The JMSB MBA Case Competition Committee (MBACCC) publishes 2 newsletters every study term to present the events and results of the MBACCC’s efforts in promoting case competitions and representing JMSB in various case competitions.

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NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2024

MBA CCC 2023-24 Recap

The MBA CCC saw incredible student engagement in this year’s events and case competitions. An incredible 25% of students from the MBA program participated in our internal events like case competition, bootcamp and workshop. 20 teams (55 students) went to 12 external case competitions, scoring a podium in more than 50% of the competitions!

Incoming 2024-25 team!

We are delighted to announce the 2024-25 team, who will take the program to new heights and help in achieving great success in the next year too.

Case Competition Spotlight: Telfer

Winners! The MBA team representing JMSB Concordia University at the 8th Annual MBA Diversity & Inclusion Case Challenge was officially adjudged as the overall winner!

The case competition was themed around creating a strategy or business model that empowers First Nations in Canada to grow opportunities in the agri-food sector. Our team developed a project for Empowering Local farmers of indigenous communities through the development of a cooperative business model facilitated through collaboration with members of the Saskatoon Tribal Council like Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and One Arrow First Nation, leveraging their communal power and expertise in wild rice cultivation.

A huge kudos to the team for their efforts in this competition promoting DEI in the agrifood sector. We would also like to thank the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa for organizing this competition to encourage meaningful discussions. 

Team Mindscape Consulting (L to R): Hargun Singh Bhatia, Meena A, Yogita Goyal and Gurbani Sachdeva

We would also like to extend our gratitude to the team coaches Anne Morinville, Bethea Clarke, Liane Villemure, and Tim Field.

Case Competition Spotlight: Rotman

The team represented JMSB Concordia University at the Rotman Accounting 4 Sustainability Case Competition. The 6-month competition had 3 rounds and the finals were hosted by Rotman School of Management on March 22-23, 2024.

Our team performed very well put in an amazing effort and finished as runners-up of the event. 

Team AgriVive proposed “Project Green Cacao”, an innovative solution to address human rights challenges, particularly the right to an adequate standard of living. The prevailing business models of large chocolate companies, such as Hershey, perpetuate poverty among West African farmers, where more than 25 million people struggle to meet basic food needs. Having no education and lacking the funds needed to grow and improve their economic situation, farmers often fall into a poverty trap partly due to the market power of large companies driving down cacao prices.

Team (L to R): Sumer Bhasin, Keyur Joshi, Pragya Jain, Jesse Periodica 

We also thank the team’s coaches: Laura Fraticelli, Lorenze Dsouza, Marc LeGuen, and Tim Field, for putting so much effort into guiding the team to this incredible performance.

Sumer Bhasin, Rotman case competition participant:

“ Jumping into the A4S International Case Competition (A4SICC) was an exhilarating experience. From participating in the tryouts to making YouTube videos with our pitch. This has been a thrilling ride. Picture this: a six-month deep dive into how companies can better align their operations with human rights, all while none of us had a formal education in sustainability. It was both a challenge and an adventure.

Our mission was ambitious: to create a sustainable business model for one of the world’s most influential companies, focusing on human rights. The experience was incredibly enriching, thanks to the exceptional coaching we received. Our coaches were more than mentors; they were the driving force behind our success, instilling in us a deep passion for sustainable business practices and the art of presenting ideas.

Making it to the runner-up position was a huge achievement for us. It reflected not only our hard work but also the invaluable insights we gained from the competition. The finals in Toronto were a highlight, offering us a platform to present our ideas and learn from the diverse approaches of other teams at the same time.

What made the A4SICC stand out was its practical approach. It wasn’t about theoretical knowledge; it was about applying what we learned to real-world issues. Presenting our solutions to industry leaders was an incredible opportunity to see the potential impact of our ideas and receive their feedback.

In short, the A4SICC was more than just a competition; it was a transformative journey that has reshaped my view on the integration of sustainability in business. For anyone considering participating, go for it. It’s a chance to challenge yourself, learn immensely, and contribute to a sustainable future.”

Case Competition Spotlight: McGill Negotiations

Our team successfully negotiated a third-place finish at the Desautels Negotiation Competition.

