January 26, 2024 —
During the fall case season, students from the Asper School of Business and Stu Clark Graduate School engaged in competitive events. With support from alumni, faculty, Associates members, as well as guidance from coaches, mentors, and judges, the Asper case experience continues to flourish, showcasing the School’s reputation globally.
Competitor Thea Hughes shared how the case competitions enhanced her academic journey at Asper. She expressed, “Participating in case competitions has provided me with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to practical business challenges, facilitating the creation of innovative solutions. The synergy between my competition experience and classroom learning has notably eased my academic endeavors.”
Highlights of Recent Competitions
Inter-Collegiate Business Competition (ICBC) – Finals: January 12-14
In the ICBC finals, three Asper undergraduate teams showcased their skills in Canada’s enduring business case competition.
Kenny May and Benjamin Swistun secured first place in Digital Strategy. Additionally, Carl Ortega and Lily Francis excelled in HR, while Thea Hughes and Tristan Garland demonstrated prowess in Debate, earning second place in their respective categories.
Reflecting on his experience, May emphasized the intrinsic value of the competition beyond mere victory. He stated, “Winning is undoubtedly gratifying, but our primary objective was to craft a robust solution that reflected our capabilities. The essence of the case competition lies in the continuous pursuit of improvement, personal development, and the aspiration to excel as a student or business professional.”
Creative Shock – Finals: November 25-26
Fifteen Asper students participated in Creative Shock, a global social business case competition.
Among them, MBA students Julie Xue and Ryan Nykvist, MSCM student Shivam Patel, and BComm student Anmoldeep Malhotra secured positions in the top ten. The cases ranged from consulting for an agricultural co-op in South Africa to marketing a Lithuanian board game designed for individuals with visual impairments.
PrimeTime Sports Business Case Competition – November 12
The PrimeTime Sports Business Case Competition convened aspiring business leaders in Toronto to tackle challenges within the sports and entertainment industry.
Alyssa Houde, Christina Tines, Dalton Reidke, and Evan Adair advanced to the semi-finals, while the MBA team comprising Mark Roy, Nicole Buckle, Shorya Angrish, and Steven Regeher participated in the preliminary rounds.
DeGroote Innovative Solutions Challenge (DISC) – November 11-12
DISC, a pioneering virtual case competition for graduate students, featured Stu Clark Graduate School students addressing cases involving prominent entities such as Scotiabank and KPMG.
Aliasgar Sanwarwala, one of the MSCM students, emphasized the invaluable experience gained from the competition, enhancing his comprehension of intricate business decisions and better preparing him for future challenges.
Ted Rogers National Ethical Leadership Case Competition (TRELCC) – November 3-11
Asper students Nicole Blatta, Olivia Velasco, Nikol Sokolsky, and Melani Fernando showcased ethical practices and leadership skills at the national TRELCC event in Toronto.
Business and Management Case Competition (BMCC) – October 29-November 4
At the prestigious BMCC hosted at Universidad Panamericana in Guadalajara, Mexico, Asper students collaborated with peers from various universities to address global business challenges.
Avery Groeneveld, Christina Tines, Eric Bao, and Logan Basarowich participated as a team before branching out into new alliances. Groeneveld’s triumph in the mixed case round alongside international students underscored the enriching nature of the competition format.
Bensadoun School of Retail Management Retail Innovation Challenge (RIC) – October 18-November 4
The RIC, held at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, tasked Asper students with tackling contemporary retail challenges focusing on sustainability and the retail circular economy. Both teams progressed to the semi-finals.
Thammasat Undergraduate Business Challenge (TUBC) – October 11-15
Asper students Alyssa Houde, Dalton Reidke, Harsh Thakkar, and Braden Hargreaves participated in the international TUBC hosted by Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Hargreaves reflected on the transformative impact of case competitions on his business perspective, emphasizing the practical application of classroom knowledge to real-world issues and the invaluable connections made with top business students worldwide.
Participating in case competitions offers a platform to enhance public speaking and problem-solving skills while showcasing one’s aptitude as a business professional. For details on upcoming competitions and team enrollment, visit [link to be inserted].
Asper Staff