Strategy Simplified

Send us a textBuilding a strong case framework is the foundation of consulting interview success. But most candidates sabotage themselves with simple, avoidable mistakes. In this episode of Strategy Simplified, Jenny Rae breaks down the 4 most common framework errors and shows you exactly how to fix them.You’ll learn how to:Avoid copy-pasting generic frameworksTake the right amount of time to build your structureAdd specific, data-driven pointsPrioritize and present your framework like a proMastering these skills will help you stand out in the competitive consulting recruiting process and increase your chances of landing the offer.Additional Resources:Get case interview ready with Black BeltRead our Case Frameworks GuidePartner Links:Stax is hiring! See open roles and requirementsConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Send us a textGrant Thornton has announced it will acquire Stax, a leading strategy consulting firm serving private equity clients worldwide. What does this deal mean for the consulting industry and the future of PE-focused advisory?In this episode, Jenny Rae sits down with Paul Edwards, Global Practice Lead at Stax, to unpack the acquisition. They discuss Stax’s growth journey, cultural DNA, and how the partnership with Grant Thornton will impact clients, consultants, and the broader market.Resources:Read the official PR releaseExplore open roles at StaxGet case interview ready with Black BeltConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Send us a textKraft Heinz is splitting after a decade, and we unpack what that says about the end of “scale at all costs” in Big Food. Jenny Rae and Namaan dive into why focus beats brute scale, how zero-based budgeting collided with challenger brands, and why owning the shelf no longer locks in customers.From ketchup loyalty to cream cheese on the “taste elevation” roster, we map the split: condiments vs packaged meals, the margin math, and the acquisition targets a focused sauces business will chase next.Links:AP News: Kraft Heinz is putting Lunchables on school lunch menus nationwideKraft Heinz Investor Relations: SEC FilingsJoin Market Outsiders live every weekday at 9:15AM ET on LinkedIn and YouTube.Subscribe to the Market Outsiders feed for daily episodes (Apple, Spotify).Follow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTubeConnect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedInMaking Good: Small Business Marketing PodcastMaking Good helps you do better marketing so you can make a bigger impact. If you’re...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Send us a textBrainstorming questions are one of the trickiest and most under-practiced parts of the case interview. They can make or break your chances.In this Case Creative Masterclass, presented by Bates White - a leading economic consulting firm - you’ll learn how to spot brainstorming questions, build a structured response on the fly, and avoid the “rambling” trap that sinks many candidates. We cover the two main types of creative questions, a simple framework to structure your ideas, and how to prioritize insights. In addition, watch a live expert demonstration of what an excellent answer looks like in real time.Partner Links:Explore open roles at Bates White (email: careers@bateswhite.com)Additional Resources:Black Belt: 8+ hours of expert coaching with an MBB consultantCase Prep Plan: A step-by-step guide to getting ready on any timelineScoring Guide: See how MBB interviewers score casesJob Board: Unlock top consulting and strategy jobs on the Management Consulted Job BoardBook an expert coaching sessionMaking Good: Small Business Marketing PodcastMaking Good helps you do better marketing so you can make a bigger impact. If you’re...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Send us a textGetting invited to a second round consulting interview is a huge achievement, but it’s not the finish line. The final round is where the offer is won or lost. In this episode, Jenny Rae shares exactly how to prepare for 2nd-round consulting interviews, including advanced case interview strategies and fit interview best practices. Whether you’re interviewing with McKinsey, Bain, BCG, or another top consulting firm, this guide will help you turn your second-round invite into a full-time offer.Additional Resources:Start your Case Prep Plan (free!)Black Belt Case Prep Program: Your one-stop shop for case + fit interview prep, from round 1 to the offerYouTube playlist of Case Interview ExamplesStay on top of Consulting Application DeadlinesConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Send us a textDr. Pepper is making an $18 billion play in the global coffee market, acquiring Dutch giant JDE Peet’s and splitting into two standalone companies. The deal creates a new coffee contender set to rival Nestlé.Jenny Rae and Namaan break down why Dr. Pepper is betting big, what the move says about synergies and strategy, and why investors sent KDP’s stock down.They also explore what this means for global beverage competition and whether Dr. Pepper can truly challenge Nestlé’s dominance.Links:Reuters: Keurig Dr Pepper brews coffee challenge to Nestlé with $18 billion JDE Peet’s takeoverRelated Market Outsiders episodes you’ll love:PepsiCo Earnings Surprise (July 2025) – Shares jump as Pepsi’s diversification strategy pays off, with implications for the broader drinks market.Coca-Cola’s Growth Challenge (June 2025) – How Coke is managing slowing soda sales while leaning into new categories.Join Market Outsiders live every weekday at 9:15AM ET on LinkedIn and YouTube.Subscribe to the Market Outsiders feed for daily episodes (Apple, Spotify).Follow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTubeConnect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedInMaking Good: Small Business Marketing PodcastMaking Good helps you do better marketing so you can make a bigger impact. If you’re...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Send us a textStep inside a live McKinsey-style case interview. In this episode, former McKinsey consultant and expert coach Mark Di Giorgio leads a candidate through a market entry case set in the nutrition and healthcare industry.Watch how the case unfolds, including:Structuring a US market entry problemSizing the diabetes supplement marketEvaluating retail vs. direct sales channelsAssessing risks and competitor responsesIf you’re preparing for McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, this is your chance to experience the pressure of a real interview and learn how to communicate with structure, clarity, and confidence.Want personalized feedback and practice with Mark? Book a one-on-one coaching session today below. Spots fill quickly.Work with Mark:See Mark's current coaching availabilityPurchase the Black Belt case prep program for 1:1 coaching with Mark Connect on LinkedInPartner Links:Stax is hiring! See open roles and requirementsMaking Good: Small Business Marketing PodcastMaking Good helps you do better marketing so you can make a bigger impact. If you’re...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Dive into the evolving landscape of consulting recruitment in the UK for 2025. Discover why your university choice could matter more than your degree. Learn about the surprising timeline for applications and prep for digital assessments early. Gain insights into salaries and bonuses from top firms like McKinsey and Bain. With rising demand for consultants, this guide is your ticket to staying ahead amidst increasing competition!

Send us a textChili’s just posted five straight quarters of growth and a 39% sales jump, bucking the trend in a struggling casual dining sector.On today’s Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan unpack what’s behind Chili’s surge and why its real competition may be McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A, not Outback or Applebee’s.They also explore how Chili’s is threading the needle on pricing strategy, what it reveals about consumer behavior, and why the chain has become a rare bright spot in restaurants.Links:Daily Mail: Family favorite restaurant chain booming thanks to cracking deals… as industry strugglesSimon-Kucher: Price discrimination: Strategies, legality, and implications for businessesConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Send us a textMental math is one of the most misunderstood (and feared) parts of the case interview. In this live Case Math Masterclass, we show you how to turn it into a strength.You’ll learn the 3 types of case math you’ll encounter, the 4-step process to master each one, and how firms actually evaluate your quantitative skills. Plus, watch a live demonstration to see what excellent case math looks like in action.If you’ve ever worried that math could tank your interview performance, this episode will give you the confidence and playbook you need to dominate.Additional Resources:Black Belt: 8+ hours of expert coaching with an MBB consultantCase Prep Plan: A step-by-step guide to getting ready on any timelineScoring Guide: See how MBB interviewers score casesMath Drills: Free drills to speed up your mental math abilitiesPartner Links:Stax is hiring! See open roles and requirementsMaking Good: Small Business Marketing PodcastMaking Good helps you do better marketing so you can make a bigger impact. If you’re...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.