Strategy Simplified

Send us Fan Mail If you're a non-MBA advanced degree (PhD, MD, JD, PharmD, etc.), this is your roadmap into consulting. Bridge Programs are one of the fastest – and most misunderstood – paths into firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, L.E.K., ClearView, Oliver Wyman, and more. With 2026 deadlines upon us, timing matters. In this episode, we break down exactly how advanced degree candidates can win....

Send us Fan Mail The 2026 Top Consulting Firms Ranking is officially live. After months of research, surveys, and industry analysis, we’ve narrowed the global consulting landscape down to the top 40 firms based on prestige , market positioning , growth prospects , candidate outcomes , and standing within the broader consulting market landscape . See the full 2026 ranking . In this episode, we brea...

Send us Fan Mail I went to the beach (literally) during my first month at Bain. Technically, I was allowed to. Strategically, it quietly hurt my early trajectory. In this episode of Consulting Unpacked , Jenny Rae breaks down the biggest mistake she made in her first month – and what she wishes she had done instead. You'll learn: Why “unstaffed” is a career opportunity – not time off How earl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae and Namaan unpack one of retail’s most unexpected survivors: Build-A-Bear. Build-A-Bear is a mall-based stuffed animal retailer in an AI-driven world – and yet it’s a profitable public company with rising stock performance. We cover: What the company really sells – and how customization drives pricing power What the financials reveal...

Send us Fan Mail Watch the top undergraduate and master’s teams in the 2026 Case Competition World Cup Finals go head-to-head in a live, high-pressure strategy showdown. 5 finalist teams take on The Waymo Challenge , presented by Grant Thornton Stax : build a 3–5 year growth strategy to scale Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing business – without sacrificing safety, strong unit economics, or public tr...

Send us Fan Mail Work–life balance is one of the most common concerns candidates have about consulting. It’s also one of the fastest ways to quietly take yourself out of the running. In this episode of Consulting Unpacked , Jenny Rae explains why asking about work–life balance in an interview sends the wrong signal – and what firms are actually optimizing for instead. Inside this episode: What fir...

Send us Fan Mail Once Upon a Farm went public, and the stock jumped. But this isn’t the standard path for a consumer brand. In this episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae and Namaan examine why a single-brand baby food company chose an IPO instead of selling to a large CPG player - and what role Jennifer Garner’s involvement really plays in that decision. We break down the business fundamentals b...

Send us Fan Mail In this Strategy Simplified episode, you’ll hear a McKinsey case interview example built around a real-world investment decision. The client is a public university considering whether to add an inter-collegiate football program.  Led by former McKinsey Senior Associate Jali Packer, this case challenges a candidate to assess costs, revenues, and strategic tradeoffs for a football p...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Recruiting Reality Check , Katie Neff and Japheth Mast break down the real story of “PhD Phil” – a brilliant advanced degree candidate targeting consulting bridge programs who’s fallen into a common trap: confusing reading with readiness . In this episode, you’ll learn: Why reading case books creates false confidence The 3 pieces of the case prep puzzle (theory,...

Send us Fan Mail Flat base pay isn’t a blip – it’s a signal. In this episode, Namaan breaks down what new 2026 consulting salary data really means for recruiting, performance expectations, and how firms are reshaping compensation.  You’ll learn: Why starting base pay is staying flat (and why it’s not about weak demand) How firms are shifting upside into bonuses, benefits, and faster skill-building...

Send us Fan Mail Boeing’s rebound isn’t about brilliance. It’s about not losing in a brutal duopoly. In this episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what Boeing’s post-crisis recovery really signals — and why its future depends less on innovation and more on execution over time. We cover: Why Boeing’s biggest advantage is the Airbus duopoly, not outperformance How long delive...

Send us Fan Mail If I had to break into consulting again today — starting from a clean slate — this is exactly how I’d do it. In this episode of Consulting Unpacked , Jenny Rae walks through the step-by-step strategy she would use to maximize her odds. You’ll learn: What to focus on first — and what most candidates waste time on How to build real confidence for interviews (not just “prep”) The min...

Send us Fan Mail Brex was once valued at $12.3B. Capital One just bought it for $5.15B. In today’s episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae and Namaan break down why Capital One was willing to buy Brex at a $7B discount – and what the deal actually tells us about fintech valuations, banking strategy, and the future of credit cards. We unpack: Why the 50% cash / 50% stock structure reveals who reall...

