Strategy Simplified

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Bates White let us inside a real economic consulting case interview.
Annie Olecki, a senior consultant in Bates White's antitrust practice, ran a live case interview with a volunteer from the MC community. And economic consulting cases don't look like the strategy cases at McKinsey or Bain.
The case: a phone manufacturer suing its battery suppliers for price-fixing. The candidate has to size the damages, then revise the number - twice - as new evidence shifts the picture.
That's the instinct Bates White is testing for. Annie wanted to see if the candidate would revise the estimate once new information proved it wrong.
After the case wraps, Annie and Bates White recruiter Julian Pritcher take audience questions - interview rounds, what stands out in a resume, and R vs. Python.
Join Bates White:
Bates White's summer consultant program is open for applications. If you're an undergrad rising junior graduating Dec. 2027 through spring 2028, apply here
Not that class year? Bates White keeps a running list of openings. Submit your resume and cover letter and the firm will reach out if a role fits
Go deeper on Bates White – our full firm profile
Resources:
Join the Black Belt program to build killer case instincts like Kunal
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Namaan talked to dozens of PE practice leaders for our 2026 ranking. Almost every one said the same three things: 1) Cross-practice integration. 2) Strategy through execution. 3) Deep sector expertise. 
Strip the logo off 7 of 10 firms and you can't tell them apart. That's the sameness problem.
And it's expensive. Sponsors stop evaluating and default to relationships, brand, and price instead.
On this episode of The Briefing, Namaan breaks down what the standout firms did differently.
Resources:
Management Consulted's full research is in the 2026 Top Private Equity Consulting Firms ranking – see which 10 practices stood out and why
Want your firm's perspective in our next ranking, panel, or research piece? Tell our research team
Targeting PE consulting? Work with a Black Belt coach
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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Most 2nd-year MBA candidates have 2 to 4 weeks to get case interview-ready this cycle, not the usual 6 to 8.
More cases won't close that gap for McKinsey, Bain, and BCG.
Former Bain interviewer and LBS MBA Mitali Jalan compressed her prep into under 4 weeks and landed her offer. This session is her plan for doing it on a short runway.
The fix isn't more volume. It's knowing what to drill, and when. Listen for:
Mitali's 4-step sequence for compressing 6 to 8 weeks of prep into 2 to 4
Why 30 cases with a partner can still hide the mistake that costs an offer
Business acumen: the one skill interviewers spot instantly, and most candidates never build
Resources:
Black Belt pairs you with a coach who catches what a case partner can't – 80% land at least one offer
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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McKinsey screens candidates with a video game – McKinsey Solve – before they ever see a case interview. Most candidates either try to copy other people's answers or panic because they don't know what it's measuring.
So here's the breakdown: what Solve is, what McKinsey is testing for inside it, and how to approach it.
The answer isn't Solve-specific prep. It's the same problem-solving fundamentals that carry you through the entire McKinsey recruiting process.
We cover:
What the Solve scenarios look like and how the timing works
The 5 cognitive abilities McKinsey is measuring – and why they map directly to what consultants actually do
How to prepare without wasting time on things that won't transfer
Resources:
If you want coaching from an ex-McKinsey interviewer – plus access to a practice Solve simulation – Black Belt is the program that top candidates turn to
New to case prep? Start with the Case Foundations course – free
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

Send us Fan Mail
George Cary spent five years as a McKinsey EM. In this live case, he coaches candidate Harvey through a real McKinsey market entry study: should a diesel truck manufacturer build and sell electric trucks.
Harvey builds a framework, runs the full cost-of-ownership math, and lands a final recommendation. George pauses after every section to break down good vs. great in real time.
You'll learn:
Why McKinsey calls it "problem solving," not casing – and the vocabulary that signals you already think like a consultant
How Harvey turns a good, structured framework into a great, distinctive one 
The full math behind pricing an e-truck – and how to talk through your logic instead of just stating the number
Resources:
Harvey turned 3 weeks of coaching into a case that sounded ready for the real thing – Black Belt pairs you with a coach like George who breaks down your good from your great, session by session
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