Strategy Simplified

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I went to the beach (literally) during my first month at Bain.
Technically, I was allowed to. Strategically, it quietly hurt my early trajectory.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae breaks down the biggest mistake she made in her first month – and what she wishes she had done instead.
You'll learn:
Why “unstaffed” is a career opportunity – not time off
How early visibility and eagerness shape who gets the best projects
What to do in your first weeks to position yourself for rapid promotion
This is the reality no one tells you before you start.
If you’re about to join a consulting firm, this is how you avoid falling behind before you even realize it.
Additional Resources:
Create a free profile + access the Job Board (1K+ jobs)
Get the free Case Prep Plan (step-by-step guide to win case interviews)
Get full prep support with Black Belt
Join the last-ever Strategy Sprint (March 7-14)
Build consulting experience, boost your resume, and make a real impact on this 1-week consulting project (the last-ever project)
Connect With Management Consulted
Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team.
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube!
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights!
Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more.
Email us ([email protected]) with questions or feedback.

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In this episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan unpack one of retail’s most unexpected survivors: Build-A-Bear. Build-A-Bear is a mall-based stuffed animal retailer in an AI-driven world – and yet it’s a profitable public company with rising stock performance.
We cover:
What the company really sells – and how customization drives pricing power
What the financials reveal about profitability and scale
The next move: U.S. focus, international expansion, or partnerships
A sharp look at retail economics, defensibility, and what it actually takes to survive.
Episode Links:
Annual Report - SEC Form 10-K Filing for Fiscal Year 2024 (Build-A-Bear)
Executive Presentation Training:
Learn more about Executive Presentation and Storytelling Training with Management Consulted
Chapters: 
00:00 – Should Build-A-Bear Be Dead?
01:45 – The “Pay Your Age” Hook
04:30 – Chipotle for Teddy Bears
06:40 – Public Company Surprise
09:00 – Breaking Down the Financials
12:30 – Retail vs AI Disruption
16:45 – Growth Levers That Matter
22:30 – U.S. Core vs Global Expansion
29:00 – What Would You Do Next?
Join the last-ever Strategy Sprint (March 7-14)
Build consulting experience, boost your resume, and make a real impact on this 1-week consulting project (the last-ever project)
Employee Survival Guide®
A Podcast only for employees. Mark shares information your employer does not want you know
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Connect With Management Consulted
Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team.
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube!
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights!
Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more.
Email us ([email protected]) with questions or feedback.

Send a text
Watch the top undergraduate and master’s teams in the 2026 Case Competition World Cup Finals go head-to-head in a live, high-pressure strategy showdown.
5 finalist teams take on The Waymo Challenge, presented by Grant Thornton Stax: build a 3–5 year growth strategy to scale Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing business – without sacrificing safety, strong unit economics, or public trust.
You’ll see:
5-minute pitches from undergrad/MS competitors
Live Q&A and evaluation from Celebrity Judges at EY-Parthenon, Grant Thornton Stax, KPMG, L.E.K. Consulting, and Simon-Kucher
How top employers assess structured thinking, judgment, and storytelling
Presented by Grant Thornton Stax, a strategy consulting firm specializing in analytics-driven growth strategy and commercial diligence. 
Stax partnered to develop the case and is actively hiring talent interested in strategy, data, and real-world impact.
Helpful Stax Links:
Careers site
Life at Grant Thornton Stax
Contact: [email protected]
Additional Resources:
Learn more about running a case competition for your university or club (Career Services & Club Leaders only)
Book a free 15-minute call with Katie to explore Management Consulted prep support options
Join the last-ever Strategy Sprint (March 7-14)
Build consulting experience, boost your resume, and make a real impact on this 1-week consulting project (the last-ever project)
Employee Survival Guide®
A Podcast only for employees. Mark shares information your employer does not want you know
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Connect With Management Consulted
Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team.
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube!
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights!
Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more.
Email us ([email protected]) with questions or feedback.

Send a text
Work–life balance is one of the most common concerns candidates have about consulting.
It’s also one of the fastest ways to quietly take yourself out of the running.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae explains why asking about work–life balance in an interview sends the wrong signal – and what firms are actually optimizing for instead.
Inside this episode:
What firms really manage to (hint: it’s not balance)
What interviewers hear when you ask about workload
How to frame smarter end-of-interview questions that protect your candidacy
This is a mindset shift you need early – not after you’ve already missed your shot.
Additional Resources:
Create a free profile + access the Job Board (1K+ jobs)
Take the Consulting Fit Quiz (free self-assessment)
Get full prep support with Black Belt
Join the last-ever Strategy Sprint (March 7-14)
Build consulting experience, boost your resume, and make a real impact on this 1-week consulting project (the last-ever project)
Connect With Management Consulted
Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team.
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube!
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights!
Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more.
Email us ([email protected]) with questions or feedback.

Send a text
Once Upon a Farm went public, and the stock jumped. But this isn’t the standard path for a consumer brand.
In this episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan examine why a single-brand baby food company chose an IPO instead of selling to a large CPG player - and what role Jennifer Garner’s involvement really plays in that decision.
We break down the business fundamentals behind the headlines, from refrigerated supply chains to retailer economics, and question how much of the early momentum can translate into long-term scale.
The episode closes with what comes next - and whether this business is built to stay public.
We cover:
Why this IPO breaks the usual consumer brand playbook
The real economics behind refrigerated, organic consumer products
How celebrity-backed trust does - and doesn’t - scale over time
A clear-eyed look at IPO strategy, consumer economics, and where this bet could break.
Executive Presentation Training
Learn more about Executive Presentation and Storytelling Training with Management Consulted
Chapters:
00:00 – Why This IPO Is Different
02:30 – What Is Once Upon a Farm?
05:20 – The Jennifer Garner Effect
09:10 – Refrigerated Food Economics
13:40 – Retail Shelf Space and Margins
17:30 – Why IPO Instead of Selling
21:40 – Losses, Growth, and Valuation
25:40 – How This Business Scales
29:40 – What Comes Next
Join the last-ever Strategy Sprint (March 7-14)
Build consulting experience, boost your resume, and make a real impact on this 1-week consulting project (the last-ever project)
Employee Survival Guide®
A Podcast only for employees. Mark shares information your employer does not want you know
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Connect With Management Consulted
Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team.
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube!
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights!
Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more.
Email us ([email protected]) with questions or feedback.