Case Interview Preparation & Management Consulting | Strategy | Critical Thinking
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670: Harsh Partners (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
04/17/2024
670: Harsh Partners (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Being a young business analyst or associate on the receiving end of blunt and harsh feedback from a partner is a very jarring experience. However, it is also somewhat of a compliment. I never understand this very, very important point until my mentor, a senior partner, pointed this out to me when the managing partner gave me a very time about an initiative I was running. In hindsight, this was one of the most profound lessons I had in my consulting career, and the managing partner became a huge ally when I was up for partnership. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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669: Using Storytelling In Cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
04/15/2024
669: Using Storytelling In Cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Storytelling is a very powerful technique to ensure someone remembers you after an interview. In fact, even when we screen people at Firmsconsulting today, we use this technique I applied as a partner. The rule is simple: if I can remember your key messages from the interview the next day, I would make you an offer. That, of course, assumes you had passed all the other hurdles well enough. One way to be remembered is to be your answers around compelling stories using the New York Times rule of facts, facts and facts with a beginning and end. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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668: Digital strategy expert, Venkat Venkatraman. How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future
04/10/2024
668: Digital strategy expert, Venkat Venkatraman. How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future
Welcome to an interview with the coauthor of Fusion Strategy: How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future, Venkat Venkatraman. In Fusion Strategy, digital strategy expert Venkat Venkatraman and world-renowned innovation guru Vijay Govindarajan offer a first-of-its-kind playbook that will help industrial companies combine what they do best—create physical products—with what digitals do best—use algorithms and AI to parse expansive, interconnected datasets—to make strategic connections that would otherwise be impossible. Venkat Venkatraman is the David J. McGrath Jr. Professor of Management at the Questrom School of Business, Boston University. He has previously taught at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at the London Business School. He is considered one of the foremost authorities on how companies develop strategies to win with digital technologies. He has lectured and conducted digital strategy workshops all over the world with companies such as IBM, Merck, Ericsson, BP, Canal+, and others. Get Venkat’s book here: Fusion Strategy: How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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667: Five phrases to avoid (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
04/08/2024
667: Five phrases to avoid (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Communication and image in a case interview is governed by both what you say and how you say. It is true that how you say something tends to carry more weight. However, in some case, certain phrases should definitely be avoided because they cause much damage it is very hard to recover from them. We discuss them in this podcast. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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666: One of the world's leading experts on strategy and innovation, Vijay “VG” Govindarajan. How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future
04/03/2024
666: One of the world's leading experts on strategy and innovation, Vijay “VG” Govindarajan. How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future
Welcome to an interview with the coauthor of Fusion Strategy: How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future. In Fusion Strategy, world-renowned innovation guru Vijay Govindarajan and digital strategy expert Venkat Venkatraman offer a first-of-its-kind playbook that will help industrial companies combine what they do best—create physical products—with what digitals do best—use algorithms and AI to parse expansive, interconnected datasets—to make strategic connections that would otherwise be impossible. Vijay “VG” Govindarajan is widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts on strategy and innovation. He is the Coxe Distinguished Professor, a Dartmouth-wide chair, at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a former Marvin Bower Fellow at Harvard Business School. Govindarajan is the author of the bestselling books Reverse Innovation and Three-Box Solution. Get Vijay’s book here: Fusion Strategy: How Real-Time Data and AI Will Power the Industrial Future. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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665: Never start training with McKinsey cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
04/01/2024
665: Never start training with McKinsey cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
This is a mistake common to most case interview candidates. They start with the McKinsey approach. This is a very, very bad idea. McKinsey cases are those were the interviewer leads the case. If you are only trained to do cases in this format, you will never learn how to lead a case. This is no small matter. The prompts and guides provided by a McKinsey interviewer play a significant role in helping you through the case and you will struggle without them. It is best to first learn to do cases where you are pointing out the areas or importance, and once you have developed this skill, thereafter shifting to the interviewer-led format. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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664: Chief evangelist of Canva and host of the Remarkable People podcast, Guy Kawasaki, on Lessons from the world's most remarkable people
03/27/2024
664: Chief evangelist of Canva and host of the Remarkable People podcast, Guy Kawasaki, on Lessons from the world's most remarkable people
Welcome to an interview with the author of Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference, Guy Kawasaki. In Think Remarkable, tech titan Guy Kawasaki teams up with Madisun Nuismer, producer of the Remarkable People podcast, to share invaluable knowledge from more than 40 years of working with game-changing organizations such as Apple, Canva, Google, Mercedes Benz, and Wikipedia, and delivers insights from a collection of amazing interviews that'll kick you into high gear and get you ready to start showing the world your best, most amazing self. Together the authors show you how to lead a fulfilling life by drawing on insights from working closely with some of the world's most remarkable people. Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has written Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and eleven other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College. Get Guy’s book here: Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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663: Vice President of SCADpro, Paul Stonick. The Business Value of Design and The Cost of Not Innovating
03/25/2024
663: Vice President of SCADpro, Paul Stonick. The Business Value of Design and The Cost of Not Innovating
Welcome to an interview with Paul Stonick, the Vice President of SCADpro—Savannah College of Art and Design’s in-house design, research, and innovation studio—which is generating innovative designs and products for the world's most influential brands, including Google, Amazon, and Apple. From sketches to on-screen visuals, SCADpro students conceptualized and created augmented reality graphics ahead of Super Bowl LVIII. Their game-changing use of Augmented Reality was an epic viewing experience like never before! Visit the behind the scenes with CBS Sports here: Prior to SCAD, Paul spent 25 years in the corporate world leading world-class digital and user experience design teams primarily in e-commerce, most notably with The Home Depot. His work has been featured in multiple news outlets, research organizations like Forrester and L2 Gartner, national television spots, and multiple Apple WWDC keynotes. Paul also coaches and mentors the next generation of design leaders in his work with Amazing Design People (adplist.org). ADPList inspires powerful conversations and collaborations among designers worldwide so together we can change the world with creativity. In addition, Paul is a founding cohort member of Punks & Pinstripes -- a private network of badass transformation executives. Because it takes a rebel to change a company. Find us at punksandpinstripes.com Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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662: Ex McKinsey and LBS lecturer, Dr. Rebecca Homkes, on high growth strategy
03/20/2024
662: Ex McKinsey and LBS lecturer, Dr. Rebecca Homkes, on high growth strategy
Welcome to an interview with the author of Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times, Dr. Rebecca Homkes. Survive, Reset, Thrive is a playbook for leaders derived from the author's first-hand experience working with executive teams across industries from software, technology, retail, fashion, and construction through to manufacturing. Drawing from over a decade of rich real-world experience, the author illustrates how to navigate the most complex strategic situations with a simple, executable approach. Rebecca Homkes explains how proactively to stabilize your business to withstand and grow through market shocks, reset your strategy to take account of new realities and thrive through uncertainty. Rebecca Homkes is a high-growth strategy specialist and CEO and executive advisor. She is a Lecturer at The London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Faculty at the Boston Consulting Group focused on AI and Climate and Sustainability, and a former fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance. A global keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, she is also the global Faculty Director of the Active Learning Program with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), leads several fintech accelerators, and serves on the boards of many high-growth companies. She earned her doctorate at the London School of Economics as a Marshall Scholar and is now based in Miami, the Bay Area, and London, UK. Get Rebecca’s book here: Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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661: Networking with more junior consultants (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
03/18/2024
661: Networking with more junior consultants (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