In this competition, MBA and Graduate students get a chance to demonstrate and hone their negotiation skills in realistic and challenging scenarios. The event consisted of 16 teams and the JMSB team (Pratik Padalia, Connor MacLeod Farley, Naveen Varghese) impressed judges with their communication, style/approach, roles and command over the negotiation.

Team – Pratik Padalia, Connor MacLeod Farley, Naveen Varghese

We thank McGill University and the McGill University – Desautels Faculty of Management for organizing this event and providing a platform to hone negotiation skills. A shoutout to our coaches for guiding the team: Dhiraj Gaikwad, Raul Braganza, and Sridharan Vankeepuram.

Case Competition Spotlight: IBECC

Ending the 2023-24 case competition season in Boston, our team successfully participated in the 2024 International Business Ethics Case Competition. In this 3-day event, the team addressed three rounds based on their research case: a 25-minute presentation, a 10-minute presentation with no deck, and a 90-second pitch. The team placed second in the 10-minute presentation.

The Project Research Mandate (team selected): Building Trust in the US healthcare system. Fostering a new relationship between HealthCare and the Black community in the United States through C.A.R.E.  Their solution focused on Community Health Hubs, improved Access, Representation and Education.

Team: Liane Villemure, Maatangi Sachchithanandam, Myriam Selmani and Benedict Marsh, and coach Tim Field

Thanks to our Donors & Sponsors

As we finish another successful year of the JMSB MBA CCC, we would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our sponsors and donors, without whose help we would not be able to accomplish any of our achievements.

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NEWSLETTER – DECEMBER 2023

The whole CCC team wishes you Happy Holidays anda Very Happy New Year.

We are thankful to you for being a part of our journey and wish you success in 2024! May all your dreams and goals come true.

Case Competition Spotlight: KGP Concours

Concours KGP Case Competition is a Project Management themed case competition. This was a one-day event that was held on November 11th, 2023. A total of 4 teams from JMSB participated in the competition.

We are delighted to announce that two teams finished on the podium in the final standings, securing 1st and 3rd place in the IT stream.

 For the first round, the mandate revolved around modernizing IT legal services for the Government. Teams had 1h45 to come up with the best solution, followed by 15 minutes of presentation and a 5-minute Q&A. The second round was a continuation of the same mandate… but with a plot twist!  It placed the participants 4 months later, into the implementation stage, where they had to modify and adapt their initial solution based on customer needs, identified by a contract agency. Teams had 45 minutes to solve this new issue, 15 minutes to present their solution and a 10-minute Q&A. Considering the short period to prepare each round, a PowerPoint template was provided to the participants at the beginning of the day, and in the second round, the teams built from their first presentation.

Heartiest congratulations to both teams!

And a special thanks to our coaches Laura Fraticelli, Lorenze Dsouza and Bijoy Kothari for providing a case-preparation workshop before the event.

Maatangi Sachchithanandam, Winner of IT division of KGP:

“Participating in KGP’s IT-focused case completion was a transformative experience that pushed the boundaries of my capabilities and taught me invaluable lessons in teamwork, adaptability, and quick thinking.

One of the most striking aspects of this challenge was the rapid adaptation required to collaborate effectively within a dynamic team under immense time pressure. Despite having pre-existing friendships with team members, the intensity of the case environment created a different dynamic altogether. It demanded swift adjustments and a heightened level of professionalism to navigate through the tasks efficiently.

The initial hurdle of comprehending the case, formulating a viable solution, and preparing a presentation in just an hour and 45 minutes seemed impossible. Yet, against the odds, our team not only crafted a comprehensive solution but also delivered a compelling presentation. This accomplishment propelled us to the next round where the time crunch was even tighter – a mere 45 minutes to accomplish what seemed implausible previously.

Walking into the presentation room for the subsequent round, we held great uncertainty. None of us had an idea of what we were going to say. However, through efficient and collaborative discussions during the preparation time we were able to synthesize our ideas, align our thoughts, and deliver a coherent narrative on the spot. It was a testament to our collective adaptability and shared dedication.

Undoubtedly, this challenging case completion stands out as one of the steepest yet most rewarding learning experiences in my journey. It developed my ability to thrive under pressure, enhanced my teamwork and communication skills, and underscored the significance of adaptability in navigating complex scenarios. I am immensely grateful for the lessons learned and the growth attained through this case competition.”

