For the second consecutive year, students from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Universidad ORT Uruguay in the John Molson Case Competition, the world’s premier international case competition. “It was one of the best experiences of my life, ” said student Alexis Valín Mederos.
The competition provided an opportunity to interact with people from different countries and cultures, to build networks with students and faculty from top-tier international universities, and to gain the experience of competing against these students by presenting disruptive innovation proposals to executives from multinational companies such as J.P. Morgan and Bombardier.
“It was the perfect opportunity to put the skills I learned in the MBA program into practice by analyzing real-world business challenges and presenting our recommendations,” said student Enrique Serra.
The competition, which took place from January 7 to 11, 2019, brought together nearly 300 students and coaches from 35 business schools—all of which hold international accreditation—from 19 countries across five continents. “It’s an experience that goes beyond the academic realm,” said student María García de Rosa Roig, “where you get the chance to engage in conversations with leading professionals from other parts of the world.”
The event, which has been held for 38 years, was organized by the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. ORT was represented by María Laura Tallac Cardozo, María García da Rosa Roig, Enrique Serra, and Alexis Valín Mederos, with support from Dr. Luis Silva Domingo, the MBA program’s academic coordinator, and the Zonamerica Innovation Fund.
Presenting solutions to executives at multinational companies
The competition follows a format similar to that of team sports tournaments. The first phase consists of six groups of six teams, which face off in head-to-head matches. Both teams are presented with a business scenario. They are then locked in a room for four hours with no outside contact or internet connection to find a solution, which they will later present to a panel of experts. The panel will select the best proposal based on how well the problem is understood, and how strategically viable, comprehensive, and innovative the solution is.
“The high standards push you to work under pressure, with tight deadlines, in a constant challenge that involves interpersonal skills and teamwork, as well as self-awareness and personal growth, ”said student María Laura Tallac Cardozo.
The top finishers and the next best competitors advance to the next round, which is a single-elimination tournament.
The central theme of the cases analyzed this year was “disruption,” a term that in the business world refers to an innovation that represents a break with the past. One such case was that of Harley-Davidson, the iconic motorcycle brand that currently faces the challenge of attracting new generations and adapting to a market where environmental concerns, electric vehicles, and a preference for smaller motorcycles are becoming increasingly important.
The ORT students won three of the five matches, coming very close to advancing to the next round. They finished in 13th place out of 36 participants. However, the highlight was the spirit of camaraderie that prevailed throughout the event, the cultural exchange, and, above all, the learning experience.
Experience, growth, and networking
“The intensity of those days—ranging from analyzing major business challenges and interacting with people from around the world to moments of fun and entertainment—made the experience truly enriching in every way,” said Alexis Valín Mederos. “We were constantly pushed out of our comfort zone, and that helped us bring out the best in ourselves, both individually and as a group.”
“The experience was exceptional and, without a doubt, the seed for much of what is to come,” said María Laura Tallac Cardozo. “Added to this is the great value of networking—not only because of the global perspective and the diversity of professionals and collaborators, but also because it provides a space to interact in an unfamiliar setting and build connections.”
“It was a unique experience, where we were able to put all the knowledge we gained during the MBA into practice,” said Enrique Serra. “Although this was a competition, at the end of the day, what really matters are the people, and the opportunity to interact with people from so many different countries is priceless.”
María García da Rosa Roig said that the “John Molson MBA International Case Competition is one of those experiences I’m grateful to have had. It’s an opportunity to push your reasoning skills to the limit in order to come up with the best solutions.”