We use the terms junior consultants to loosely refer to anyone at the engagement manager level and below: senior associates, associates, consultants and analysts. Our history of working with so many clients indicates that the best results occur when networking directly with partners. There is no dispute on this point given the difference in our client base between those who networked with partners and those who did not. In this podcast we explain why it is better to network with partners and the inadvertent reasons why junior consultants will be less helpful. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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660: Professor of Neuroscience, Dr. Charan Ranganath, on Memory, Neuroscience, and Discovery
03/13/2024
660: Professor of Neuroscience, Dr. Charan Ranganath, on Memory, Neuroscience, and Discovery
Welcome to an interview with the author of Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters, Dr. Charan Ranganath. In the book, Dr. Charan radically reframes the way we think about the everyday act of remembering. Combining accessible language with cutting-edge research, he reveals the surprising ways our brains record the past and how we use that information to understand who we are in the present, and to imagine and plan for the future. Why We Remember is a captivating read that unveils the hidden role memory plays throughout our lives. When we understand its power-- and its quirks--we can cut through the clutter and remember the things we want to remember. We can make freer choices and plan a happier future. Charan Ranganath is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California at Davis. For over 25 years, Dr. Ranganath has studied the mechanisms in the brain that allow us to remember past events, using brain imaging techniques, computational modeling and studies of patients with memory disorders. He has been recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship. He lives in Davis, California. Get Charan’s book here: Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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659: How to Network with a Senior Partner (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
03/11/2024
659: How to Network with a Senior Partner (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Networking with a partner is counter-intuitive. It is much easier to network with a McKinsey / BCG partner for at least four reasons. First, partners always return emails. Second, partners are generally willing to take a call just to explore your profile. Third, partners are less hung up on things like degrees etc. since they look deeper at a profile. Fourth, partners are accessible with easy to find details. That said, the trick to networking with partners is to treat them as a peer. As soon as you place them on a pedestal, you will kill your networking chances. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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658: Former President of Nike's Consumer-Direct Division and Former Executive Vice President and COO of PepsiCo Discuss Strategies from Women Who've Made It—Christiana Smith Shi and Grace Puma
03/06/2024
658: Former President of Nike's Consumer-Direct Division and Former Executive Vice President and COO of PepsiCo Discuss Strategies from Women Who've Made It—Christiana Smith Shi and Grace Puma
Welcome to an interview with the authors of Career Forward: Strategies from Women Who've Made It, Christiana Smith Shi and Grace Puma. In this book, the authors challenge negative stereotypes about female ambition, and urge women to be bold, follow their dreams, and seize the chance to lead “big” lives. The secret is to focus on career first, job second. Instead of chasing a better job title or a salary bump, the goal should be a long-range career path that leads to success. “Career forward” means keeping a focus on the future and recognizing that being good at your job is often not enough—that you should take every opportunity to boost your connections, take on “difficult” assignments, and work actively to broaden your skills. Christiana Smith Shi is the former president of Nike’s consumer-direct division where she led the company’s global retail and ecommerce business. Before that she was a senior partner at McKinsey & Co. Christiana has been named one of the Most Influential Corporate Directors by Women, Inc. She currently leads Lovejoy Advisors, which is focused on digitally transforming consumer and retail businesses. Shi is a graduate of Stanford University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she graduated as a Baker Scholar. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Grace Puma is the former executive vice president and COO of PepsiCo, and before that held senior positions with United Airlines, Kraft Foods, Motorola, and Gillette. A board member of both Organon & Co and Target, she has been ranked on the “Most Powerful Latina” list by Fortune magazine and recognized as the “Executive of the Year” by Latina Style magazine. Puma holds a BA in business administration and economics from Illinois Benedictine University. She lives in Tampa, Florida. Get Career Forward here: Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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657: Using Modern Technology to Scale Your Nonprofit Organization and Grow Your Community (with CEO of Churchome, David Kroll)
02/28/2024
657: Using Modern Technology to Scale Your Nonprofit Organization and Grow Your Community (with CEO of Churchome, David Kroll)
