Welcome to an interview with the author of REWIRED: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI, Kate Smaje. The book REWIRED delivers a road-tested, how-to manual that Mckinsey consultants use to help companies build the capabilities to outcompete in the age of digital and AI. It reveals the learnings from large companies around the globe for succeeding at the six core elements of a digital transformation—strategy, talent, operating model, technology, data, and adoption and ...
Aug 09, 2023•46 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about learning cases through listening and watching. When learning cases, it is far more effective to watch a person on Skype or in person. The problem with merely practicing over the phone or another verbal format is that you cannot observe crucial mannerisms or allow your practice partner to observe you. The only time practicing verbally makes sense is when you have a very experienced person wor...
Aug 07, 2023•5 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we explain why neatness and writing style is so important. It is really surprising how little care candidates take in writing in an appealing way, considering that is all the interviewer can see for the 30-45 minute case. Neat writing will not get you an offer, but it can be an annoying distraction both to you and the interviewer. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Stra...
Aug 02, 2023•5 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about mathematical precision. As counter-intuitive as this sounds, mathematical precision in cases hurts most candidates. Many candidates focus heavily on being mathematically correct because it is far easier to see if your answer of $230MM is the same as the prescribed answer of $250MM. It is human nature to focus on what can be easily measured versus focusing on what should be measured. Candidat...
Jul 31, 2023•6 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about communication skills. If you read forums worldwide everyone is obsessed with cracking the case. Yet, most people cannot communicate like a consultant. We hope by reading this post, candidates spend an equal, if not more, time focusing on their communication skills as well. If you cannot speak like a consultant, you cannot be a consultant. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Us...
Jul 26, 2023•6 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about case details. Candidates are typically surprised to hear they have been declined for not providing sufficient details in a case interview. It usually surprises them since they believe they have provided more than enough case information detail. The difference comes down to how consulting firms define "detail". They are looking for facts and the relationships between issues, while candidates ...
Jul 24, 2023•6 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about the so-what rule for FIT and writing. When thinking through a possible FIT / PEI or cover letter response, most candidates settle on the first idea that comes to mind. Future edits of this idea do not alter the idea, but merely rearrange the wording. That is a bad idea. We use the so-what rule when testing candidates. For their responses we constantly ask "so-what" until the candidate arrive...
Jul 19, 2023•6 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about case solutions. Candidates sometimes prefer to be cautious and offer a solution earlier rather than waiting to fully flesh out the drivers and key issues in a case. The problem with this approach is that if you offer a solution before identifying the problem, it raises concerns to the interviewer about your thinking processes - how can you offer a solution before identifying the problem? Thi...
Jul 17, 2023•6 min
Welcome to an interview with the author of The Datapreneurs: The Promise of AI and the Creators Building Our Future, Bob Muglia. In this book, Bob helps us understand how innovation in data and information technology has led us to AI—and how this technology must shape our future. Bob Muglia is a data technology investor and business executive, former CEO of Snowflake, and past president of Microsoft's Server and Tools Division. As a leader, Bob focuses on how innovation and ethical values can me...
Jul 12, 2023•45 min
Welcome to an interview with the author of Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power. Bold Move is Dr. Luana Marques’ unique, tried and tested method to get you out of your rut and give you the courage to create a more confident and meaningful life. Dr. Luana pinpoints the anxiety at the root of avoidance and shows you how to overcome it and achieve your goals. Dr. Luana Marques is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the Director of Community P...
Jul 10, 2023•56 min
Welcome to an interview with the Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, BCG’s think tank for new ideas in management and strategy. Martin has authored numerous books, including Your Strategy Needs a Strategy and The Imagination Machine , a handbook about how to systematically harness imagination to generate new ideas and transform businesses. Get Martin's book here: The Imagination Machine: How to Spark New Ideas and Create Your Company's Future. Martin Reeves and Jack Fuller: https://www.amaz...
Jul 05, 2023•1 hr
Welcome to an interview with the author of Inside the Competitor's Mindset , John Horn, where he shares proven techniques to help businesses think like the competition and understand why they act the way they do. Inside the Competitor’s Mindset presents a systematic approach to competitive intelligence that starts with three frameworks to get inside the competitor’s mindset, predict their reactions to your moves, and assess whether the competition is getting ready for a spontaneous move of their...
Jul 03, 2023•59 min
Welcome to an interview with Ryan McAnnally-Linz, coauthor of Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most . This book provides readers with jumping-off points, road maps, and habits of reflection for figuring out where their lives hold meaning and where things need to change. The book draws from major world religions and from impressively truthful and courageous figures such as Jesus, Muhammad, the Buddha, Aristotle, Socrates, Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dalai Lama, Ida B. Wells, James Bald...
Jun 28, 2023•54 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about how to treat your case partner. Your case practice partner is the most important ally you have as you prepare. The problem is that most people completely squander this advantage. They tend to be unclear about their level of preparation and commitment they are willing to make. Many arrive late to practice sessions, prepare poorly and fail to keep track of their partners performance. When a pr...
Jun 26, 2023•7 min
Welcome to an interview with Sandeep Chennakeshu, the author of Your Company Is Your Castle: Proven Methods for Building a Resilient Business , where he describes how to assess and systematically build a company’s business model, financial health, strategy, culture, products, sales channels, execution, and stakeholder confidence to make the company formidable. Y our Company Is Your Castle equips you with critical insights and principles to build strong businesses and in turn build yourself into ...
