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Strategy Simplified

Management Consulted

Strategy Simplified is here to demystify the consulting industry and help you land your dream job in management consulting. Hosted by the expert team at Management Consulted - the world's largest resource for consulting news and interview prep - each episode covers topics related to the consulting world, from interview preparation and case study techniques to networking strategies and industry trends. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to make a transition, Strategy Simplified is the go-to resource for anyone looking to break into the consulting industry. With actionable advice, insider tips, and real-life success stories, this podcast is the ultimate guide to simplifying your career strategy and landing your dream consulting job.

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S24 · E15
September 1 · 41 min
S24E15: McKinsey's Cases Are Interviewer-Led – Most Candidates Practice the Wrong Way
Send us Fan Mail Most consulting interviews let you drive the case. McKinsey doesn't. McKinsey is one of the only firms that runs interviewer-led cases – the interviewer leads the case, not you. So candidates who prep the way BCG or Bain expects walk in ready for the wrong format. And the case is only half your score – the PEI (Personal Experience Interview) is the other half. Ex-McKinsey coach Mark Di Giorgio breaks down why the interviewer-led format catches strong candidates off guard, how to build your PEI story bank, plus the 3-week prep plan when you don't have a lot of time left. Resources: Join a Black Belt cohort to get paired with a McKinsey coach who's run McKinsey's actual interviewer-led cases from the inside 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
S24 · E14
August 28 · 11 min
S24E14: Why McKinsey Asks up to 25 Follow-Up Questions in the PEI
Send us Fan Mail Most candidates prep for the McKinsey PEI like a regular behavioral interview. McKinsey built it to do more than that. One story, and up to 25 follow-up questions testing whether what you said the first time still holds. That's why memorized answers fall apart under the PEI. Scripted stories crack under repeated follow-ups. The ones that hold up are built to survive being asked the same thing five different ways. In this episode, Namaan breaks down the four traits McKinsey scores in the PEI and how to build stories that survive the follow-ups. Resources: Prep your PEI stories one-on-one with a former McKinsey interviewer through Black Belt Learn more about McKinsey's interview process 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
S24 · E13
August 26 · 22 min
S24E13: Top 10 AI Consulting Firms and the Hire They All Want
Send us Fan Mail Every firm on our new 2027 Top Enterprise AI Consulting Firms ranking wants to hire the same person right now. And none of them can find them. Namaan calls it the unicorn hire: technical enough to deploy AI, business-minded enough to define the problem, and clear enough to explain it to a non-technical client. That's the same skill behind telling deployment from transformation, the mistake costing firms deals right now. The people who can spot that difference are the ones every firm wants, and there aren't enough of them to go around. We cover: The 3 traits that make you the hire firms are struggling to find Namaan's 4-part test for telling real transformation from deployment Why most AI pilots stall before production, and what changes when a firm gets it right Resources: Our full breakdown is in the 2027 Top Enterprise AI Consulting Firms ranking – see who made the cut and why Want your firm's perspective in our next ranking, panel, or research piece? Tell our research team If you're trying to become the hire firms can't find, Black Belt is where you build the technical-plus-business skill set they're looking for 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
S24 · E12
August 24 · 6 min
S24E12: A McKinsey Coach's Playbook for Winning Case Competitions
Send us Fan Mail Last year, 500 students on 100 teams competed in the Case Competition World Cup. Before they saw the case, coach Divya – 8 years at McKinsey – taught them the first move that separates winning teams from the rest. It's the day 1 answer: a hypothesis you lock in before you have the data, even though it feels premature. But skip it, and teams start boiling the ocean – expanding the question until there's no path left to a real recommendation. This fall, the competition returns with two tracks – undergraduate, presented by Grant Thornton Stax, and graduate, presented by Adobe – co-hosted with Case Questions and Marc Cosentino, author of Case in Point. Any current student can apply – completely free. Application deadline: September 13, 2026. Resources: Undergrad students: apply for the Case Competition World Cup – Undergraduate Track, presented by Grant Thornton Stax Grad students: apply for the Case Competition World Cup – Graduate Track, presented by Adobe Looking for more case competitions? We keep a running list of competitions across the US and internationally 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
S24 · E11
August 21 · 1 hr
S24E11: Inside Private Equity Consulting: AI Bets, Harder Exits, and Real Diligence