Welcome to an interview with the Chief Executive Officer for Churchome, David Kroll. In this episode, David shares his career journey and transition from investment banking to becoming a pastor, highlighting his exposure to extreme success and the realization that money doesn't equate to happiness. David found personal freedom and alignment by pursuing work that aligns with his values. He discusses how he leveraged technology to enhance faith practices and reach a wider audience. David advises those feeling lost in their careers to keep their eyes open for the next step and to embrace the journey toward their desired destination, acknowledging that it may not be a straight path, and to not be afraid to turn sideways or backward to get there. David Kroll is the Chief Executive Officer for Churchome. Prior to stepping into the CEO role, David began his career within investment banking, wealth management, and technology, and he served in a variety of pastoral roles within Churchome. A loving husband to Jenna and father to William, Teddy, and Charlotte, David is passionate about helping people! Learn more about Churchome and David here: Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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656: Winning with Data Science (with Harvard grad and Cerebral data science team leader, Akshay Swaminathan)
02/26/2024
656: Winning with Data Science (with Harvard grad and Cerebral data science team leader, Akshay Swaminathan)
Welcome to an interview with the author of Winning with Data Science: A Handbook for Business Leaders. This book is a compelling and comprehensive guide to data science, emphasizing its real-world business applications and focusing on how to collaborate productively with data science teams. The book follows the stories of Kamala and Steve, two professionals who need to collaborate with data science teams to achieve their business goals. Akshay Swaminathan is a data scientist who works on strengthening health systems. He earned a degree in Statistics from Harvard University and is an MD candidate and Knight- Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine. He has more than forty peer-reviewed publications, and his work has been featured in the New York Times. He currently leads the data science team at Cerebral. Get Akshay’s book here: Winning with Data Science: A Handbook for Business Leaders Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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655: Taking resume feedback (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
02/19/2024
655: Taking resume feedback (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Taking resume feedback is one of the most fundamental steps as you begin your application process and case interview preparation. If done badly, no matter how well you practice for cases, you will not get the interview. Feedback refers to two parts. First, is the philosophy around how you collect the feedback. Second, is the physical steps you take as you are collecting the feedback. Both are equally important. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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654: What's LOVE Got to Do With Leadership? (with Visionary Business Leader and Best Selling Author, Mark A. Mears)
02/14/2024
654: What's LOVE Got to Do With Leadership? (with Visionary Business Leader and Best Selling Author, Mark A. Mears)
Welcome to an interview with the author of The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder. In this book, you will learn to apply 4 holistic and revolutionary processes found in nature to help individuals, teams, and organizations find purpose, fulfill their true growth potential, and leave a living legacy—what Mears calls paying it backward. All designed to fulfill Purposeful Growth, Purposeful Self, Purposeful Work, and a Purposeful Life. Mark A. Mears is a #1 Best Selling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and visionary business leader. He has a significant track record of building shareholder value. He has driven innovation and profitable growth among world-class, high-profile brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBCUniversal, and The Cheesecake Factory. Today, Mark serves as Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC—a consulting firm helping individuals, teams, and organizations find purpose in fulfilling their true growth potential while making a positive, lasting difference in the world. Mark is also a member of the Senior Leader Network within Conscious Capitalism, Inc. Learn more about Mark here: Get Mark’s book here: The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download:
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653: Stressful interview situations (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
02/12/2024
653: Stressful interview situations (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
This podcast examines the typical tell-tale signs candidates show when placed under stress in a case interview and offers suggestions on how to manage these situations. The key to managing this problem is not to reduce the stress, which may be impossible to do, but to change the way you show your stress. We also provide anecdotes on how our own clients manage, or struggle to manage, stress in their practice cases and interviews. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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652: Three phrases to annoy an interviewer (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
02/07/2024
652: Three phrases to annoy an interviewer (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
There are three phrases which create trouble in an interview: “I think that…” and “In my opinion…” and “But, if I look at my friends…” Not only are they defensive, and arrogant, they are also clear indicators where you are struggling in a case interview. When you use them in the wrong context, as explained in this podcast, they will make it difficult to pass the case. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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651: Invisible presentation technique (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