 Case Competition Spotlight: DeGroote Innovative Solutions

DeGroote Innovations Solutions Case Competition is focused on Innovation in Digital Transformation and Community Engagement. The event consisted of 2 rounds.

The first round is a week-long case in which the teams must present in 20 minutes followed by a 10-minute Q&A. The team had to research the world of crypto/digital currency on behalf of Scotiabank. The Mandate focused on a go to market strategy: To determine the best way to penetrate the market while accounting for the reputational risk of money laundering.

The second round is a 3-hour case in which the teams again must present in 15 minutes followed by a 5-minute Q&A. This case was on how to implement an Enterprise Performance management system, AI, machine learning and/or internet of things to have the data to manage operations more efficiently and to help the transition of the company towards sustainability, all within a very limited budget. 

The team put in a lot of effort and did a great job in the competition representing JMSB. A special thanks to Anne Morinville, Bethea Clarke, and Tim Field who coached and supported the team throughout their preparation for the competition.

Myriam Selmani, DeGroote Case Competition participant:

” I really loved my experience in the DeGroote Innovative Solutions Competition. The training was very helpful, always fun, and very informative! Since I don’t have a lot of knowledge in the technology department, I learned a ton in the training sessions. As a team, we quickly developed a good camaraderie, which helped us work efficiently together, and made the whole experience very enjoyable. We trained once a week for 4 weeks: we tried, we failed, we learned, and we got better. The whole team gave their maximum effort to improve, and it is impressive how much progress we made in so little time.

On the morning of the competition, the energy was present in the room. We were all a little nervous, but we were able to present well the project that we had been working on day and night for the past week. The next day was the 3-hour case: we were still very nervous, but we worked efficiently to come up with our best 3-hour case yet. We didn’t make it into the finals, but every one of us was very proud of our performance.

We must thank our wonderful coaches for the incredible work that they did with us. Anne Morinville, Bethea Clarke and Tim Field were so important in our preparation. We would not have been able to perform the way we did without them. They were so helpful, always supportive and challenging us, just enough to give us the push we needed to improve. We often met late at night to accommodate the schedules, but they greeted us every time with energy and smiles that made us happy to be there despite the fatigue.

Finally, I must say that I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to join the DeGroote team. It was my first experience in the world of case competition.  As the president of CCC, I can finally talk about my personal experience when advocating how important the program is and when trying to promote our events.”

Upcoming Events & Competitions

One of our SIA teams will represent JMSB and Concordia University in the following case competition:

John Molson MBA International Case Competition: January 3rd-7th, 2024

We have the following events coming up in Winter 2024, stay tuned:

Winter 2024 Boot Camp, January 2024

The JMSB CCC will host our Winter 2024 boot-camp on January 27, 2024.  Our faculty advisor Timothy Field will give a brief walkthrough of the fundamentals of solving a case and presenting a solution effectively. We will also provide you with more information about the upcoming case competitions and upcoming try-outs, so stay tuned!

 CCC/SIA/Live Try-outs, Winter 2024 Term

The recruitment for our CCC team will be in Winter 2024 term. We will look to fill 6 positions: President, VP Marketing, VP Communications, VP Internal, VP Finance and VP Logistics. The role of the committee is to support MBA students that want to participate in case competitions, provide guidance on external case competitions, organize coaching programs, and handle all logistics for external Canadian and US case competitions so that participants can enjoy a smooth experience and focus on the mandate they are solving.

The recruitment for SIA (Strategies in Action: Fall class) and LIVE (Live Case Experience: Summer class) will also be in Winter 2024. These classes teach you the basics of cracking a case, developing impactful presentations, and connecting with your audience. It is the best way to learn how to apply business theories in real-life scenarios. Please stay in touch and join us in this learning experience.

NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 2023

The JMSB MBA Case Competition Committee provides an enriching learning experience allowing students to develop problem-solving, strategy, and presentation skills that go way beyond the classroom. We organize events like the Bootcamps, Internal Case Competition, etc. to introduce students to case cracking. With the help of dedicated coaches, we also provide training and mentoring for external case competitions.

Case Competition Spotlight: McGill Retail Challenge

A total of 6 teams from JMSB participated in the annual McGill RIC. 3 teams qualified for the semi-final round, and 2 teams made it to the finals, held on November 4, 2023. We are delighted to announce that both teams WON in their respective cases!

