Strategy Simplified

Hosted by Management Consulted

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Episodes

741

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

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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60 recent

October 23, 2026Episode 241 min

S25E2: Ex-Bain Consultant Coaches a Live Bain Case Interview, Step by Step

Send us Fan Mail Juliane Hoss spent 3 years at Bain, and she’s interviewed plenty of candidates since. In this live Bain case interview, she coaches Abhirav after every step. The case: a UK healthcare consulting firm wants to double its revenue in 3 years. Abhirav, an engineer turned DJ turned finance student, solves it from clarifying questions to recommendation while Juliane coaches him. But the moment that sticks isn’t a framework. Juliane says the question she and other interviewers keep coming back to is whether they’d want you on their team . She says that matters more than being impressive. Juliane says if she hears the perfect answer 5 times a day, she can’t remember who you were at the end. So see how your own cases compare. Resources: Doing the cases but can’t tell what’s holding you back? See how Black Belt coaching works – 1-on-1 with an MBB coach like Juliane who finds your gap areas and helps you close them Not sure if MC support is right for you? Book 15 minutes with Katie – you’ll find out if Black Belt is the right fit 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

October 21, 2026Episode 14 min

S25E1: Mini Case Interviews at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG Explained

Send us Fan Mail Mini case interviews are often the first test you face at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. And if you’ve heard them called market sizing questions, you’ve already met the most common version. But a mini case interview plays by different rules than a full case, and the interviewer isn’t going to guide you through it. Namaan breaks down what to expect, how mini cases are scored, and how to finish one the right way. Resources: Want to know how you’d handle a mini case under time pressure? Run timed mini case drills with MBB coaches in Black Belt – you get feedback on structure, math, and communication Not sure if MC support is right for you? Book 15 minutes with Katie – you’ll find out if Black Belt is the right fit 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

October 16, 2026Episode 3042 min

S24E30: Why US Case Interview Prep Fails in European Consulting Interviews

Send us Fan Mail Most case interview prep is written for US interviews. If you’re recruiting for a European office, you’ll walk into a different interview than the one you practiced. Laura Ackerman worked at McKinsey and BCG and has coached European candidates for 4 years. She breaks down where US prep falls short in European consulting interviews: the case formats, the case topics, and how conversational the fit interview gets. And she shares how one client with a diplomacy background landed a McKinsey London offer after 10 coaching sessions in 1 month. Resources: Check my firm’s deadline in the free application tracker – dates vary by country and firm, and they’re all in one place Worried your prep won’t match what a European interviewer expects? See how Black Belt coaching works – 1-on-1 with a former MBB interviewer who finds your gap areas and helps you close them Not sure if MC support is right for you? Book 15 minutes with Katie – you’ll find out if Black Belt is the right fit. 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

October 14, 2026Episode 2930 min

S24E29: Bain Interviews Have Different Rules – Here’s How to Prep

Send us Fan Mail Bain interviews have different rules, and Abi Chen spent 6 years at the firm learning them from the inside. As a former Bain manager and now an MC coach, she interviewed candidates and helped decide who got an invite. So she knows where strong candidates lose ground. In this episode, she walks through 4 of those mistakes – and what to do instead so you can get your offer. Resources: Practicing cases but can’t tell what’s holding you back? See how Black Belt coaching works – 1-on-1 with former MBB consultants who find your gap areas and help you close them Not sure Black Belt is the right fit? Book a free 15-minute consult with Katie – bring your questions and leave knowing if it matches your goals and timeline 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

October 9, 2026Episode 2833 min

S24E28: Top 10 Healthcare Consulting Firms and Who Leads Each Segment

Send us Fan Mail Almost every large consulting firm has a healthcare practice. Far fewer have a healthcare position. In this episode of The Briefing, Namaan breaks down our 2027 healthcare consulting research. The big finding is that healthcare consulting splits into two sides, care delivery and life sciences, and a firm that’s excellent at one is often absent from the other. So the question for any practice leader is which side your firm has built a position on. McKinsey, BCG, and Bain take the top three spots. See where every firm lands, and who leads each segment, in the full ranking. Resources: See the free 2027 Top 10 Healthcare Consulting Firms ranking – 10 firms plus the segment map showing who leads each part of the market Want to compare notes on what you’re seeing in the market? Email our research team: research@managementconsulted.com Want your firm’s perspective in future rankings, research, and podcasts? Schedule a conversation with Namaan 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

