Strategy Bites

A strong structure might get you started, but it won't necessarily get you across the finish line.In the first episode of Season 7 of Strategy Bites, Anika Stokes sits down with Kieran White, former Bain consultant and senior strategy leader at Australia Post and NAB, to unpack what really makes candidates stand out in case interviews.Drawing on his experience across engineering, consulting and corporate strategy, as well as his work teaching at Melbourne Business School, Kieran explains why memorising frameworks is not enough. The real skill lies in understanding the business, tailoring your approach to the problem, defining what success looks like and using your structure to drive towards a practical recommendation.They also explore how to prepare effectively without wasting hours on repetitive practice, why Australian market knowledge matters, and how to use AI as a tool to sharpen your thinking without relying on it during the interview.In this episode, you'll learn:Why a clean structure can still fail to impress an interviewerHow to move beyond generic frameworks and demonstrate genuine problem-solving abilityWhat effective case interview preparation looks like over three to four weeksWhy quality practice and targeted feedback matter more than quantityHow to build Australian business knowledge and apply it to real-world casesWhere AI can help you prepare, and why using it during an interview can backfireHow to manage nerves and make a strong impression in the first few minutesWhat consulting teaches you about critical thinking, decision-making and delivering results in a corporate environmentWhether you're preparing for your next consulting interview, moving from consulting into corporate strategy, or looking to strengthen your problem-solving skills at work, this episode offers practical insights you can apply well beyond the interview room.🎧 Listen now to learn how to turn case interview preparation into a skill that lasts throughout your career.Kieran White's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieranwhite47/Case Notes: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/case-notes-7463415696010584064/

🎙️ New Strategy Bites episode is live!Last week, I sat down with Melanie Kansil, Chief Strategy Officer at MECCA Brands.Melanie started her career at McKinsey, then went on to build startups, work across multiple sectors, and now shapes strategy for one of Australia’s most loved consumer brands.We talk about:✨ What the CSO role really looks like day to day✨ What consulting prepares you brilliantly for (and what it doesn’t)✨ The messy reality of moving from advising to owning strategy✨ The career advice she wishes she’d had earlier✨ The reality of consulting vs start-ups vs leading inside a top brandIf you’re a consultant wondering whether industry, start-up, leadership, or a CSO role might be in your future, this episode is a must-listen.

Today on Strategy Bites, I’m joined by William Loh, Executive Director of Strategy at Foxtel.Foxtel has pulled off one of the most impressive transformation stories in Australian media over the past decade.William has been there for the entire journey, starting as a commercial analyst and rising through the ranks to lead the group’s strategy.We dig into:what it was really like inside Foxtel when many saw it as the Titanic heading for the icebergthe bold strategic decisions that changed the company’s futurehow the team shifted from survival mode to genuine innovationWilliam’s views on loyalty, leadership and building a long-term strategy careerIt’s a brilliant conversation with someone who’s lived a transformation most strategists only read about.

Season 6 Episode 5 Charlie Newark-French, CEO of CascadeIn this episode of Strategy Bites, Anika Stokes sits down with Charlie Newark French, a former McKinsey consultant turned VC and now CEO of Cascade. Charlie brings a rare mix of strategy depth, tech insight, and startup scar tissue. From scaling AI-driven companies to surviving the rollercoaster of venture-backed growth, he’s lived the full spectrum.Charlie shares how he went from coding as a kid, to advising CEOs at McKinsey, to betting on cutting-edge tech in Silicon Valley, and finally to building AI products that actually deliver strategy execution in the real world. His take on resilience, long-term thinking, and the brutal honesty of startup life is a masterclass for anyone who wants to operate, lead, or invest in high-performance environments.Why listen to this episode?How elite storytelling skills from McKinsey still underpin effective strategy and leadership today.·How Charlie spots real opportunities in tech and what separates a “nice idea” from a viable, scalable business.·A brutally honest look at the emotional and operational realities of being a founder in fast-growth tech.Practical insights into AI’s real role in strategy execution, beyond the hype.How resilience is built, not born, from someone who has navigated existential crises week after week.If you’re leading, investing, or simply trying to stay ahead in a world where AI meets strategy, this one’s packed with insights you’ll want to replay.