Heartiest congratulations to both teams and to our coaches! This is an amazing start to the 2023-24 season, and we hope for many more success stories soon!

Case Cracking Boot Camp

On 30 September 2023, the JMSB MBA CCC held its Fall’23 Case-Cracking Bootcamp. Our faculty advisor Timothy Field gave the students a walkthrough of the fundamentals of solving a case and presenting a solution efficiently. Thirty-three students from the MBA cohort attended the boot camp.

We would like to extend our gratitude to our alumni Lisa Malachowski and Raul Braganza for sparing time to highlight the benefits of business case competitions as part of the MBA journey.

CCC Internal Case Competition: Sponsored by Loblaws

In partnership with Loblaw Companies Limited Discount Division, the MBACCC organized an Internal Case Competition on October 28^th, 2023. A total of 7 teams participated and were divided into 2 panels. The finalists from each panel competed for First and Second position. All the teams put a lot of hard work and effort into their presentations.

The event concluded with the result announcement at the McKibbins pub, followed by a networking session for the participants to interact with their peers and judges.

Our congratulations to the following teams for their respective placements:

We would like to extend our gratitude to our sponsors, Loblaws company, for their immense support and cooperation.

We would also like to give a shoutout to Tim Field and our judges for taking time out of their busy schedules and providing their candid feedback during this event: Bethea Clarke, Dhiraj Gaikwad, Laura Fraticelli, Lisa Malachowski, Matthew Beck, Nishant Gaurav, Raul Braganza, and Sridharan Vankeepuram.

Upcoming Events & Competitions

This weekend, our teams are taking part in two external case competitions:

· Concours KGP Project Management Case Competition: November 11, 2023

· DeGroote Innovative Solutions Competition: November 11-12, 2023

 Join us in wishing the best of luck to all the participating teams, and we will obviously keep everyone up to date with all the latest results!

NEWSLETTER – MAY 2023

MBACCC 2022-23: RECAP

The MBACCC saw incredible student engagement in this year’s events, with over 60 applicants for the SIA/Live Case Tryouts, over 20 applicants for the MBACCC recruitment, and overall actively engaging 100+ students through Bootcamps/Workshops and Internal Case Competition.

The newsletter and website have been revamped to increase clarity and usability, to reach more students. We have successfully managed to achieve an average of 500 monthly visitors to the website, with 200 (on avg.) being unique.

INCOMING MBACCC 2023-24 TEAM

We are delighted to announce the next team of the MBA CCC, a group of accomplished individuals poised to lead the committee to new heights. This team will be the steward of JMSB’s case competition program in 2023-24. This year’s recruitment process witnessed an unprecedented level of interest, a testament to the enduring enthusiasm of the JMSB student community.

LEADERBOARD

HEC CSR CHALLENGE

Left to Right: Sriram Menon, Mehul Bawa, Babita Bhandari and Lisa Malachowski

Babita Bhandari, Sriram Menon, Mehul Bawa, and Lisa Malachowski represented JMSB at the HEC CSR Challenge held in March and secured 2nd Place.

The contest comprised of three cases – a research challenge to devise a DEI strategy for the First Women’s Bank, and two traditional cases that emphasized the circular economy. One case centered on electronics recycling while the other focused on the pharmaceutical industry. In a pool of 21 International MBA teams, our team advanced to the final round and secured the 2nd position in the overall rankings!

Jonathan Faerman and Damian Wolff coached and supported the team to prepare them for the competition.

MCGILL-DESAUTELS NEGOTIATION COMPETITION

Left to Right: Jean-Nicholas Reyt (Associate Prof. McGill), Dhiraj Gaikwad, Raul Braganza, Lorenze Dsouza and Sridharan Vankeepuram

Dhiraj Gaikwad, Raul Braganza, Lorenze Dsouza, and Sridharan Vankeepuram represented JMSB in the inaugural edition of the McGill-Desautels Negotiation Competition. 10 teams of MBA students from across Canada competed and more than 30 negotiation experts judged at the event.

Over the course of two days, teams gave their best and tried to impress the judging panels with their exceptional negotiation skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Their business acumen and expertise were absolutely crucial. Our team was given the award for “Best Team Players” by the judges for their professional attitude and communication skills.

