Two teams of students from NC’s School of Business and Management will put their skills to the test in the University of Calgary’s Digital Integration Challenge Case Competition.
Hosted by the university’s Haskayne School of Business, the annual competition is open to both graduate and undergraduate postsecondary students interested in digital innovation and social impact, with backgrounds in business, data analytics, engineering or computer science.
This will be the first time NC students will be involved with this competition, which launched in 2022 to support skill development and digital innovation programs.
NC’s teams will face competition from more than 20 other teams during the preliminary rounds on February 1, to be held virtually. They will gather at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake to compete, and present their case solutions via Zoom, in real time.
NC’s competitors include two teams of four students – Team Synergy Consulting and Team Nova – comprised of students from various programs within the School.
“This is the first time we can put post grads and undergrads together for an interdisciplinary team – International Business, Marketing, Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics included – with hopes that, in the future, we can further expand,” said Professor Stefan Johnson.
“In the past, we have participated in several university-level competitions, including HRPA [Human Resources Professional Association Student Case Competition], WTCC [World Trade Center Buffalo-Niagara International Case competition], and CUBE [Corvinus Undergraduate Business Experience in Budapest]; this is the first hybrid approach that can include interdisciplinary teams, including those who are undergrads and post-grads.”
Third-year Business Administration Marketing student Brooklyn Balanowski is taking the lead on Team Synergy Consulting. To prepare, they have been focusing on industry trends, refining problem-solving techniques, collaborating on strategies, as well as working together to strengthen their own team synergy.
During the preliminary competition, they will work together to analyze a complex case, develop strategic recommendations, and present their solutions to a panel of judges.
“Participating in this competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase my skills, collaborate with talented peers, and push myself outside of my comfort zone,” said Balinowski. “I’ve always been drawn to challenges that allow me to grow both personally and professionally, and this event aligns perfectly with that.”
Balinowski is looking forward to the competition, which she feels is an extension of what she’s learned in the classroom, an opportunity to apply skills to real-world problems.
“It will also help me grow as a leader, refine my problem-solving abilities and think critically under pressure,” she said. “The experience of collaborating with a team, driving innovation and presenting solutions will strengthen my confidence and insights that I will carry forward into my career.”
Participating in the competition benefits students, noted Johnson, requiring them to demonstrate a variety of skills like teamwork, speaking, analytics, presentation building, time management framework development.
“This will help students prepare for CUBE, enhance their case-solving skills, enhance their leadership skills, and provide exposure to a high-skilled competition,” said Johnson. “It can be added to their CV and encourages continuous learning.”
Teams who place within the top six on February 1 will qualify for the competition finals, to be held March 25 at the University of Calgary. The top three in the finals will win cash prizes: $5,000 for first, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third place.
Participating students and faculty will gather at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus on February 1 to participate in the preliminary round of the competition.
NC’s Team Synergy Consulting includes team lead Brooklyn Balanowski (third year Business Administration Marketing advanced diploma), Jarehmeel Massiel Ancajima (third year Supply Chain Management graduate certificate), Maria Alexandra Enriquez (second year Business – International Business diploma), and Michael Kujore (Business Analytics graduate certificate).
Team Nova Consulting includes team lead Roberto Villao (fourth year Honours Bachelor of Business Administration International Commerce and Global Development), Andrei Melnikov (fourth year Honours Bachelor of Business Administration International Commerce and Global Development), Nazek Kigab (second year Business Administration Marketing advanced diploma), and Athena Goodalee (Business Analytics graduate certificate).
Good luck to NC’s Team Synergy Consulting and Team Nova Consulting!