02/05/2024
651: Invisible presentation technique (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Solving a case while talking an interviewer through your thinking (written or otherwise) is, for the interviewer, a little like trying to understand a presentation without seeing the slides. Or at the very least seeing untidy slides – that is, assuming your working sheets are messy. Here we talk through the anatomy of a case dialogue pointing out key mistakes candidates make and a very simple technique they can use when communicating in case interviews. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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650: Confidence and content traps in case interviews (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
01/31/2024
650: Confidence and content traps in case interviews (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
This podcast is about the impact of confidence on cases and the importance of avoiding the content trap. We use simple ratios to explain why you need to be confident and how the content-trap sinks many candidates. The content trap occurs when a candidate tends to have poor knowledge of the first principles of cases and rather relies on completing as many cases as possible in the hopes of memorizing all possible frameworks. This is a losing strategy since they are not learning how to solve cases. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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649: FLUKE: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters (with professor of global politics at University College London, Brian Klaas)
01/29/2024
649: FLUKE: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters (with professor of global politics at University College London, Brian Klaas)
Welcome to an interview with the author of Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters, Brian Klaas. In Fluke, myth-shattering social scientist Brian Klaas deep-dives into the phenomenon of randomness, unpicking our neat and tidy storybook version of events to reveal a reality far wilder and more fascinating than we have dared to consider. The bewildering truth is that but for a few incidental changes, our lives - and our societies - would be radically different. Offering an entirely new perspective, Fluke explores how our world really works, driven by strange interactions and random events. Brian Klaas grew up in Minnesota, earned his DPhil at Oxford, and is now a professor of global politics at University College London. He is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, host of the award-winning Power Corrupts podcast, and frequent guest on national television. Klaas has conducted field research across the globe and advised major politicians and organizations including NATO and the European Union. You can find Brian at BrianPKlaas.com and on Twitter @BrianKlaas. Get Brian’s book here: Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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648: Structure fails at 60% McKinsey cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
01/24/2024
648: Structure fails at 60% McKinsey cases (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
At least 90% of aspiring management consultants assume that all McKinsey et al cases MUST be solved with frameworks. That is a dangerous myth. At least 60% of all McKinsey full cases (we are not referring to brainstorming, estimates, etc) cannot be solved with structures and you will fail if you used structures to solve them. In this podcast, we use the experiences of a client, Felix, to explain how to identify this second group of cases and what you can do to solve them. We particularly look at Felix's coaching session with Kevin Coyne, ex-McKinsey Worldwide Strategy Co-Leader, in Season One of The Consulting Offer. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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647: If VCs & Gov. join forces we can solve society’s biggest problems (with venture capitalist and lecturer at Stanford University, Arun Gupta)
01/22/2024
647: If VCs & Gov. join forces we can solve society’s biggest problems (with venture capitalist and lecturer at Stanford University, Arun Gupta)
Welcome to an interview with the author of Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Society, Arun Gupta. The book argues that if Business, Government, and Society come together, rebuild trust, and collaborate, we have a generational opportunity to address societal challenges―climate change, cybersecurity, disease outbreaks, food insecurity, and education. The book explains, with hope and passion, how our existing entrepreneurial ecosystem, with the ideals of democracy, can be the foundation for a new mission-driven capitalism. Arun Gupta is a venture capitalist, Lecturer at Stanford University, and Adjunct Entrepreneurship Professor at Georgetown University. He is CEO of NobleReach Foundation, which is focused on catalyzing and inspiring a renewed spirit of national service through innovation. Get Arun’s book here: Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Society Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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646: Courageous Leadership (with Best-selling author and Harvard Business School professor, Ranjay Gulati)
01/17/2024
646: Courageous Leadership (with Best-selling author and Harvard Business School professor, Ranjay Gulati)
