539: A strategy to navigate a paradox (with Wendy Smith)

Consulting financial analyses is not at all the same as financial modeling. This podcast explains how they fit into business cases. Related: - You learn amazing details from our Live-blogging a Financial Service Stratey Study - You also learn financial modeling with videos and ppts from our Strategy Library

1 Okt 201512min

The CEO of LAB asked us to provide some perspective on three questions. (1) Should LAB, a bank, make coding a mandatory skill-set for new hires? (2) How should LAB position itself against other development finance banks? (3) What is the main benefits case we see in the study? Question 3 was answered in the live blog. Question 2 will be answered in the live-blog soon. This is the answer to question 3. Related: - You learn about LAB study from our Live-blogging a Financial Service Stratey Study - You also learn financial modeling with videos and ppts from our Strategy Library

25 Sep 201517min

This podcast explains the member changes we will soon make to the Firmsconsulting website. We are rolling out a new way to track contributions from members and reward members for their contributions and support.

19 Sep 20158min

This slightly humorous podcast draws an analogy to Nigerian gangsters (or is it "gangstas") in a famous sci-fi movie and software counterfeiters to explain the problems tier-2 firms create in their obsession to replicate BCG's analytics tools, toolkits and templates. Related: You can find previous in-depth discussion and comments on our site.

13 Sep 20158min

This podcast explains the common mistake all rivals, tier-2 firms, to McKinsey and BCG make: they value the wrong skills BCG has. This podcast explains the 4 capabilities a firm must have and how to use them: (1) Values (2) Strategy approach (3) Analytics (4) Ability to draw insights We can all agree that everyone is obsessed with the analytics at their peril. Tier-2 firms are truly shocked when they apply the same analytics as McKinsey but get a different result and still cannot raise their standing in a client's eyes. There is a reason for that. Related: - Interview a Deloittee Strategy and Operation Principal - Deloitte IT Strategy and McKinsey BTO

7 Sep 201514min

Many of us rely on titles to determine if we becoming leaders in a consulting firm. This podcast provides a more important of definition of consulting leadership: who does the consulting firm turn to in times of crises and how do they do so? In fact, you will see that a leader in a consulting organization can be as young as an analyst and a partner may not be a leader. In fact the level of candor between you and the existing leadership is the only measure that matters. This podcast explains this concept with various examples Related: - Competing with a high performing consultant - Learn all about consulting from our Consulting Offer

1 Sep 201513min

Those of you who follow my podcasts would know that I place an incredible amount of emphasis on not just being good at structuring issues and analyses, but also the way you manage people: consulting EQ. Learn more about the consulting EQ here Related: - Detailed videos about consulting EQ (managing, communication, motivating, coaching and mentoring clients and consultants) can be found in our detailed corporate strategy training library

26 Aug 201515min

What happens if you are doing a smaller study, but you identify an opportunity to sell-on a larger, more lucrative and glamorous strategy study? In this podcast I explain how the opportunity for sell-on strategy work is evolving at LAB, the financial services client whose strategy study we are live-blogging, and how an elite firm would handle the situation. It has nothing to do with sales. Related: - Learn more about strategy from our corporate strategy training - strategy library

20 Aug 201515min