257: The Trap Of Being Too Logical

We discuss the steps taken to make this session as realistic as possible. From the selection of the meals, the use of surprises like the waitress to test behaviour, Kevin's style of changing the flow of the conversation and the method through which candidates tried to build a connection with Kevin, and vice-versa.

27 Feb 20159min

The Consulting Offer II (TCO II) records the entire interview process from networking, through to the closed-list dinner, PEI, group interviews and all interview rounds, including extensive debrief interviews with a former McKinsey partner and real candidates who went on to successfully interview.

21 Feb 201523min

MBA programs around the world encourage experienced technology employees to forgo salary, experience and promotion in the hope of obtaining an MBA and the path to a consulting or banking career. However, this rarely if ever works. Sometimes, it causes more problems not to mention the addition of mountains of debt. In this podcast we discuss the options available to technology employees and when an executive MBA program is actually a better option than a full-time MBA.

15 Feb 201522min

In this detailed strategy specific podcast I discuss a railway privatization and commercialization engagement I co-managed earlier in my tenure as a corporate strategy principal. I outline how we reorganized the client, exited non-core businesses, improved inefficiencies and prepared the client to compete in a deregulating market.

9 Feb 20151h 15min

In podcasts 237 and 238, I discuss a fairly muscular and risky set of strategies I used to increase my leadership standing in the firm and challenge mentors whom I believed were damaging the firm's values. My style of interaction was developed due an early engagement in my career which directly impacted the way I managed all future interactions. I unpack this engagement and explain how it impacted me, allowing you to determine how your own early experiences are shaping your own leadership style.

3 Feb 201526min

Having mentored a large number of older consulting hires, all were older than myself, this podcast distinguishes between older hires with working experience and those without working experience. Depending on the category you fall into, peers will view your profile, strengths and image very differently. In fact, your career strategy will be different. In other words, no two older candidates are the same.

28 Jan 201528min

Finding the right mentor is one thing, getting rid of the wrong mentor is quite another problem. In this podcast I discuss the relationships I had with 3 of the most influential mentors in my consulting career. I discuss mentors I had when I was an analyst, manager and eventually a partner. Finally, I discuss the difficult choices I had to make when I fundamentally disagreed with a mentor and had to do things which could jeopardize the relationship. Knowing when and how to outgrow a mentor is an oft ignored skill. I have one regret, and that is with the way I managed one mentor relationship.

22 Jan 201522min

It is a myth to assume that you are automatically awarded leadership roles as a bright associate or consultant. Competition for these roles are fierce, assuming you get it, and being "awarded" a role is far less useful than having earned the role in the eyes of your peers. In the latter, teams follow you because they choose too. In this podcast I will outline a technique I used throughout my career to find "rules" which could be broken to take control of engagements and earn the trust of peers and teams.

15 Jan 201520min