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Quince pays for retargeting ads to reach customers it already has.
That’s the retargeting problem 50 teams of graduate students took on in the Case Competition World Cup, presented by Adobe. 5 made the final round, which you're listening to now.
Each finalist had 5 minutes to pitch a fix using Adobe Customer Journey Analytics. And the answers went in very different directions.
Judges scored how clearly each team told its story and how well the numbers backed it up. The best story won – and the finals show you what that sounds like.
Resources:
Start learning Adobe Customer Journey Analytics for free – the platform every team used. Students get 50% off certification exams with a student email
Save my spot on the early list – be first to hear about the next Case Competition World Cup
Want a case competition on your campus – a one-day event where MC coaches and judges mentor students as they compete? Book a free consultation with MC
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“I’ll start casing once I get an interview invite. No point prepping for an interview I might not get.”
Katie hears some version of this from candidates on her calls, and it’s easy to see why. The invite is uncertain, interviews feel far off, and your schedule is already packed with classes, club events, and coffee chats.
So in this episode of Case Busters, Katie puts it to the test. Should you really hold off on casing until the interview invite lands? And what if the invite never comes?
Myth or fact? Hit play to find out.
Resources:
Not sure what’s holding back your interview chances? See how Black Belt coaching works – 1:1 with coaches who’ve been through MBB recruiting, who find your gap areas and help you close them
Not sure if MC support is right for you? Book 15 minutes with Katie – you’ll find out if Black Belt is the right fit
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
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Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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Whether you’re targeting McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or Tier 2 / Big 4 strategy firms, your evaluation can start before interview invites even go out.
Many firms bring MBA candidates in for a group case or a 1-on-1 session first – the sessions are evaluative.
Maile Dyer, a former Bain manager and Chicago Booth MBA, went through one of these sessions as a first-year and later helped decide who got interviewed.
She joins the podcast to share how to prep for an evaluation that happens before the invite, and the mistakes she sees first-year MBAs make all the time.
Hit play to get the full plan. If you want help running it, check out the resources below.
Resources:
Check the free consulting deadlines tracker – MBA internship dates for MBB, Big 4, and boutique firms in one place
Practicing cases but can’t tell what an interviewer would catch? See how Black Belt coaching works – you get 1-on-1 coaching with an ex-MBB coach who finds your gap areas and helps you close them
Not sure if MC support is right for you? Book 15 minutes with Katie – you’ll find out if Black Belt is the right fit
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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AI was supposed to kill junior consulting jobs. Then McKinsey, BCG, and Bain raised starting pay to $120,000 for pre-MBA hires and $200,000 for post-MBA hires.
So why would 3 firms lock in higher base pay for junior consulting jobs?
And is the raise as big as it looks? Namaan shares his take, plus what it means if you’re an undergrad, an MBA, or an experienced hire.
The pay data behind it comes from candidates who shared their offers – listen, then add yours below.
Resources:
2027 Consulting Salary Report
Share my pay for the 2027 Consulting Salary Report – anonymous, and it helps the next class of candidates know what they’re worth
Read the full MBB salary breakdown – base pay by firm and level, plus what the raise means for undergrad, MBA, and experienced-hire candidates
Free guides
Read the complete case interview prep guide – how a case runs, the core frameworks, and a prep timeline for your candidate type
Read the complete consulting resume guide – the 5 key sections, 10 tips, and examples
Read the consulting networking guide – who to contact, outreach and follow-up email templates, and when to start
Work with the team
Not sure what’s standing between you and an MBB offer? See how Black Belt coaching works – 1-on-1 with ex-MBB interviewers who find your gap areas and help you close them
Not sure if MC support is right for you? Book 15 minutes with Katie – you’ll find out whether Black Belt is the right fit
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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Ben van der Schaaf of Arthur D. Little and Stephane Budel of DeciBio land in the same place on AI – it makes everyone faster, but the experience to know which questions to ask is what clients still pay for.
Ben’s example: a colleague with 25 years in quality systems built a 17,000-line model over a weekend. Someone without those 25 years couldn’t have built it.
And that idea runs through the rest of the conversation: specialists are winning work against firms 50 times their size, clients want measurable outcomes over slide decks, and both partners explain what they look for in the people they hire.
It’s all from the research behind our 2027 ranking.
Resources:
Read the 2027 Top Healthcare Consulting Firms ranking – see where Arthur D. Little and DeciBio placed, the full top 10, and who leads each segment
Want your firm’s insights featured in MC’s next ranking, podcast, or research piece? Book time with Namaan
Not sure what’s holding you back in consulting recruiting? See how Black Belt coaching works – 1-on-1 with an ex-MBB interviewer who finds your gap areas and helps you close them
Browse open healthcare consulting roles on the MC Job Board
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more