Send us Fan Mail In this short episode, Japheth Mast shares what’s new in the data – and what it means if you’re recruiting for consulting this year. You’ll hear 3 key takeaways from the report, including why starting salaries stayed flat, where compensation growth is happening, and how utilization trends are shaping hiring. 👉 Download the full 2026 Consulting Salary Report (free). Additional Res...

Send us Fan Mail What does it actually take to succeed in consulting — beyond frameworks and technical skills? In this episode of Consulting Unpacked , Jenny Rae Le Roux breaks down the five core skills consultants rely on every day — the same ones firms test for in case interviews and reward once you’re on the job. You’ll learn: Why structured thinking isn’t just about frameworks How prioritizati...

Send us Fan Mail College football isn’t just a game anymore, it’s a business. On this episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae Le Roux and Namaan Mian break down how wins on the field translate into dollars off it, sparked by Indiana University’s surprising national championship run.  From media deals and ticket sales to donations and NIL money, Namaan lays out the six revenue engines powering mode...

Send us Fan Mail Saks Fifth Avenue has filed for bankruptcy. After years of warning signs – including its Neiman Marcus acquisition and Amazon’s investment – the iconic luxury retailer is officially on life support. In this Market Outsiders episode, Namaan and Jenny break down what actually went wrong behind the headlines. They cover: Why the Neiman Marcus deal failed to deliver real synergies How...

Send us Fan Mail What’s the real difference between an analyst, a manager, and a partner in consulting? In this episode of Consulting Unpacked , Jenny Rae Le Roux breaks down how consulting roles actually work — what changes as you move up, what each level is responsible for, and what firms value most at every stage. You’ll learn: What analysts, managers, and partners really do day to day Why bein...

Send us Fan Mail What is consulting, really — and why do companies pay so much for it? In this first episode of Consulting Unpacked , Jenny Rae Le Roux (former Bain consultant and CEO of Management Consulted) breaks down consulting in 5 minutes, including: The difference between professional consulting and “single-shingle” consulting The 4 core reasons companies hire consultants The 3 main types o...

Send us Fan Mail The average new car now costs over $50,000, with monthly payments nearing $760. So how did Ford post its best U.S. sales year since 2019 ? In this episode of Market Outsiders , Namaan and Jenny Rae break down how Ford defied expectations in 2025 – despite tariffs, high rates, and weakening EV demand. They cover: Why 2025 may have been the first “normal” auto year since COVID How f...

Send us Fan Mail In the debut episode of Recruiting Reality Check , Katie Neff and Japheth Mast break down the real story of “Sophomore Sally” – a strong candidate at a fringe target school who’s panicking about junior-year recruiting and ready to apply everywhere ( the “spaghetti at the wall” trap ). In this episode, you’ll learn: Why applying to everything hurts your chances How to build a focus...

Send us Fan Mail The 2026 Consulting Salary Report is coming later this month — and this episode is your first look at what to expect. Japheth shares why this year’s report matters more than ever, how it’s built using real offer data from 100+ firms, and what candidates need to understand about consulting compensation heading into 2026. Join the waitlist to get early access to the report and regis...

Send us Fan Mail This is our most-listened-to episode of 2025 — and for good reason. In this replay, you’ll hear a live McKinsey-style M&A case interview where a candidate evaluates whether a global bubble tea chain should acquire a fast-growing coffee brand. Led by former McKinsey consultant and Management Consulted case coach Divya , the case walks through how to structure an acquisition dec...

Send us Fan Mail Watch the top MBA teams in the 2025 MBA Case Competition World Cup Finals go head-to-head in a live, high-pressure strategy showdown. Five finalist teams take on The Cava Challenge: build a 3–5 year growth strategy to scale Cava nationally — without sacrificing the flavor, quality, and culture that made the brand. You’ll see: 5-minute executive-style presentations Live Q&A / d...

Send us Fan Mail Cannabis just moved from Schedule I to Schedule III — and the biggest implications have nothing to do with lifestyle or politics. In this episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what reclassification means for the market: who benefits, who loses, and why cannabis stocks dropped on “good” news. They unpack the real unlocks behind the headlines — Medicare and M...