Send us Fan Mail A private equity firm bought a paint company. Turned out their sales reps were handing out 50% discounts to any contractor who asked nicely. That's the kind of blind spot 3 PE leaders talk through in this episode – what actually happens once a private equity deal gets underway. Carl Evander (OC&C), Sean McDevitt (Arthur D. Little), and Dave Clement (Simon-Kucher) break down how a deal actually gets picked, checked out, and sold for a profit. You'll learn: Why the numbers on older deals are forcing PE firms to sell now, ready or not What "real diligence" looks like once you've actually bought the company The 1 skill partners say will matter more than AI in 3 years Full speaker bios and firm profiles here. Resources: See this year's Top Private Equity Consulting Firms ranking If breaking into a PE-focused practice is the target, Black Belt pairs you with an advisor who's coached candidates into firms like OC&C and Simon-Kucher Explore top firms hiring in Private Equity Consulting 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
S24 · E10
August 19 · 43 min
S24E10: The Toothbrush Test: Why Most Case Frameworks Fail at MBB
Send us Fan Mail If your case framework doesn't pass the toothbrush test, it's too generic for McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. Ex-Bain coach Abi Chen walks through the toothbrush test, the 3 mistakes that cost most candidates their offer, and the 4-step process to build strong frameworks. Finally, she walks through two full framework examples – an M&A case and a pharma product launch. Resources: If your frameworks keep failing the toothbrush test, Black Belt is how you fix the process Want to build a framework like this on a real client problem? Apply for the Case Competition World Cup 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
S24 · E9
August 14 · 59 min
S24E9: Inside a Bates White Economic Consulting Case Interview
Send us Fan Mail Bates White let us inside a real economic consulting case interview. Annie Olecki, a senior consultant in Bates White's antitrust practice, ran a live case interview with a volunteer from the MC community. And economic consulting cases don't look like the strategy cases at McKinsey or Bain. The case: a phone manufacturer suing its battery suppliers for price-fixing. The candidate has to size the damages, then revise the number - twice - as new evidence shifts the picture. That's the instinct Bates White is testing for. Annie wanted to see if the candidate would revise the estimate once new information proved it wrong. After the case wraps, Annie and Bates White recruiter Julian Pritcher take audience questions - interview rounds, what stands out in a resume, and R vs. Python. Join Bates White: Bates White's summer consultant program is open for applications. If you're an undergrad rising junior graduating Dec. 2027 through spring 2028, apply here Not that class year? Bates White keeps a running list of openings. Submit your resume and cover letter and the firm will reach out if a role fits Go deeper on Bates White – our full firm profile Resources: Join the Black Belt program to build killer case instincts like Kunal 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
S24 · E8
August 12 · 22 min
S24E8: Private Equity Consulting Firms Have a Sameness Problem
Send us Fan Mail Namaan talked to dozens of PE practice leaders for our 2026 ranking. Almost every one said the same three things: 1) Cross-practice integration. 2) Strategy through execution. 3) Deep sector expertise. Strip the logo off 7 of 10 firms and you can't tell them apart. That's the sameness problem. And it's expensive. Sponsors stop evaluating and default to relationships, brand, and price instead. On this episode of The Briefing, Namaan breaks down what the standout firms did differently. Resources: Management Consulted's full research is in the 2026 Top Private Equity Consulting Firms ranking – see which 10 practices stood out and why Want your firm's perspective in our next ranking, panel, or research piece? Tell our research team Targeting PE consulting? Work with a Black Belt coach 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
S24 · E7
August 11 · 33 min
S24E7: MBA Case Prep in 2–4 Weeks: An Ex-Bain Interviewer's Plan
Send us Fan Mail Most 2nd-year MBA candidates have 2 to 4 weeks to get case interview-ready this cycle, not the usual 6 to 8. More cases won't close that gap for McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. Former Bain interviewer and LBS MBA Mitali Jalan compressed her prep into under 4 weeks and landed her offer. This session is her plan for doing it on a short runway. The fix isn't more volume. It's knowing what to drill, and when. Listen for: Mitali's 4-step sequence for compressing 6 to 8 weeks of prep into 2 to 4 Why 30 cases with a partner can still hide the mistake that costs an offer Business acumen: the one skill interviewers spot instantly, and most candidates never build Resources: Black Belt pairs you with a coach who catches what a case partner can't – 80% land at least one offer 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
S24 · E6
August 7 · 9 min
S24E6: McKinsey Solve Game 2026: What It Is and How to Prepare