October 7, 2026Episode 278 min

S24E27: Busted: The Online Assessment Isn't the Hardest Part of Recruiting

Send us Fan Mail "I need to start prepping for the online assessment now, because it's the hardest part of getting an interview." Katie hears some version of this on her calls all the time, and it's easy to see why. The test can feel like a weird game you have no way to practice for, and it's the first thing standing between your application and an interview. So in our first episode of Case Busters , Katie puts it to the test. Should you really be grinding practice tests months before you apply? And what actually happens if you bomb one? Myth or fact? Hit play to find out. Resources: Not sure what to work on first? Book 15 minutes with Katie – she'll help you map out what to prep and when Doing the prep but can't tell what's holding you back? See how Black Belt coaching works – 1:1 help from ex-MBB coaches on cases, networking and your resume, plus practice tests for each firm's online assessment 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

October 2, 2026Episode 265 min

S24E26: The 3-Part Case Interview Closing That Can Rescue Your Score

Send us Fan Mail In most cases, your interviewer already knows how they'll score you by the time you reach the closing. But when it's a close one, the closing is the tiebreaker, and it can rescue your score. Namaan breaks down the 3 parts of a closing that works: the recap, the recommendation, and the risks and next steps. Practice it in every case, so the closing is ready to rescue your score when you need it. Resources: Start my free Case Foundations course – it covers all 5 core components of a case, including a deeper look at the closing Doing the cases but can't tell what's holding you back? See how Black Belt coaching works – 1:1 with an ex-MBB interviewer who finds your gap areas and helps you close them 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

October 1, 2026Episode 2525 min

S24E25: Ex-Deloitte and Bain Coach: Big 4 Interview Formats You Haven't Practiced

Send us Fan Mail Big 4 interviews are around the corner – and most candidates need 6–8 weeks of prep to be ready. Mitali Jalan spent years at Deloitte and Bain, then coached 400+ candidates. She sees one gap sink strong applicants again and again: they practice 1-on-1 cases and never practice the other formats the Big 4 use . Think group cases, written cases, presentations, and AI-assisted or Excel cases. And behavioral prep matters just as much – at some firms, it carries equal weight to the case. So if your interview is coming up, this episode shows you where to start. Resources: Black Belt builds your prep plan around your gaps and your interview dates, with feedback from coaches who've sat on the interviewer side of the table Not sure how much time you have or whether Black Belt fits? Book 15 minutes with Katie and she'll tell you straight 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

September 25, 2026Episode 2456 min

S24E24: 80% of AI Projects Fail. These 2 Firms Explain Why.

Send us Fan Mail 80% of AI projects fail. Only 10 to 20% of enterprise AI pilots reach production, and 2 firms break down why. Ugo Philippart of Emerton Data calls his firm the fire squad companies phone after an AI project has failed. Damien Chan of Adastra says over 75% of its pilots make it. Both measure performance from day 1. Most teams wait until a system is underperforming. That gap turns a pilot into a failed project. And if you want a career in consulting, this is what the work looks like. 80% of Emerton Data's people pair technical depth with strategy skills, and Damien expects analyst work like slide building to look very different soon. Useful context if AI consulting is on your shortlist. Resources: See the 2027 top enterprise AI transformation consulting firms ranking Want your firm's insights featured in MC's next ranking, podcast, or research piece? Book time with Namaan Browse open AI consulting roles on the MC 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

September 23, 2026Episode 2340 min

S24E23: 3 Case Interview Math Mistakes That Cost You the McKinsey Offer

Send us Fan Mail Midway through a practice case, one of George Cary's clients did the math and said 90,000 when he meant 900,000. George didn't care. After 5 years and 100+ interviews at McKinsey, George will tell you the right answer is the bare minimum. The offer comes from how you got there and what the answer means for the client. In this episode, he walks through the 3 case math mistakes that cost strong candidates the offer , even with the math right. If case math is the part you dread, all 3 are fixable with the system George lays out. Resources: If you struggle with mental math, Black Belt pairs you with an ex-MBB coach who drills it with you until it's automatic Not sure what you need? Book 15 minutes with Katie and she'll tell you straight Build the recap, structure, solve and insight habit on your own with Case Foundations , MC's free case prep course 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