Picture this: it’s 9am on a Saturday and you find yourself in a suit, on campus, and seated amongst peers all dressed like they’re about to enter a meeting and propose a vital business solution. In actuality, there is no meeting. You’re participating in a case competition, though the business solution piece does hold true.
In university, the term case competition may weave itself throughout your school year—whether it’s a competition hosted on-campus, nationally, or internationally. For Renee Gao—current HBA1 student, case competition veteran, and national competitor with Ivey Case Competition Club (ICCC)—participating in numerous case competitions was key to overcoming the learning curve that comes with being a newcomer to business. Each competition provided a distinctive opportunity to apply business concepts, think critically under pressure, and refine her presentation skills. Overall it is a great learning environment, as many of your surrounding peers may be participating in their first case competition as well. But, before you decide to participate in one yourself, with the help from Renee, let’s break down what case competitions entail, how you can excel in them, and the opportunities offered with ICCC.
Apart from the time element (dependent on the competition but can be from four hours to two days), the case competition is typically made up of four main components:
The Business Dilemma: The case will be a document varying in length that outlines a problem/challenge/future trend that needs to be addressed by a company, inclusive of other important and miscellaneous information related to the scenario. This contains the “ask” of the case—prompting the need for a solution.
The Slide Deck: The created solution and all of the associated analysis and research will need to be presented in the form of an original slide deck.
The Presentation: Once the slide deck is complete, it’s time to present in front of a panel of judges and convince them that your solution strikes the right balance between feasible and creative.
The Group: Building a successful case competition team often starts with being open to working with people from different clubs or even forming teams spontaneously. While some may choose to work with the same group over time, new faces can bring unique perspectives and strengths.
But now that you’ve shown up to the competition, how can you excel?
Communication: One of the most crucial skills is effective communication—particularly when presenting. According to Renee, it’s not about putting on a persona or trying to sound overly knowledgeable. Instead, success comes from speaking with clarity and confidence. You want to ensure that judges can easily follow the thought process behind the solution. Slowing down, emphasizing key points, and treating the presentation as a conversation rather than a performance can make a significant difference in delivery.
Team Composition: The team itself is an crucial aspect of case competitions often overlooked. A well-rounded team could be a mix of those who excel in financial analysis, creative problem-solving, and structured strategy development.
Approaching the Case: Breaking down a case efficiently is another skill that differentiates strong teams. Renee suggests an approach similar to those familiar with Business 1220 and 2257 methods—starting by skimming the first and last paragraphs to grasp the core problem, then honing in on key financials, industry trends, and competitive positioning. Understanding the company’s internal strengths and differentiators is just as critical as recognizing external opportunities and threats.
Managing the Time: Teams should also ensure they allocate their time wisely, as the pressure of a tight deadline can lead to rushed analysis or last-minute slide deck creation. Using a four hour competition as an example, Renee recommends that teams should spend about 30 minutes reading and brainstorming, an hour discussing and structuring their ideas, two hours building the slide deck, and the remaining 30 minutes finalizing their presentation and practicing.
Presentation Format: Finally, a strong case presentation follows a structured format that ensures judges can easily digest the team’s recommendation. A compelling hook slide captures attention, while an executive summary sets the stage by outlining the problem and the proposed solution. The analysis section should present both external and internal factors, such as industry dynamics, SWOT analysis, or customer insights, leading to a well-justified decision. The recommendation itself should be clearly outlined, followed by a detailed implementation plan that considers financial viability, risks and mitigation strategies. As mentioned earlier, be sure to gauge the best levels of innovation and pragmatism. Stand out, but be grounded enough to be executable.
Finding yourself wanting more case competitions? Let’s talk ICCC.
The Ivey Case Competition Club (ICCC) offers an exceptional opportunity to refine and challenge your abilities further, while also representing Ivey on national and international stages. The club is structured across different year groups (AEO2s, HBA1s, HBA2s/3s), with HBA1s competing domestically, while HBA2s/3s having the chance to represent Ivey internationally. ICCC members continuously participate in high-caliber competitions around the world.
This year alone, teams participated in the Marshall International Case Competition by USC (MICC; where they took home first place), will be participating in the University of Navarra International Case Competition (UNICC) in Spain and the International Case Competition @ Maastricht (ICC@M) in the Netherlands, and have recently qualified to participate in the Accuracy Business Cup (ABC) in Paris!
Interested in applying? Renee emphasizes the importance of having a unique “spike,” where the ideal candidate can contribute their specific skillset to a team while also excelling in a variety of other areas. The application process is merit-based, with first round testing candidates through a timed case competition and only allowing qualified slide decks to proceed to the second round where the presentation occurs.
While prior case competition experience can be beneficial, it’s not required. ICCC provides ample support and training, with workshops and hands-on experience to help new members build their skills. Workshops vary each year depending on the team's own abilities, but spans from technical skills, like graphic design in FIGMA, to presentation techniques. Whether you're aiming to compete at a national level or represent Ivey internationally, ICCC gives you the tools, training, and opportunities to succeed.
So, if you find yourself regretting your choice of waking up bright and early on a Saturday to participate in a case competition, embrace the process and trust that every step is helping you build towards something greater. Everything builds upon itself—each experience, each challenge, and every lesson learned contributes to your growth.