Send us Fan Mail McKinsey screens candidates with a video game – McKinsey Solve – before they ever see a case interview. Most candidates either try to copy other people's answers or panic because they don't know what it's measuring. So here's the breakdown: what Solve is, what McKinsey is testing for inside it, and how to approach it. The answer isn't Solve-specific prep. It's the same problem-solving fundamentals that carry you through the entire McKinsey recruiting process. We cover: What the Solve scenarios look like and how the timing works The 5 cognitive abilities McKinsey is measuring – and why they map directly to what consultants actually do How to prepare without wasting time on things that won't transfer Resources: If you want coaching from an ex-McKinsey interviewer – plus access to a practice Solve simulation – Black Belt is the program that top candidates turn to New to case prep? Start with the Case Foundations course – free 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
S24 · E5
August 6 · 46 min
S24E5: McKinsey Case Interview Example: Electric Truck Market Entry
Send us Fan Mail George Cary spent five years as a McKinsey EM. In this live case, he coaches candidate Harvey through a real McKinsey market entry study: should a diesel truck manufacturer build and sell electric trucks. Harvey builds a framework, runs the full cost-of-ownership math, and lands a final recommendation. George pauses after every section to break down good vs. great in real time. You'll learn: Why McKinsey calls it "problem solving," not casing – and the vocabulary that signals you already think like a consultant How Harvey turns a good, structured framework into a great, distinctive one The full math behind pricing an e-truck – and how to talk through your logic instead of just stating the number Resources: Harvey turned 3 weeks of coaching into a case that sounded ready for the real thing – Black Belt pairs you with a coach like George who breaks down your good from your great, session by session 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
S24 · E4
August 5 · 17 min
S24E4: She Bombed MBB Her First Try – Then Landed 2 Offers the Next Time
Send us Fan Mail Sharon had everything going for her. Top-tier MBA. MBB interview invites across the board. She'd done 50–60 cases – but didn't make it past a single first round. What held her back wasn't her profile. It was her approach. So she came back the next year when the stakes were even higher. This time, she did it differently – and landed McKinsey and Bain. Katie breaks down what shifted and what re-recruiters (and first-timers who want to avoid the same trap) can take from Sharon's story. Resources: If you're re-recruiting and want a real plan this time, Black Belt is where candidates like Sharon get the structure and coaching they were missing the first time around Not sure if Black Belt is right for your situation? Book a free 15-minute call with Katie and find out 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
S24 · E3
July 31 · 8 min
S24E3: 3 Questions That Kill Your Case Interview Opening
Send us Fan Mail "Any other objectives?" sounds polite. But in a case interview opening, it costs you points. Namaan breaks down the 3 questions that kill candidates in the first 2 minutes of a case. The case opening is the first section that gets scored. And it's nearly identical every single time. So if there's one part of the case you can walk in ready for, it's this one. Get the opening right, and the rest of the case gets easier. Resources: If you struggle with case openings, Black Belt pairs you with an ex-MBB interviewer who'll help build the muscle rep by rep Newer to cases? Case Foundations walks you through the fundamentals – free 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
S24 · E2
July 29 · 7 min
S24E2: How Consulting Firms Really Score Case Interviews
Send us Fan Mail You can nail every case you practice and still get rejected. That's because firms aren't grading you on vibes. McKinsey scores you piece by piece – opening, structure, math, brainstorming, closing. Other firms use 3 buckets instead: structure, problem solving, communication. Either way, a 4 out of 4 in math won't save a 1 out of 4 in brainstorming. Firms want you solid across the board. In this episode, Namaan breaks down exactly what's being scored – and why doing 100 more practice cases won't fix a gap you haven't identified. Resources: Whether you're prepping for McKinsey's rubric or the 3-bucket system, Black Belt closes the gaps costing you the offer New to case prep? Case Foundations is our free crash course on the basics – the starting point before scoring even matters 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
S24 · E1
July 24 · 5 min
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
S23 · E30
July 22 · 29 min
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
S23 · E29
July 17 · 24 min
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
S23 · E28
July 15 · 12 min
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
S23 · E27
July 10 · 50 min
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
S23 · E26
July 8 · 27 min
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

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