Strategy Bites

Season 6 Episode 5 Charlie Newark-French, CEO of CascadeIn 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.

This week on Strategy Bites, I’m joined by someone who genuinely redefines what it means to think differently.Jim Hogan has spent over forty years at the forefront of technology, innovation and leadership, and he just happens to be autistic.He was the Chief Innovation Evangelist at Google Cloud and the Vice President of Accessibility in Technology for Google’s Disability Alliance.Through his work, research and powerful TED Talk, Jim has become one of the most authentic and inspiring voices for neuroinclusion in business.In this episode, Jim shares how his autistic lens has shaped his life and career, the challenges, the brilliance and the occasional chaos, and why he believes neuroinclusion isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do for any organisation that wants to innovate.We talk about what leaders can do to create truly inclusive workplaces, how introverts and neurodistinct thinkers can be heard in rooms full of extroverts, and how embracing difference drives better ideas, better teams and better outcomes.Oh, and yes, we get to the story behind the Rubik’s Cube.So whether you’re leading a team, hiring for one, or just curious about how diverse thinking fuels innovation, you’ll want to stick around for this one.Jim Hogan's Ted Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJrRnyNwm00

Stevie-Ann Dovico maps a clear route from consulting into the C-suite. Starting in Big 4 strategy and moving in-house across major banks before becoming CIO at Beyond Bank, she’s led high-performing teams, shipped real products, and picked up industry recognition along the way. In this episode we unpack how curiosity, adaptability and lifelong learning powered each pivot, what “tech fluency” looks like without a coding background, and how she balances leadership with motherhood while challenging stereotypes in tech. We also dive into what AI and even quantum mean for careers, and how mentors and sponsors accelerate the journey from analyst to executive.You’ll hear:Real first steps from consulting into tech that keep you close to strategy while building product and engineering exposureHow to overcome fear and embrace rapid change in tech and businessWhat AI and quantum actually mean for future roles, plus where the value is in banking todayA simple first-90-days playbook for ex-consultants in product or deliveryThree practical skills juniors should learn now for Tech and GenAIHiring signals that scream “future leader” vs “great slide maker”Why mentors and sponsors matter, and how to ask for sponsorship without the awkwardHow diverse leadership and early exposure to tech can inspire the next generationPractical advice for aspiring CIOs on building a credible path to senior leadershipIf you’re a consultant or aspiring CIO wondering how to future-proof your career in a fast-changing digital world, this conversation is packed with usable tactics and inspiration.

PE can look shiny from the outside. James spends his days helping funds and port-cos create real value, and we get into the parts you don’t see on LinkedIn: leadership, resilience and building a career you actually like.We talk about saying yes to the “weird and wacky” projects and opportunities that end up changing everything, what PE firms really look for when hiring ex-consultants (including Operating Partner roles), and whether ex-MBB leaders make great port-co CEOs.We also dig into balance, working hard without losing yourself, and how to stay adaptable when the ground keeps moving.🎧 Tune in for:• Practical advice for consultants curious about PE• A day in the life of a Bain partner advising PE clients• Why working and living abroad can sharpen your consulting edge• Why resilience, curiosity and self-awareness matter more than ever• The best and the worst career advice James has picked up along the way

In this episode of the Strategy Bites Podcast, I sat down with Ian Hill, founder of Enthoosa.AI and creator of Palpable.io — to unpack the reality of AI adoption and what it means for consultants, leaders, and businesses.Here are some highlights you won’t want to miss: Why banks are leading AI adoption in AustraliaThe hidden costs behind flashy AI ROI claimsWhich industries are next in line for disruption (think legal, accounting, and healthcare) Why consultants need to move beyond frameworks and get to the coalfaceIan’s advice for young consultants: become an AI expert, but stay adaptableHow his new venture, Palpable, is building a personal assistant that outperforms the best EAsAnd perhaps most importantly -  Ian’s reminder to stay curious in times of rapid change. AI may deliver the right answers, but it’s people who decide whether to act on them. You may check out what Ian Hill has been working on at the following links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianhill22/https://palpable.io/

Joining us is the brilliant Rushika Handa who has an impressive 13+ years of experience working with top-tier consulting firms like McKinsey & Company and BCG. She’s a wizard when it comes to strategy, product, organisational design, and so much more. From startups and venture incubation to digital strategy and building high-performing teams, Rushika has done it all. In this episode, she'll be sharing her insights on how management consultants can leverage AI to supercharge their work. Whether it's go-to-market strategies, innovation, or organisational agility, Rushika’s got you covered. So, grab your notebooks and get ready for some game-changing advice! Notes: Management Consulting Intensive Mentorship Program - https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/brochure.growthschool.io/MCP%20Brochure%20Updated.pdf AI for Consultants Mini-Workshop - https://course.growthschool.io/ai-for-consultants-aus Generative AI Mastery program -  https://home.growthschool.io/industry/generative-ai#Nav-Scroll

Join us for an insightful conversation with Danielle Handley, the Chief Customer and Transformation Officer at Bupa. With a wealth of experience in driving customer-centric transformation, Danielle shares her journey, strategies, and the challenges she has faced in the ever-evolving healthcare and insurance industry. Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical advice from a leader at the forefront of customer and organisational transformation.

With over a decade of experience as a consultant at Deloitte and now serving as the Chief Business Operations and Strategy Officer at Xero, Angad Soin brings a wealth of knowledge to this episode. Angad delves into how he rose from Analyst to Partner, honing his expertise in business operations and strategy. He gives some great advice on how a strategy consultant should think about their careers, when to leave management consulting, and how to transition from consulting to industry.  Angad joined Xero as the Executive General Manager and is now currently the Chief Business Operations and Strategy Officer, where he continues to drive strategic excellence and innovation.

Rosanna Leddy, a self-confessed gender equality advocate, is the Founder of MBBW – a global private member community for professionals from top-tier consulting firms. Roseanna is a McKinsey Alumna who has held senior roles in the Champions of Change Collision, a global community of 250+ CEOs who implement innovative initiatives on gender equality in their organisations and drive national conversations for societal change. More recently she has been a member of 2X Global.   For applications to MBBW, go to https://www.mbbwomen.com/

Leah Balter has most recently been the Chief Transformation Officer and CIO at Bunnings. Having worked her way up through McKinsey to Associate Principal level, Leah left McKinsey to pursue a career in Industry when she became pregnant.   Leah talks about her journey, being a mum of 4 whilst holding down a C-Suite role, and she gives her best advice to the community from whence she came on how to think about their careers in Strategy and beyond.