With everything happening virtually behind the laptop, I find it crucial to stay engaged with events and competitions and use them as an outlet to showcase my skills as an analyst, strategist and presenter. Whether it’s winning ICOP or progressing at Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec, transparency and the willingness to resolve rather than escalate are keys to winning at teamwork. Everything else follows. Coming from Pakistan, working for a community outreach case is close to my heart. And coming from a metropolitan city as Karachi, brands and their perceptions to end-users have been part of my day-to-day decisions and there lies the motivation to learn more, adapt more, evolve more via competitions, experiences, people!
It was a one-of-a-kind experience to compete with over 80 teams online in McGill Retail Innovation Challenge case competition. We went through 3 rounds in 17 days to create new business models to tackle post-COVID challenges for SME retailers. Working with members from different majors and universities also allowed us to generate multi-discipline insights and action plans. I’ve found my passion and capability for marketing strategy and enhanced my ability to analyze the specific needs of the client. From the initial value positioning to the final business model building, I got the chance to apply the knowledge we have learned in class to the specifics of real-world cases. It was one of my best experiences in the MBA program.
“Participating in KGP and ICOP was a wonderful experience. Putting theory to practice, and working with my peers to solve real-world business problems gives you a first-hand idea of strategic planning and consulting. Given that my team and I had zero exposure to such competitions, it was a pleasant surprise for us to win both of them. I believe the three mantras to success are:
– Extremely meticulous deconstruction of the problem statement
– Keeping your eyes and ears open for innovative recommendations
– A fool-proof implementation strategy to put your plan to action”
“Vital public speaking skills, analytical case cracking and strategic thinking – these are only a fraction of the skills developed during case competitions. With each experience and each team, I’ve expanded my conception of what I think I am capable of doing, increased my ability to formulate convincing arguments and enhanced my capacity to create buy-in. I value these skills since I believe they cannot have been gained solely in class, but rather, they’ve emerged because of friendly competition and solidified because of a commitment to step out of my comfort zone, knowing that there will be important business professionals present who rely on the pitch.”
“In order to succeed at a case competition, you need to be able to break down a difficult problem quickly, work with a team effectively, and present your ideas eloquently. Luckily, we are provided with mentors and coaches that train us how to handle all that, even under great pressure. These competitions have allowed me to build and gain skills that I will be able to use for the rest of my life and career. These events allowed me to work with some incredible people, and make some amazing friends. The case competition program at JMSB is one of the best in the world, and definitely a highlight of my MBA”
”Competing in case competitions is the best experiential learning in the MBA. I was able to learn from the best, work with the best and party with the best people around the world. Being part of CCC for a year was a fulfilling journey too. I can really connect with the learnings from the cases and now apply the same at work also. It has helped me provide a structure and frame work to break down real business problems and form strategies that would benefit an organization for its future growth. A big shout out to Tim Field and Team CCC for being one of the best parts of the MBA program at JMSB.”
”My involvement in case competitions was an enriching experience. The case competition culture present at JMSB was a determining factor that influenced my decision to go for the MBA at Concordia. During my MBA, I had the chance to participate at GardaWorld (JMSB, Montreal), KGP Case Competition (UQAM, Montreal) and the 24 Hours Epic Case Challenge (Haskayne, Calgary) where my colleagues and me shared what we learned from Tim Field. I can say without any doubt that those were the most rewarding experiences of my MBA . I wish the new teams success, a good team spirit and a lot of fun in their competitions this year.”
”I started my MBA in January 2017 and I was fortunate to participate in various case competitions right away. My first case comp experience was with ICOP (runner up finals) and during that time I realized how important case competitions can be in improving not just the communication skills but also helping you push yourself to your maximum potential. Case competitions helped me become a better team player, improve my reasoning skills and above all helped me to communicate my ideas in a clear and concise ways. After realizing how case comps enhanced my MBA experience, I started to participate in more case comps including one at HEC Montréal representing John Molson School of Business, sustainability case competition at University Montréal and McGill Pharmaceutical Case competition. I highly recommend taking part in bootcamps organized by case comp clubs and as many case comps as possible.”
”Case competitions were a great opportunity for applied learning. I had a fantastic experience working under pressure and becoming more aware of my strengths and weaknesses while being in a team. Thanks to a case competition win and a summer class intensive with Tim Field, I’m walking into my job with more confidence in my ability to make a difference and focused on what I need to grow’
”Case competitions are all about team work and applied learning. They are a great platform for me to apply and test my knowledge and at the same time pick-up and develop on the teams ideas. Be it a 3 hour case of a 3 month case, these competitions enabled me to develop critical thinking which will go a long way towards my personal development.”
”Case competitions have definitely been an integral part of my MBA journey, from working as VP Communication for the JMSB MBA Case Competition Committee to participating in them (such as the Haskayne Competition). Taking Tim Field’s class (strategy in action) was one of the greatest learning experience, you really get to apply multiple concepts acquired throughout the MBA. I’m grateful for my experiences because taking part in case competitions has prepared me for life after the MBA. It teaches you critical analysis, problem solving, teamwork, creativity and public speaking. I would recommend to all incoming MBA students to take part in the case competition culture in one way or another.”
”Strategies in Action’ class coached by Tim, will be one of the best experiences of my MBA. ‘Experiential learning’ in its true sense. Being a part of a highly accomplished team members, ability to perform under pressure and think on your toes, are just few of the many enriching moments I had during the class. Towards the end of the class, each member of the team had developed the ability to assess a business case from a holistic point of view regardless of what particular role they played on the team.”
”It’s like you have to step into a room, brainstorm and paint one of the most beautiful canvas’ that you can in about 3 hours and make people believe that it’s the best thing that they have ever seen. My case comp adventure began with the Garda Competition. At the time, I wasn’t really sure if I was ready. But I got to work with an amazing team and we ended up winning second place! And after that, I just couldn’t stop. Participating in multiple case competitions helped me grow into someone who was more confident, more efficient and more fearless. On the other hand, I got a chance to learn from our incredibly talented coaches and other team members. There’s something special about having the chance to represent JMSB on different stages. Even after you’re out of school, people recognize you as the team that made its mark. So, don’t miss out on it. Take the time to immerse yourself into this unique culture. And all I can say, like many others who have been down this path is that you will definitely wear the #CUpride wherever you go.”
MBA CCC 