This week on Strategy Bites, I’m joined by someone who genuinely redefines what it means to think differently.Jim Hogan has spent over forty years at the forefront of technology, innovation and leadership, and he just happens to be autistic.He was the Chief Innovation Evangelist at Google Cloud and the Vice President of Accessibility in Technology for Google’s Disability Alliance.Through his work, research and powerful TED Talk, Jim has become one of the most authentic and inspiring voices for neuroinclusion in business.In this episode, Jim shares how his autistic lens has shaped his life and career, the challenges, the brilliance and the occasional chaos, and why he believes neuroinclusion isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do for any organisation that wants to innovate.We talk about what leaders can do to create truly inclusive workplaces, how introverts and neurodistinct thinkers can be heard in rooms full of extroverts, and how embracing difference drives better ideas, better teams and better outcomes.Oh, and yes, we get to the story behind the Rubik’s Cube.So whether you’re leading a team, hiring for one, or just curious about how diverse thinking fuels innovation, you’ll want to stick around for this one.Jim Hogan's Ted Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJrRnyNwm00

Stevie-Ann Dovico maps a clear route from consulting into the C-suite. Starting in Big 4 strategy and moving in-house across major banks before becoming CIO at Beyond Bank, she’s led high-performing teams, shipped real products, and picked up industry recognition along the way. In this episode we unpack how curiosity, adaptability and lifelong learning powered each pivot, what “tech fluency” looks like without a coding background, and how she balances leadership with motherhood while challenging stereotypes in tech. We also dive into what AI and even quantum mean for careers, and how mentors and sponsors accelerate the journey from analyst to executive.You’ll hear:Real first steps from consulting into tech that keep you close to strategy while building product and engineering exposureHow to overcome fear and embrace rapid change in tech and businessWhat AI and quantum actually mean for future roles, plus where the value is in banking todayA simple first-90-days playbook for ex-consultants in product or deliveryThree practical skills juniors should learn now for Tech and GenAIHiring signals that scream “future leader” vs “great slide maker”Why mentors and sponsors matter, and how to ask for sponsorship without the awkwardHow diverse leadership and early exposure to tech can inspire the next generationPractical advice for aspiring CIOs on building a credible path to senior leadershipIf you’re a consultant or aspiring CIO wondering how to future-proof your career in a fast-changing digital world, this conversation is packed with usable tactics and inspiration.

PE can look shiny from the outside. James spends his days helping funds and port-cos create real value, and we get into the parts you don’t see on LinkedIn: leadership, resilience and building a career you actually like.We talk about saying yes to the “weird and wacky” projects and opportunities that end up changing everything, what PE firms really look for when hiring ex-consultants (including Operating Partner roles), and whether ex-MBB leaders make great port-co CEOs.We also dig into balance, working hard without losing yourself, and how to stay adaptable when the ground keeps moving.🎧 Tune in for:• Practical advice for consultants curious about PE• A day in the life of a Bain partner advising PE clients• Why working and living abroad can sharpen your consulting edge• Why resilience, curiosity and self-awareness matter more than ever• The best and the worst career advice James has picked up along the way

In this episode of the Strategy Bites Podcast, I sat down with Ian Hill, founder of Enthoosa.AI and creator of Palpable.io — to unpack the reality of AI adoption and what it means for consultants, leaders, and businesses.Here are some highlights you won’t want to miss: Why banks are leading AI adoption in AustraliaThe hidden costs behind flashy AI ROI claimsWhich industries are next in line for disruption (think legal, accounting, and healthcare) Why consultants need to move beyond frameworks and get to the coalfaceIan’s advice for young consultants: become an AI expert, but stay adaptableHow his new venture, Palpable, is building a personal assistant that outperforms the best EAsAnd perhaps most importantly -  Ian’s reminder to stay curious in times of rapid change. AI may deliver the right answers, but it’s people who decide whether to act on them. You may check out what Ian Hill has been working on at the following links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianhill22/https://palpable.io/

Joining us is the brilliant Rushika Handa who has an impressive 13+ years of experience working with top-tier consulting firms like McKinsey & Company and BCG. She’s a wizard when it comes to strategy, product, organisational design, and so much more. From startups and venture incubation to digital strategy and building high-performing teams, Rushika has done it all. In this episode, she'll be sharing her insights on how management consultants can leverage AI to supercharge their work. Whether it's go-to-market strategies, innovation, or organisational agility, Rushika’s got you covered. So, grab your notebooks and get ready for some game-changing advice! Notes: Management Consulting Intensive Mentorship Program - https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/brochure.growthschool.io/MCP%20Brochure%20Updated.pdf AI for Consultants Mini-Workshop - https://course.growthschool.io/ai-for-consultants-aus Generative AI Mastery program -  https://home.growthschool.io/industry/generative-ai#Nav-Scroll

Join us for an insightful conversation with Danielle Handley, the Chief Customer and Transformation Officer at Bupa. With a wealth of experience in driving customer-centric transformation, Danielle shares her journey, strategies, and the challenges she has faced in the ever-evolving healthcare and insurance industry. Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical advice from a leader at the forefront of customer and organisational transformation.