Strategy Simplified
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.
Episodes
Jacob Broadbent didn’t come from the typical consulting pipeline.
He came from engineering – and still landed a PwC offer.
In this episode, Jacob breaks down the exact moves that helped him make the pivot: how he positioned his technical background as a strength, got more comfortable networking, and built the case prep skills that actually moved the needle.
In this episode:
- How Jacob turned an engineering background into...
Internship recruiting for consulting is 3 months earlier than ever. March 29 is the first deadline (McKinsey, Bain, Oliver Wyman).
In this episode, former Bain consultant Maile Dyer breaks down the exact preparation strategy – from networking and resume positioning to digital assessments and case prep.
Instead of guessing what to do next, learn how to sequence your preparation so you peak at the right time.
You’ll learn:
In your first year in consulting, it’s easy to chase the projects that sound the most impressive.
But the work that actually accelerates your career often looks very different.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae shares the single best decision she made during her first year at Bain – why it felt counterintuitive at the time, and how it helped her develop faster than any “prestige” project could have.
You’ll l...
In this episode of Recruiting Reality Check, Katie Neff and Japheth Mast break down the real story of “Sophomore Stan” – a strong candidate at a target school who has done everything right with networking… but hasn’t started case prep yet.
With internship recruiting timelines moving up months earlier than expected (McKinsey: March 29), Stan suddenly has just weeks to prepare from scratch.
The reality check: you can’t do ev...
AI is accelerating drug development. Precision medicine is going mainstream. Rare disease innovation is reshaping pipelines.
So what’s really happening inside life sciences consulting right now?
In this panel, leaders from Guidehouse, Clarkston Consulting, ClearView Healthcare Partners, and Roland Berger join Management Consulted for a direct, no-fluff look at where the industry is headed — and who wins in it.
You’ll hear:
<...If you're a non-MBA advanced degree (PhD, MD, JD, PharmD, etc.), this is your roadmap into consulting.
Bridge Programs are one of the fastest – and most misunderstood – paths into firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, L.E.K., ClearView, Oliver Wyman, and more. With 2026 deadlines upon us, timing matters.
In this episode, we break down exactly how advanced degree candidates can win.
You’ll walk away with:
The 2026 Top Consulting Firms Ranking is officially live.
After months of research, surveys, and industry analysis, we’ve narrowed the global consulting landscape down to the top 40 firms based on prestige, market positioning, growth prospects, candidate outcomes, and standing within the broader consulting market landscape.
In this episode, we break down:
- How we evaluate firms – and why this ra...
I went to the beach (literally) during my first month at Bain.
Technically, I was allowed to. Strategically, it quietly hurt my early trajectory.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae breaks down the biggest mistake she made in her first month – and what she wishes she had done instead.
You'll learn:
- Why “unstaffed” is a career opportunity – not time off
- How early visibility and eagerness shape who gets t...
In this episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan unpack one of retail’s most unexpected survivors: Build-A-Bear. Build-A-Bear is a mall-based stuffed animal retailer in an AI-driven world – and yet it’s a profitable public company with rising stock performance.
We cover:
- What the company really sells – and how customization drives pricing power
- What the financials reveal about profitability and scale
- The next mo...
Watch the top undergraduate and master’s teams in the 2026 Case Competition World Cup Finals go head-to-head in a live, high-pressure strategy showdown.
5 finalist teams take on The Waymo Challenge, presented by Grant Thornton Stax: build a 3–5 year growth strategy to scale Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing business – without sacrificing safety, strong unit economics, or public trust.
You’ll see:
- 5-minute pitches from und...
Work–life balance is one of the most common concerns candidates have about consulting.
It’s also one of the fastest ways to quietly take yourself out of the running.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae explains why asking about work–life balance in an interview sends the wrong signal – and what firms are actually optimizing for instead.
Inside this episode:
- What firms really manage to (hint: it’s not balanc...
Once Upon a Farm went public, and the stock jumped. But this isn’t the standard path for a consumer brand.
In this episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan examine why a single-brand baby food company chose an IPO instead of selling to a large CPG player - and what role Jennifer Garner’s involvement really plays in that decision.
We break down the business fundamentals behind the headlines, from refrigerated suppl...
In this Strategy Simplified episode, you’ll hear a McKinsey case interview example built around a real-world investment decision.
The client is a public university considering whether to add an inter-collegiate football program.
Led by former McKinsey Senior Associate Jali Packer, this case challenges a candidate to assess costs, revenues, and strategic tradeoffs for a football program at a 10,000-student university in th...
In this episode of Recruiting Reality Check, Katie Neff and Japheth Mast break down the real story of “PhD Phil” – a brilliant advanced degree candidate targeting consulting bridge programs who’s fallen into a common trap: confusing reading with readiness.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why reading case books creates false confidence
- The 3 pieces of the case prep puzzle (theory, practice, feedback)
- Why smart ca...
Flat base pay isn’t a blip – it’s a signal.
In this episode, Namaan breaks down what new 2026 consulting salary data really means for recruiting, performance expectations, and how firms are reshaping compensation.
You’ll learn:
- Why starting base pay is staying flat (and why it’s not about weak demand)
- How firms are shifting upside into bonuses, benefits, and faster skill-building
- What this means for candidates, universit...
Boeing’s rebound isn’t about brilliance. It’s about not losing in a brutal duopoly.
In this episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what Boeing’s post-crisis recovery really signals — and why its future depends less on innovation and more on execution over time.
We cover:
- Why Boeing’s biggest advantage is the Airbus duopoly, not outperformance
- How long delivery timelines distort cash flow, pricing, a...
If I had to break into consulting again today — starting from a clean slate — this is exactly how I’d do it.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae walks through the step-by-step strategy she would use to maximize her odds.
You’ll learn:
- What to focus on first — and what most candidates waste time on
- How to build real confidence for interviews (not just “prep”)
- The mindset shift that separates 80% outcomes from...
Brex was once valued at $12.3B. Capital One just bought it for $5.15B.
In today’s episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan break down why Capital One was willing to buy Brex at a $7B discount – and what the deal actually tells us about fintech valuations, banking strategy, and the future of credit cards.
We unpack:
- Why the 50% cash / 50% stock structure reveals who really had leverage
- What Capital One is actuall...
In this short episode, Japheth Mast shares what’s new in the data – and what it means if you’re recruiting for consulting this year.
You’ll hear 3 key takeaways from the report, including why starting salaries stayed flat, where compensation growth is happening, and how utilization trends are shaping hiring.
👉 Download the full 2026 Consulting Salary Report (free).
Additional Resources:
What does it actually take to succeed in consulting — beyond frameworks and technical skills?
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae Le Roux breaks down the five core skills consultants rely on every day — the same ones firms test for in case interviews and reward once you’re on the job.
You’ll learn:
- Why structured thinking isn’t just about frameworks
- How prioritization and communication separate top performe...
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