Here's how you can build experience in Strategy as a beginner.

While mastering the basics of business strategy is essential, there's immense value in expanding our perspective beyond traditional business frameworks. Exploring interdisciplinary examples of strategy - from military history to game theory - can offer fresh insights and innovative approaches. Studying the works of ancient strategists like Sun Tzu or Machiavelli can be surprisingly relevant. Their timeless principles on human nature, power dynamics, and decision-making often translate well to modern business challenges. Though our technological landscape has changed dramatically, the fundamental principles of strategy endure.

Immerse yourself in industry-specific knowledge and trends to contextualize strategic concepts. Stay updated on emerging technologies, market dynamics, and regulatory changes that impact strategic planning. Seek opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge through practical exercises, such as developing strategic plans for hypothetical scenarios or conducting competitive analysis for real-world businesses. Collaborate with experienced professionals in cross-functional projects or mentorship programs to gain insights into strategic decision-making processes and organizational dynamics.

I would highly recommend that prior to utilizing templates, you understand what strategy is. Many people mistake strategy for execution or for mission/vision statements. Strategy is not What you are going to do or Where you are, but rather How you are going to do something. In other words, it is How you will get from where you are now to where you want to be, a plan or map or sorts. As such, you must also understand that plans need to be modified along the way to adapt to a changing reality, but without losing sight of the objective. Then come the analysis tools to go in-depth on what you do, where you are, your value-added, competition, why you want to get a certain objective, who will help you reach it, how long it should take, etc.

Read the WSJ and HBR. See how they solve situations. Take inspiration from everywhere. See the actions taken and how things turned out. Trust your own gut and analysis. Use frameworks as guides, but not as rules of thumb. Practice Case interviews for management consulting firms. There are lots of free cases to watch and practice. Practice dissecting issues to find the root cause.

adopt a structured approach that includes deconstructing each case study into its core components: identify the company's strategic goals, analyze the competitive landscape, evaluate the decisions made by leadership, and assess the outcomes achieved. Engage in discussions or join study groups to debate alternative strategies and outcomes, gaining diverse perspectives and refining your analytical skills. Look for case studies that reflect a range of industries and business scenarios to broaden your understanding of strategic challenges and solutions.

Strategy is mainly learned from experience, be it your experience or someone else's, so gain indirect experience and develop the required thinking patterns to fulfill the role you want by practicing cases (there are a many free cases online) and gain direct experience by volunteering to work with small local businesses. Some people are born with a naturally strategic mind while others must develop it, but everyone can become a good strategist.

Focus on creating scenarios that mirror current industry trends and challenges. Incorporate factors such as technological disruptions, market fluctuations, and regulatory changes to simulate realistic business environments. Collaborate with peers or mentors to simulate competitive dynamics and explore alternative strategic approaches through role-playing exercises. Utilize simulation software or tools that offer analytics and feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies and refine your decision-making process. Document your simulation experiences and reflect on key insights and lessons learned to continuously improve your strategic capabilities.

When you're part of a minority group, finding a relatable mentor can be challenging. However, mentors can accelerate your learning by offering guidance, insights, and feedback. Thankfully, there are resources that can help you. For example, if you identify as a woman, resources like #OneUpOneDown, an AI-powered match-making app, connect you with experienced women mentors, helping you navigate the professional landscape and gain valuable experience.

Seek mentors who have diverse industry experience and a track record of successful strategic initiatives. Engage with mentors who challenge your thinking and encourage you to explore innovative approaches to problem-solving. Establish clear objectives for your mentorship relationship, outlining specific skills and competencies you wish to develop. Actively seek feedback and guidance from your mentor on real-world strategic projects or challenges you encounter, leveraging their expertise to refine your strategic thinking and decision-making capabilities.

Proactively seek out projects that align with your career goals and offer opportunities for growth. Choose initiatives where you can lead or collaborate closely with experienced professionals to gain insights into strategic planning and execution. Approach volunteering with a mindset of continuous learning, actively seeking feedback from project leaders and stakeholders to refine your strategic approach. Document your contributions and outcomes achieved through volunteering experiences to showcase your ability to drive results and solve complex problems. Leverage these experiences to expand your professional network and build credibility within your industry as a proactive and capable strategic thinker.

Take and adapt your solutions on strategy pivot and orient most academic subjects towards it. In my scenario 22/26 (12 - 15 months MBA) subjects except finance were strategy oriented. Corporate Governance Structures & Decisions & Management of Innovation & IP had a high orientation on Strategy. Annual Reports: Studying the annual reports of companies to understand their strategic objectives and performance. Strategic Plans: Look for publicly available strategic plans & white papers to see how organizations outline their strategies. This was already seeded by the experience with ICICI Bank to understand and present management discussion and analysis. In the case of MOOCs & online virtual strategy case analysis - may fetch you an interview.