Four Minds, One Vision

Initially meeting in one of our Finance subjects, our team discovered that we collaborated well and held similar work ethics. During the winter break, Mizuki raised the idea of participating in the MBS Case Competition with the group. We decided to register for the competition as a team,  given our complementary strengths and proven success working together.

Learning the Case Competition craft

Teams were tasked with developing a solution to address a current business issue for the 2025 competitions case partner, Frais Capital. As part of the competition, we participated in a series of online workshops, which we found particularly helpful, given that most of us were new to the world of case competitions.  The workshops were delivered by industry professionals and clarified expectations and how to approach the case. They helped us feel confident and take a considered approach to the competition, encouraging us to consider different strategies before committing to a direction. Moreover, the workshops helped us analyse the challenge, develop realistic solutions and structure our ideas.

Putting our ideas to the test

Presenting in front of judges for the first time in the preliminary round was a nerve-racking yet valuable learning experience. We met hours before the presentation to rehearse, refine our delivery, and ensure everything would run smoothly. This preparation time was essential in helping us feel confident and optimistic, ensuring we were mentally prepared and focused.

Following our presentation, we received detailed and constructive feedback from judges. Their insights highlighted where we could improve and emphasised the importance of strengthening our proposal with concrete metrics. We took their feedback seriously and used it to revisit our storyline, sharpen our key messages, and address gaps identified. Our final presentation was more cohesive and convincing as a direct result of incorporating the judges' advice from the preliminary round.

The grand finale

We were conscious of industry professionals and competition participants watching as we delivered our final presentation and couldn't help feeling intimidated by the larger audience. We felt the competition pressure building as we sat among the finalist teams. Despite this, we grounded ourselves in the effort we had put in and normalised any pressure we felt. One way we embraced the experience was through rituals like listening to 'Vogue' by Madonna before presenting.  Nervous energy transformed into excitement, and we delivered our final presentation with confidence and composure. Our final presentation experience reinforced the importance of teamwork, resilience,  and finding joy even in high-pressure situations.

More than a trophy

The competition enabled us to challenge ourselves beyond the classroom and apply our skills in a real-world consulting context. For most of us,  this was our first exposure to a case competition and consulting work, so initially our goal was not to win, but to do our best.

One of the biggest lessons we learnt was not to give up. We managed our emotions, remained positive,  and contributed confidently under pressure. Our shared humour and light-heartedness were ways for us to maintain our momentum and positivity. Throughout the process, we experienced highs and lows; days when our case felt strong, followed by moments of self-doubt. During those moments, we allowed ourselves to be imperfect and chose to uplift and trust one another.

Our advice to anyone considering participating in the MBS case competition is to give it a go. The experience provides the opportunity to work on real business problems rarely encountered in traditional classroom settings while being guided by industry professionals. The competition experience helped us discover our capabilities and areas for growth.

Beyond the outcome, the journey itself was incredibly valuable. Our meetings on campus, weekend calls, and lengthy presentation rehearsals sometimes felt endless.  But these times became meaningful memories and a defining part of our university experience.