at the last minute. So he quit his job to recruit full time. That's an extreme version of the lesson, but the lesson applies to anyone working full time while trying to break in: you have less time than you think. Consulting firms aren't running a six-month hiring cycle. They've got a project to staff and they need someone now. You could apply today and interview next week. In this episode of Recruiting Reality Check, Katie Neff, ex-BCG and MC's Black Belt Advisor, breaks down what Walter did differently on attempt #3 – how he started from scratch, built a serious plan, and landed a full-time offer with L.E.K. The June Black Belt cohort closes Tuesday, June 9 (limited spots). Learn more and join. Resources: Book a free 15-minute call with Katie to map out your best path Join the June Black Belt cohort for structured coaching from application to offer Explore 2,000 consulting jobs for working professionals on the Management Consulted Job Board Consulting Deadlines: McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

S23E14: Ex-BCG Principal: Why 22 Cases Beat 100 (And What Actually Gets Offers)

Send us Fan Mail BCG interviews typically start 3–4 weeks after the application deadline – and deadlines are here. Tauseef Charanya spent 10 years at BCG – half consulting, half building AI products globally. He's done 300+ interviews and has seen strong candidates miss offers for the same reasons, over and over. In this episode, he breaks down the 3 mistakes that hurt otherwise solid BCG candidates, why doing more cases without feedback makes you worse, and the 4-step system that gets you BCG-ready. You'll learn: Why memorizing frameworks won't cut it – and what BCG interviewers are actually looking for How BCG's candidate-led format differs from McKinsey and how to prep for it The skill sequence that gets candidates offer-ready in 22 cases, not 100+ Why the BCG internship deserves the same urgency as full-time recruiting Resources: Ready to close the gap before deadlines? Book a free 15-minute consult with Katie Want the structured system Tauseef describes? Explore Black Belt Book a 1:1 session with Tauseef Consulting Deadlines: McKinsey, Bain, and BCG deadlines hit August 11 – 13 (and more are coming) – get interview-ready fast with Black Belt DO THE WORK • STAY THE COURSE • NO SHORTCUTS™️ Podcast for people who are serious about building something real. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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