NorthPeak Advisory is a 250-person strategy and analytics consulting firm focused on growth-stage technology companies. The firm generates $85M in annual revenue, serves roughly 120 clients per year, and has built a strong reputation in data-heavy commercial due diligence and pricing projects. It is now hiring for a Strategy Associate role that sits between analytics execution and client-facing advisory work. The role requires someone who can move beyond analysis and operate comfortably in strategic advisory settings: framing ambiguous problems, structuring recommendations for executives, and helping clients make decisions on market entry, growth, and go-to-market priorities.
You are interviewing for this Strategy Associate role. The interviewer asks: "This role expects you to be comfortable with strategic advisory work. How would you handle that?" Rather than giving a generic behavioral answer, you should respond as if you were already in the role and explain how you would approach a typical client situation. Assume your first assignment is for FlowSync, a B2B SaaS company that sells workflow automation software to mid-market logistics companies. FlowSync must decide whether to expand into the healthcare provider segment over the next 12 months.
The leadership team wants a recommendation because growth in its core logistics segment is slowing, and investors expect a credible path to reaccelerate revenue before the next fundraise. Your answer should demonstrate how you would handle strategic advisory work: clarify the problem, structure the analysis, synthesize data, and communicate a recommendation to senior stakeholders.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| FlowSync current ARR | $48M |
| Logistics segment YoY growth | 11% (down from 24% last year) |
| Gross margin | 78% |
| Cash runway | 16 months |
| Healthcare provider workflow software market | $1.2B annual spend |
Additional facts: