637: How to Develop Your Strategic Fitness (with New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Rich Horwath)

For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we discuss why candidates fail profit cases.   Most candidates would tackle a McKinsey profitability case by presenting a revenue-cost framework and offer options to lower costs and increase revenue. The reality is that such a framework and explanation shows a deep misunderstanding of business and business strategy. In this podcast, we present the correct way to understand profitability cases which require candidates to understand the growth and cost of growth needs of shareholders. This logic never fails to impress interviewers.   Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

12 Nov 5min

99% of clients misunderstand learning and practicing. At its essence, you cannot practice McKinsey cases until you learn McKinsey cases. Most candidates start of their case interview preparation by reaching out to colleagues and consultants to practice cases, not having gone through the learning steps. Without a good strategy of separating learning from practicing you will simply absorb what you hear in the practice sessions and none of that is designed to teach you how to do cases. You must separate the learning from the practicing.   Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

5 Nov 10min

For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we discussed why communication is the most critical skill that a consultant must possess and how to effectively communicate in a logical and structured way.   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

15 Okt 18min

For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we covered a topic about different offices and locations to work if you are an English speaker and its upside and downside you may consider.   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

13 Okt 15min

For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we spoke about a candidate that we took that did not go well and the important lessons we learned from it.   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

8 Okt 20min

For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we discuss what brainstorming is in consulting and what it is not. You will learn what you should actually do when asked to brainstorm.   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

6 Okt 9min

For this episode, let's revisit a Case Interview & Management Consulting classic where we spoke about the reality of exit opportunities in management consulting.   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Get Exclusive Episode 1 Access of How to Build a Consulting Practice: www.firmsconsulting.com/build   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

1 Okt 15min

In this episode, Krista White, coauthor of Culture Design and cofounder of Culture Design Lab explains how leaders can treat culture as a strategic lever rather than an HR initiative. 1. Culture is inseparable from strategy Krista stresses that culture cannot be treated as background. It determines whether strategic plans survive contact with execution. "We were noticing that there was a gap in people knowing how to connect culture with strategy. Our hope is that this book serves as a practical guide." Leaders who design culture deliberately create alignment and resilience. Those who ignore it risk drift and underperformance. 2. Leadership presence remains essential Digital tools cannot replace visible leadership. "Everyone should be able to get five minutes with you. The CEO should not be a high on a hill person who is not reachable." Walking the floor and observing frontline conditions show employees what leadership values. 3. Rituals make values real Rituals translate values into behavior. "The rituals that stick are the ones tied directly to your business model and purpose not borrowed from another industry." 4. Resistance is part of the process Cultural change often meets skepticism. Krista advises leaders to treat adoption like marketing. "Think of it like marketing. You need many touches before someone clicks buy. Culture change requires consistency and repetition." Consistency reduces resistance. 5. Context shapes culture Best practices cannot be copied blindly. "I used to think there was one right way for culture to look. I learned it is industry and context dependent." The principle is to design culture that fits your strategy and market position. 6. Leadership lessons that endure Krista learned two lessons from her father James White that remain relevant for executives Discipline and preparation: "Practice makes perfect." Balance and resilience: Never sacrificing family relationships even under pressure. 7. A broader leadership mission Krista frames her work around freedom and engagement. "My why is to do my part in creating a freer and more joyful world for everyone. For me that is through storytelling." Organizations perform best when employees can bring their full selves to work. 📚 Get Culture Design here: https://shorturl.at/NVrs1 Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

29 Sep 49min