Strategy Bites

Tech Unicorn Rokt was Sydney-founded and is now  New York-headquartered. Rokt closed the largest single venture raise in Australian history, securing a $2.75 billion valuation from a US$325 million (AUD$458 million) Series E funding round led by Tiger Global. Stuart joined Rokt in the early stages and has grown with the business. Both Stuart and Founder Bruce Buchanan are ex-BCG consultants. Stuart chats to me about his journey and gives some great advice about how to think about if a Start-Up is the right option for your career.

In this episode I talk about: *The world of SexTech *How Lucy decided to leave McKinsey with less than 2 years under her belt to found a start-up *The highs and lows of being a young founder in an early stage start up *Lucy’s focus on ensuring she founded a socially conscious start-up *The education programs Normal is driving *Some of the best advice Lucy can give to any consultant wondering if this path is for them

In this episode, Adam shares his journey with me and how he went from a Senior Associate at BCG to an overnight Aussie Start-Up legend. He shares tips and advice for budding entrepreneurs and management consultants who are looking for a career beyond consulting.

Stephanie is an ex McKinsey consultant who now works at Management Consulted, a business founded to specifically help budding strategists prepare and ace the case interview. We speak about the different types of case interview, what interviewers are looking for and how one would prepare for a case interview at all stages of their career. This is a must listen to for any candidate interviewing for a consulting firm or any strategy role. 

I speak to Ilan Israelstam, Co-Founder and CCO of Betashares, a leading manager of ETF’s in Australia. Ilan is a natural-born entrepreneur and after spending 5.5 years with BCG in Sydney and New York, he set up business both here in Australia and in China. He talks about the mindset and skills needed to be a successful start-up business owner and entrepreneur and how consultants might want to think about their options beyond consulting if being an entrepreneur excites them.

Paul, Board Member of Investigo (UK, Europe & US' leading Strategy & Consulting recruitment Agency), joins me from the UK to discuss all the trends they are witnessing in the strategy & consulting market in the UK, Europe and the US. We touch on salaries, what roles are in demand, how Australian market experience is viewed off-shore, and Paul's advice to anyone wanting to do a stint abroad. 

Tennealle, who was recently named #1 in this year's Inside Retail Australia Top 50 People in E-commerce, kindly agreed to talk to me about her journey. Going from Law and Logistics, through consulting at Kearney, various line roles in Seek, to becoming an award-winning CEO.  We discuss her recommendations to anyone wanting to obtain the top job in an ASX listed business, how to view and cope with the challenges that present themselves along the way, and she shares some great advice for the up and coming management consultant.

In this episode Leah Weckert, CEO at Coles and McKinsey Alumni, speaks openly to me about her journey. We discuss her time at McKinsey, the different roles she has held at Coles on her way to the top, and how she juggles being on the ELT of an ASX100 business, being a mum to 2, and maintaining her identity, ensuring she makes time for herself. Leah is authentic and inspiring and gives some great advice, do not miss it!

In this episode, Liana shares her journey from her 10 years at McKinsey reaching AP level, to embarking on a very successful career in the not-for-profit sector both here and in New York. Most recently Liana has started a is leading a national project called Common Ground on Climate, tackling the all-important topic of climate change. Liana gives advice to anyone looking to move into this sector and currently has opportunities for those looking to move into the non-profit sector on a volunteer or pro bono basis.

In this episode, I talk to Lili, an academic and ex top tier management consultant, about her fascinating journey and how a freak accident changed her whole perspective on her career, and how she lived her life. This life-changing incident drove her to follow her heart and values to obtain a strategic purpose driven role in FinTech. We explore the differences in working for a nimble FinTech and a big corporate and how she went about finding a purpose driven role.