Jun 21, 2023•55 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about productivity. In brainstorming the interviewer is looking for your approach to define an objective function, understand the direct drivers of the function, prioritize the drivers and explain how to manipulate them. There is only one definition for productivity and that is formally used in all studies. Productivity is the total value of outputs over the total cost to deliver those outputs. Ot...
Jun 19, 2023•5 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about BCG and McKinsey approaches. Merging the BCG and McKinsey approach, elegantly. This is a simple discussion on how to merge both approaches so you do not need to worry about learning different techniques. One caveat, as explained in latter podcasts is to assume there is just a simple BCG and simple McKinsey style. It is dangerous to make this assumption. About 50% to 60% of McKinsey cases can...
Jun 14, 2023•6 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about career rotation vs. progression. Candidates always want to show improvement on their resumes in the months leading up to their applications. For those working in industry or rival consulting firms, showing leadership and career development is crucial. This podcast explains that career rotation, a lateral move at the same pay grade, is rarely a good idea unless it takes you to a part of the b...
Jun 12, 2023•5 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about the three core technical concepts around cases. We always teach clients estimation technique first, followed by brainstorming technique and finally full case technique. There is a simple reason for this, which is explained in this podcast. Estimations tend to be, but not always, a brainstorm with very few or just one branch. A brainstorm is therefore an estimation equation with multiple bran...
Jun 07, 2023•7 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about leadership versus teamwork answers. If you are thinking through responses to leadership and teamwork questions, the starting point should be knowing the differences between both. At its core, to McKinsey especially, leadership is about influencing a group people to undertake and complete an initiative of importance. Yet, a better definition is that as the leader you tend to be the primary be...
Jun 05, 2023•5 min
Welcome to an interview with Rishi Dave, a partner in Bain’s Commercial Excellence practice with deep expertise in B2B marketing and digital marketing. In this episode, Rishi explains the concept of a “Day 1 List” in B2B sales and marketing and the three things that will get a supplier or seller on the list. Rishi also discussed what a “sales play” is, how to build it, institutionalize the knowledge within the company, and get the sales team to adopt the sales play to fulfill their potential and...
May 31, 2023•55 min
Welcome to an interview with Gaia Bernstein, a Law Professor, Director of the Institute for Privacy Protection and Co-Director of the Gibbons Institute for Law Science and Technology at the Seton Hall University School of Law. She writes, teaches and lectures in the intersection of law, technology, health and privacy. Gaia is also the mother of three children who grew up in a world of smartphones, iPads and social networks. Her forthcoming book: Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologi...
May 29, 2023•49 min
Welcome to an interview with the author of How to Listen , Oscar Trimboli. Effective communication is not all about eloquent speaking. The key sits on the ability to listen and how you react and respond to what you hear. As Oscar said in the episode, “The difference between hearing and listening is action”. In this episode, we discuss what good listening and communication is. We also highlighted the impact of good listening in your career, organization, and personal life. Oscar Trimboli is on a ...
May 24, 2023•1 hr 11 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we speak about our practice styles. Over the course of the case interview training program, it becomes very important for us to change our coaching style. First, candidates become used to solving cases in just this one style and we need to ensure they can adapt to any style. Second, candidates become adept at reading the "tell" in the coach/mentor so they know when they, the candidate, is making a mistake ...
May 22, 2023•5 min
Welcome to an interview with the co-author of The Burnout Challenge , Michael P. Leiter, Ph.D. Burnout is one of the major contributors driving people to leave their job. It results from unsuccessfully managed workplace stress and is a combination of exhaustion, psychological distancing, and a low sense of accomplishment. So how do we address burnout and who is responsible for managing this issue? In this episode, we discuss the factors contributing to employee burnout and what leaders and manag...
May 17, 2023•48 min
Welcome to an episode with Christina Maslach, PhD, a professor of psychology (Emerita) and a researcher at the Healthy Workplaces Center at the University of California, Berkeley. In this episode, we discuss the causes of burnout and the factors contributing to it, and how leaders and organizations can address this issue to provide a sustainable and healthy working environment for their employees. Christina Maslach, PhD, received her BA from Harvard and her PhD from Stanford. She is best known a...
May 15, 2023•23 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we discuss why candidates fail profit cases. Most candidates would tackle a McKinsey profitability case by presenting a revenue-cost framework and offer options to lower costs and increase revenue. The reality is that such a framework and explanation shows a deep misunderstanding of business and business strategy. In this podcast, we present the correct way to understand profitability cases which require c...
May 10, 2023•5 min
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we provide a simple set of priority areas that a novice aspiring consultant should focus upon in the building up to the MBA full-time September interviews. It ties together themes from existing podcasts but presents them in the format of a case interview preparation roadmap. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo...
May 08, 2023•9 min
Welcome to an episode with a Senior Partner and the global leader in the Tech and Telecommunication practice at McKinsey and Company, Venkat Atluri. In this episode, we defined the emerging ecosystem economy and how most successful companies navigate and thrive in this new world. Venkat Atluri is a thought leader at McKinsey, a prolific author, and a sought-after speaker at industry events. He collaborates with top executives, boards, and investors to create value through end-to-end performance ...
May 03, 2023•56 min
For this episode, we interviewed the coauthor of Monster: A Tough Love Letter on Taming the Machines that Rule our Jobs, Lives, and Future, Ben Pring. Who is responsible for regulating and overseeing technology and online platforms? Is it the government? The ITs and developers? Or maybe…the users? In this episode, we deliberated the significance of technology in human lives and the negative consequences brought by irresponsible and abusive use of technology. Ben Pring is a widely acknowledged IT...
May 01, 2023•41 min
