Strategy Simplified

Send us Fan Mail Ben & Jerry's. The legendary ice cream that brings pint-sized joy to millions around the world every year. We all know and love B&J's ice cream, but we're curious to know exactly what it is about the business that makes it tick. In this episode, we're taking a look at Ben & Jerry's business model to see why the company has been so successful. W...

Send us Fan Mail What is the current 2020 management consulting job outlook? In this episode of Strategy Simplified , we take you through how consulting firms think about hiring in times of crisis. The good news: firms are still hiring! The bad news... well, you'll just have to listen to find out! Enjoy this insider look into the post-COVID consulting recruiting and hiring landscape (spoiler...

Send us Fan Mail Today we're taking a look under the covers of Tapestry, Inc. -  formerly Coach, Inc. - the luxury fashion brand and parent company of Coach New York, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman. Coach is an icon in the world of luxury fashion brands, but can it survive in the current economic climate? What is the future of fashion retail? You'll have to listen to find out! Free Math...

Send us Fan Mail In-person interviews are so 2019. Welcome to the new normal, post-COVID: virtual interviews. If you have a virtual interview coming up, or just want to take your Zoom game to the next level, you're in the right place! No matter if your online interview is on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or another video conferencing app - we've got you covered with 6 tips to help...

Send us Fan Mail Pepsi: more than just a beverage company. How does Pepsi's business model hold up when compared with Coca-Cola? What advantages - or disadvantages - does the company have over its chief competitor? We break it all down in this edition of Strategy Simplified. Free Frameworks Guide: tinyurl.com/frameworks-guide Free Math Drills: tinyurl.com/freemathdrills Advertise on Strategy...

Send us Fan Mail The biggest business news of this week is the potential Microsoft acquisition of TikTok's US operations. As the clock potentially ticks down on the popular app's availability in the US, there's one aspect of this conversation we don't think has gotten enough attention: how does Microsoft think about an acquisition like this? What are the factors it considers an...

Send us Fan Mail Coca-Cola is a legacy brand that has seemingly seen nothing but success since the company's humble beginnings in the late 1800's. But if we take a look under the surface, is everything as it seems for the Coca-Cola Company, or is there more to the story? Crack open an ice-cold Coke and dive into this episode to hear our sugary-sweet recipe for success for Coca-Cola (spoi...

Send us Fan Mail Virtual onboarding? What would have been considered outside the norm several months ago has now become the new normal. If you find yourself in a new remote work role, this episode could be a lifesaver for you! We provide 4 key steps to successfully start a job virtually. Implement these tips to create a sense of camaraderie, opportunity, skill-building, and ultimately, to achieve...

Send us Fan Mail Baseball is back, and with it, a delectable excuse to nerd out on business strategy in a very different industry: professional sports! Ever wondered how professional sports teams make money? What kind of business is the business of sports? Stick with us as Jenny Rae dissects the business model of the world-famous Boston Red Sox, and what makes the franchise successful! Free Case P...

Send us Fan Mail Many schools are uncertain of their plans for this year, leading some students to consider alternatives - one of those being a gap year. But pandemic or not, gap years are becoming increasingly en vogue. If you are, for any reason, contemplating a gap year in your future, this is the episode for you! In typical consulting fashion, we break out a pros and cons list: 3 definite draw...

Send us Fan Mail What do massive warehouses, long lines, and annual memberships have in common? They all work together to make up the giant retail enigma that is Costco. Today, we're taking a look under the hood at what makes the retailer a unicorn in its space (hint: it all boils down to the business model). What does the future hold for Costco? Why a membership model? How does Costco maximi...

Send us Fan Mail Has disruption in the job market left you without a role? Do you have an internship that's been rescinded or shortened? Then you don't want to miss today's show all about how to source your own internship. We're giving you an 11-minute, 4-step game plan on setting up your own internship. Discover the 3 reasons why an unpaid internship is a win-win, and let us s...

Send us Fan Mail The fast food icon that everyone loves - or loves to hate - is under the microscope today. We're talking about McDonald's, the world's second-largest employer and a globally recognizable brand. It's time for McDonald's to get the MC treatment!   In this episode, we go in-depth on the dual operating model McDonald's employs - which side of the business...

