Why Standing Still Is the Biggest Risk: Charlie Newark-French

Season 6 Episode 5 Charlie Newark-French, CEO of Cascade

In this episode of Strategy Bites, Anika Stokes sits down with Charlie Newark French, a former McKinsey consultant turned VC and now CEO of Cascade. Charlie brings a rare mix of strategy depth, tech insight, and startup scar tissue. From scaling AI-driven companies to surviving the rollercoaster of venture-backed growth, he’s lived the full spectrum.

Charlie shares how he went from coding as a kid, to advising CEOs at McKinsey, to betting on cutting-edge tech in Silicon Valley, and finally to building AI products that actually deliver strategy execution in the real world. His take on resilience, long-term thinking, and the brutal honesty of startup life is a masterclass for anyone who wants to operate, lead, or invest in high-performance environments.

Why listen to this episode?

• How elite storytelling skills from McKinsey still underpin effective strategy and leadership today.

• ·How Charlie spots real opportunities in tech and what separates a “nice idea” from a viable, scalable business.

• ·A brutally honest look at the emotional and operational realities of being a founder in fast-growth tech.

• Practical insights into AI’s real role in strategy execution, beyond the hype.

• How resilience is built, not born, from someone who has navigated existential crises week after week.

If you’re leading, investing, or simply trying to stay ahead in a world where AI meets strategy, this one’s packed with insights you’ll want to replay.