Strategy Bites

🎙️ 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 brand If 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 iceberg the bold strategic decisions that changed the company’s future how the team shifted from survival mode to genuine innovation William’s views on loyalty, leadership and building a long-term strategy career It’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 Cascade In 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 exposure How to overcome fear and embrace rapid change in tech and business What AI and quantum actually mean for future roles, plus where the value is in banking today A simple first-90-days playbook for ex-consultants in product or delivery Three practical skills juniors should learn now for Tech and GenAI Hiring signals that scream “future leader” vs “great slide maker” Why mentors and sponsors matter, and how to ask for sponsorship without the awkward How diverse leadership and early exposure to tech can inspire the next generation Practical advice for aspiring CIOs on building a credible path to senior leadership If 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 Australia The hidden costs behind flashy AI ROI claims Which industries are next in line for disruption (think legal, accounting, and healthcare) Why consultants need to move beyond frameworks and get to the coalface Ian’s advice for young consultants: become an AI expert, but stay adaptable How his new venture, Palpable, is building a personal assistant that outperforms the best EAs And 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.

With over a decade of experience as a consultant at Deloitte and now serving as the Chief Business Operations and Strategy Officer at Xero, Angad Soin brings a wealth of knowledge to this episode. Angad delves into how he rose from Analyst to Partner, honing his expertise in business operations and strategy. He gives some great advice on how a strategy consultant should think about their careers, when to leave management consulting, and how to transition from consulting to industry. Angad joined Xero as the Executive General Manager and is now currently the Chief Business Operations and Strategy Officer, where he continues to drive strategic excellence and innovation.

Rosanna Leddy, a self-confessed gender equality advocate, is the Founder of MBBW – a global private member community for professionals from top-tier consulting firms. Roseanna is a McKinsey Alumna who has held senior roles in the Champions of Change Collision, a global community of 250+ CEOs who implement innovative initiatives on gender equality in their organisations and drive national conversations for societal change. More recently she has been a member of 2X Global. For applications to MBBW, go to https://www.mbbwomen.com/

Leah Balter has most recently been the Chief Transformation Officer and CIO at Bunnings. Having worked her way up through McKinsey to Associate Principal level, Leah left McKinsey to pursue a career in Industry when she became pregnant. Leah talks about her journey, being a mum of 4 whilst holding down a C-Suite role, and she gives her best advice to the community from whence she came on how to think about their careers in Strategy and beyond.

Olya Rudenko is currently the CEO of Cars24. Born and raised in Russia, she vowed to make a better life for herself in Australia. Olya is a McKinsey Alumni with Private Equity background prior to joining Management Consulting and has now led teams in multiple tech firms across Australia. She talks about how to navigate your career should you want to go through the tech and startup space.

Mailys Pauletto, ex Roland Berger consultant, has purposefully designed her current lifestyle and currently, she has a dual career. Mailys is a contract or interim Strategy consultant which allows her to also follow her passion as a holistic breathwork coach and yogi, running retreats and classes to teach others about her practice. Mailys talks to me about the pros and cons of being a contract management consultant vs having a corporate career or career in management consulting, as she has now experienced all three pathways. Website (Mailys' events page) https://www.mailyspauletto.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maypauletto/ Podcast: https://www.oneyoufeed.net/connecting-to-what-matters/

Wendy is a Managing Director of Pollination and she was previously a Managing Director and Partner in BCG's Sydney office. At BCG, Wendy worked in Financial Services & Insurance and also led BCG's Social Impact, Climate and Sustainability work in Australia and New Zealand. Wendy talks to me about working in ESG and what types of projects she was doing at BCG and now at Pollination. She has always been passionate about working on Social Impact, Climate and Sustainability projects and gives some great advice to other consultants wanting to focus their careers in this space.

Aliza Knox was the first Female partner at BCG in Asia and has been dubbed a “kick-ass woman slaying the world of tech”. Aliza was also listed as a Top 100 Women in Tech (Singapore, 2021), has been named the IT Woman of the Year (Asia, 2020), honored as the AWA Singapore International Business Woman of the Year (2015), elected to Chief Executive Women (Australia, 2016) and featured in the book Women on Board—Making a Real Difference. Aliza speaks to me about her amazing career journey from BCG to Tech and now to her roles on multiple boards. We talk about mentorship, women in leadership, having a career whilst having a family, and Aliza gives some amazing advice to other up and coming, driven consultants. Aliza is also a best selling Author and her book “ Don’t quit your day job” was written as a way to mentor the masses. Link to book : https://www.amazon.com.au/Dont-Quit-Your-Day-Job/dp/0730396592 Link to Aliza’s book recommendation : Radical Candor by Kim Scott https://www.amazon.com.au/Radical-Candor-Revised-Updated-Saying/dp/1529038340/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19E46FX6XOQP7&keywords=radical+candor+by+kim+scott&qid=1693784068&s=books&sprefix=radical+candor%2Cstripbooks%2C312&sr=1-1

I speak to Anna about her decision to leave Bain in order to found Start-up sensation Lyka, which has gone from strength to strength and is now a leading supplier of human grade pet food in Australia. We discuss the challenges of growing a business at speed and the highs and lows of being a start-up founder. This is a must listen to for any consultant who has an idea for a business but are yet to act on it.

Milosh Milisavljevic, Chief Customer Officer at Medibank and McKinsey alumni has been a go to mentor to many an ex consultant, helping them work through the trade-offs and options of moving from consulting into corporates, and then growing and developing in a corporate role once they make the move. We discuss what the high achievers in corporates who came from consulting did differently. Milosh gives some solid advice for those hoping to thrive in a corporate environment and shares some of the best advice he has been given over the years. His book recommendations : Effortless – Greg McKeown Lost Connections – Johann Hari Bitter Sweet – Susan Cain No Rules Rules – Reed Hastings

Sophie Hayek, CEO of PropHero and Roland Berger Alumni talks to me about her experience moving from France to Australia to join Woolies Group Strategy, why she moved to NBN, and what she feels were the skills that helped her climb the ladder in a Corporate. We discuss her motivations to move into a Tech- Start-Up and the skills necessary to be a CEO of a Scale-Up. She gives some great advice to management consultants thinking about their careers in both corporates and start-ups.

In this episode I am joined by my esteemed colleague Asha Walsh who specialises in recruiting roles at Manager to Head of level roles in Strategy. We discuss the market and what we are encountering currently in our sector. Asha also gives some excellent advice to any junior to mid-level strategy candidates considering a job search.