HASKAYNE DIGITAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE

Left to Right: Sridharan Vankeepuram, Hiral Parekh, Fatima Malik, Nishant Gaurav and Himanshu Srivastava

Himanshu Srivastava, Hiral Parekh, Nishant Gaurav and Sridharan Vankeepuram represented JMSB in the Digital Innovation Challenge Case Competition organized by Haskayne School of Business and won 1st place.

The competition consisted of two rounds. In the first round, the teams were given a 24-hour research mandate on how can AI-based technology companies leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manage employee burnout due to the fast-paced nature of the industry and skill shortage. The teams had to do a 15-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A session for both rounds. The top five teams qualified for the final. The final mandate was an added twist of getting buy-in from skeptical employees. The short-term solution was to actively involve employees to increase engagement and in the long-term automate tasks through AI to improve their work-life quality.

Jeremy Rutman and Fatima Malik coached and prepared the team for the research-focused competition and the 24-hour-long case-cracking session.

THANK YOU DONORS!

Above: Team at Asper Leadership Case Competition
Below: Team at Digital Innovation Challenge, Calgary

We would like to express our thanks to our donors, Donald and Bonnie Poole, for their generous donation that enabled our teams to participate in the Digital Innovation Challenge Case Competition at Haskayne School of Business, Calgary and the Asper Leadership Case Competition at Winnipeg. The teams truly cherished their experience and memories. This impacts the overall value of the MBA Case Competition Program at John Molson School of Business. We truly are grateful for their support.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ETHICS CASE COMPETITION

Left to Right: Sridharan Vankeepuram, Nishant Gaurav, Prof.Timothy Field, Himanshu Srivastava and Hiral Parekh.

Himanshu Srivastava, Hiral Parekh, Nishant Gaurav, and Sridharan Vankeepuram represented JMSB in the International Business Ethics Case Competition which consisted of 3 separate events. The team placed in all three competitions: 90 seconds – 1st Place, 10 minutes – 3rd Place, and 25 minutes – 3rd Place.

The competition is based on self-selected ethics-based research mandates. The ethical, legal, and financial implications along with a recommendation had to be analyzed and presented. The team focused on “How to manage AI-induced bias in hiring practices to avoid marginalization of already disadvantaged groups?” The team placed judges in the role of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) to present their solutions. Teams from North America, the UK, Europe, and Asia competed in this competition.

Fatima Malik, Roshni Tamil Selvan, and Jeremy Rutman coached and supported the team throughout their preparation for the competition.

COMPETITION TRACKER

2022 – 2023 SNAPSHOT

• McGill Retail Challenge – 2nd Place
• KGP Concours – 1st Place
• Telfer Diversity & Inclusion Challenge – 3rd Place
• HES CSR Challenge – 2nd Place
• Digital Innovation Challenge, Haskayne – 1st Place
• International Business Ethics Case Competition
  • 90 seconds – 1st Place
  • 10 minute – 3rd Place
  • 25 minute – 3rd Place

Coaches: Anne Morinville, Bethea Clarke, Cedrin Law, Damian Wolff, Emad Naeemi, Fatima Malik, Genevieve Redstone, Hirak Chakraborty, Jeremy Rutman, Jesse Prent, Jonathan Faerman, Marc LeGuen, Matthew Beck, Pierre Carpentier, Roshini Tamil Selvan and Timothy Field.

The MBACCC would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the coaches who have dedicated their time to help teams prepare for the competitions. Your unwavering guidance has been invaluable to the growth of the students. We are incredibly grateful for your efforts, which have immensely impacted our growth and development. Your investment in us has been truly inspiring, and we hope to carry the lessons you have imparted with us. Thank you all again.

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Please find the previous newsletter below:

• April 2022 Newsletter
• March 2022 Newsletter
• January 2022 Newsletter
• November 2021 Newsletter
• February 2021 Newsletter
• December 2020 Newsletter
• October 2020 Newsletter
• February 2020 Newsletter
• January 2020 Newsletter
• December 2019 Newsletter
• October 2019 Newsletter
• April 2019 Newsletter
• March 2019 Newsletter
• February 2019 Newsletter
• January 2019 Newsletter
• November 2018 Newsletter