Welcome to an interview with the author of Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies, Ranjay Gulati. In his book, Ranjay reveals the fatal mistakes leaders unwittingly make when attempting to implement a reason for being. Moreover, he shows how companies can embed purpose much more deeply than they currently do, delivering impressive performance benefits that reward customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, and communities alike. To get purpose right, leaders must fundamentally change not only how they execute it but also how they conceive of and relate to it. Ranjay Gulati is the Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor and the former Unit Head of the Organizational Behavior Unit at Harvard Business School. Until recently, he chaired the Advanced Management Program, the flagship senior leader executive program, at the school. Professor Gulati has been ranked as one of the top ten most-cited academics in the fields of economics and business by ISI-Incite and has received similar recognition from The Economist, Financial Times, and the Economist Intelligence Unit. Professor Gulati studies how “resilient” organizations—those that prosper both in good times and bad—drive growth and profitability. His work bridges strategy (establishing clear strategic pillars for growth), organizational design (reimagining purposeful and collaborative organizational systems), and leadership (fostering inspired, courageous, and caring execution). Get Ranjay’s book here: Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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645: Important case interview elements to consider (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
01/15/2024
645: Important case interview elements to consider (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we talk about important case interview elements to consider. Analyzing customers, competitors and the market: 3 areas which must always be considered in cases, even when it is not clear why. In essence, all businesses exist to serve customers. A business cannot exist without customers and to understand demand you must understand customers. The ability to meet demand is impacted by competitors/substitutes and market barriers like legislation, inflation etc. Therefore, these three areas must be analyzed in cases where demand may be an issue. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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644: Brainstorming with definitions (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
01/10/2024
644: Brainstorming with definitions (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we talk about brainstorming with definitions. Brainstorming is very difficult and a crucial skill to have when solving cases, especially with McKinsey where the interviewer will constantly ask you to probe and brainstorm different areas of the case. This podcast examines the initial parts of the brainstorming structure. Since brainstorming happens in such a rapid-fire format and appears unstructured, the speed at which it is done creates the illusion it lacks structures. Yet, it does have structure, but is merely done very quickly in the candidate's mind. This podcast will teach candidates how to generate a structure/definition that can be used to guide the development of options or paths in the brainstorm. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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643: Giving interviewers benefit of the doubt (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
01/08/2024
643: Giving interviewers benefit of the doubt (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we talk about the importance of you, the candidate, never ever giving the interviewer the benefit of the doubt, why this is vital, how to do this in a case and the improvement it will immediately deliver. The main value of adopting this mindset is that you tend to explain everything to the interviewer because you assume he is not aware of all the answers. If you enter an interview, assuming the interview is "perfect", you will tend to make assumptions which hurt your chances and damage your image. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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642: McKinsey Weak School (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
01/03/2024
642: McKinsey Weak School (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Entering BBM with a weak school on your resume can create problems. Though, all of them tend to be created by the candidates themselves. These consultants tend to have so many incorrect preconceived ideas of the firm that even when a McKinsey partner tells them something, they tend to go with their preconceived ideas. As strange as that may sound, that is what we have seen happen in many cases. There are certain things you can do this alter this spiral, should it occur. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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641: Building Hypotheses From Data Exhibits (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
01/01/2024
641: Building Hypotheses From Data Exhibits (Case Interview & Management Consulting classics)
Reading graphs is a perennial problem for many candidates. Yet, the problem is not the interpretation of the graphical data itself. Rather, it is knowing what to do with that data once you have interpreted it. This podcast introduces a simple 4-step process we introduced for a Yale doctoral client, Felix, and a technique called the One-Sentence-Test which we again developed for the same client. The improvement in her answers warrants sharing this technique. You can see Felix's Improvement in Season One of The Consulting Offer. Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here:
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