Send us Fan Mail Preston Tharp shares how he leveraged 9 years in the US Navy and a full-time MBA from Olin to land at BCG - the dream job he never knew he wanted! We dive into the specific steps he took to make a sharp career pivot to break into consulting.   How many cases did he practice before landing at BCG? What would he do differently at the beginning of the case prep process if he had to s...

Send us Fan Mail In the age of Amazon, Target and Walmart are defying the odds: thriving in the midst of unkind economic conditions and heightened e-commerce competition. Using the Strategy Simplified framework, we dive into the business models of both behemoths to examine why they are enjoying the success we see today. Spoiler alert: it may or may not involve the massive economies of scale that T...

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to managing in times of economic uncertainty, should business leaders focus on the top line, bottom line, or both? We see that most organizations have opted to focus on the bottom line i.e. cost cutting. But is this the most effective method for long-term biz success? In this episode, Jenny Rae pulls from her experience at Bain to detail why a top-line focus may be t...

Send us Fan Mail Southwest Airlines, beloved by many for its fun-loving culture, low ticket prices, and non-existent baggage fees, finds its 40 straight years of profitabilty at risk due to COVID-19. Like all airlines, the company faces strong economic headwinds.   Can Southwest stay above water amidst alarmingly low flight occupancy and a drastic dip in leisure travelers? Does the company have th...

Send us Fan Mail Special guest Mike Ford - an advanced degree candidate interested in a career with Bain & Company - joins Jenny Rae for a Bain-style mock case interview session. Experience what it's like to go through the first round of a MBB case interview, complete with quick mental math, market-specific insights, and brutally honest - yet kind - feedback on how our guest can do better...

Send us Fan Mail Zoom has become a household name overnight, and its stock value has exploded thanks to the global transition to remote work (you gotta love that WFH life!). Now that Zoom has established itself as a company that is here to stay - and has come under greater scrutiny - it's time for the company's business model to get the MC treatment. Will Zoom's business model allow...

Send us Fan Mail From a consulting career at Deloitte and Bain, an MBA at Wharton, and now as CEO of executive search firm Charles Aris, Chad Oakley has seen it all in the world of professional services recruiting. Charles (and members of his team) join us for a conversation on the current state of recruiting, specifically for consulting and PE roles. Charles also shares lessons with us from his p...

Send us Fan Mail The Hertz Corporation just recently filed for bankruptcy after suffering a 1-2 punch: a debt-laden balance sheet paired with a brutal demand shock courtesy of coronavirus. Still, bankruptcy doesn't mean Hertz is dead. If you're a frequent traveler like us, you may be asking: "Can Hertz survive the Coronavirus?" With the rise of other transportation options like...

Send us Fan Mail Melissa Rapp, the Associate Dean of Admissions at Goziueta Business School, joins us for an honest conversation on the value of an MBA. Is now the right time for you to pursue an MBA? What do top schools look for? How should you prepare yourself for the application process? Want help with the application process? Work with our team on your application. Connect With Management Cons...

Send us Fan Mail How do you solve the Coronavirus crisis? It's a question consultants staffed on projects with national and regional governments around the world are asking - both from an economic and public health perspective. In this continuation of a previous episode - McKinsey & The Coronavirus Crisis - Jenny Rae sits down with Lisa Bright, former McKinsey consultant, as they build a...

Send us Fan Mail A killer resume is needed to open doors in the best of times. In times like these - with the potential for fewer open positions and a glut of qualified applicants - the way you present yourself becomes doubly important. One of the things you've told us is that you are thinking about how to pivot in the midst of an economic downturn. So, we put together this podcast on the fir...

Send us Fan Mail Changing times are threatening two behemoths of American business: Harley Davidson and Comcast. How should they adjust? Does anything need to fundamentally change in the business model of either company? We break it all down in this fun episode of Strategy Simplified ! Free Case Prep course: tinyurl.com/freecaseprep Connect With Management Consulted Create a free MC account or dow...