96 competitors, 24 schools, 13 countries — and an ‘unbelievable’ victory for Concordia
'It was incredible.' From left: Team ambassador Michael Blakely with Christian Bonneau, Mark Haber, Franco Perugini, Maylen Cytryn, Michael Richardson and Andrew Wesley Graham. | Photo by Toshimi Jan Muniz
Last week, the student-run John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition (JMUCC) welcomed 96 competitors from 24 schools and 13 countries — including Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany — to Montreal.
The international competition is the largest of its kind. And this year, for the first time in the JMUCC’s seven-year history, Concordia’s home team triumphed. Maylen Cytryn, Franco Perugini, Michael Richardson and Andrew Wesley Graham won every one of their match-ups with German, Chinese, American, Thai and Canadian students.
On Friday, February 28, they claimed first place, beating the defending champions from the National University of Singapore.
“It was incredible to hear the words ‘And in first place… Concordia University!’ and see the entire room cheering us up to the stage,” said team member Michael Richardson. “The host team never wins. It was unbelievable.”
The JMUCC challenges the strategic, analytic and presentation skills of its participants in three three-hour cases and one 24-hour case. The cases contend with real issues raised by real companies; this year, the list included the travel company Busbud, luxury retailers Ogilvy and Holt Renfrew, and the U.S. networking-equipment manufacturer Cisco Systems.
“It was certainly a life-changing experience for all of us,” said Maylen Cytryn. “The best part was seeing our new international friends react to the finer things in Montreal — like poutine!”
The team thanked their coaches Christian Bonneau, Dan Silverman and Mark Haber, as well as the JMUCC organizing committee. The competition’s final ranking saw the University of South Carolina in second place and HEC Montréal in third.
Find out more about the 2015 edition of the John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition.