In Harmony for Success: Corvinus Students Win Division at Competition in Canada

From January 5 to 11, 2025, a team from Corvinus University of Budapest competed in the John Molson MBA International Case Competition (JMMBAICC) in Montreal. The team members, selected based on their performance in the Strategic International Management (SIM) course, were Ákos Pataki, Bálint Hábenczius, Péter Zombori and Zsanett Őrsi. Their preparation was overseen by Dr. Miklós Stocker, Head of the Institute of Management. 

The competition, organized by Concordia University and rightfully referred to as the “pinnacle of case competitions” at the master’s level, is one of the world’s longest-standing case competitions, welcoming 36 teams from five continents since 1992. The Corvinus team competed against leading universities such as HEC Montreal from Canada, Nanyang Technological University from Singapore, and Lund University from Sweden, tackling real-world business problems. 

I believe that thanks to this and similar international case competitions, Corvinus regularly earns a spot on the global map of top business universities. I am very proud that, together with my team, we could help leave a lasting and positive impression of our university on professors, students, corporate partners, and academic leaders alike,

 –emphasized Péter Zombori. 

During the competition, the team solved six cases, including developing Peloton’s growth strategy after the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing the legal and business aspects of Dabur’s acquisition in India, designing a fundraising strategy for the American nonprofit Changemakers Foundation, improving Air Canada’s baggage handling processes through industry collaboration, and managing Nike’s shareholder relations and sales channels. 

With these solutions, the team advanced to the semifinals as division champions, competing against nine other teams. The semi–finalists were divided into three groups of three, with only one team from each group advancing to the finals. In the semifinals, the Corvinus team tackled LEGO’s sustainability strategy, presenting a 25-minute solution followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Ultimately, they secured a shared fourth place, an outstanding achievement that reflects their exceptional performance. 

The team’s solutions were of very high quality, focusing on collaboration, synergy, and transforming global value chains, with in-depth analysis and creative proposals. It’s rare to see solutions with such depth, complexity, and creativity developed in such a short time frame. I am extremely proud of the team!

–said Dr. Miklós Stocker. 

Challenging Competition Format 

The competition format was highly demanding. In the first round, the team solved five cases of varying lengths (3 hours, 2.5 hours, and 1.5 hours).

I really liked the competition format—this was the most challenging competition I’ve faced so far,

–added Ákos Pataki. 

The short 3-hour format specifically tested the team’s ability to work efficiently and effectively, while the prohibition of internet use emphasized quick thinking, routine, and improvisation skills. Thanks to these challenges, I feel the competition provided an excellent opportunity to apply the economic skills I acquired at Corvinus. The Case Track courses prepared us not only to compete with older participants who often had decades of work experience but also to present solutions that were often of higher quality,

–added Péter Zombori. 

Preparation and Teamwork 

Preparation began months before the competition. Since three team members were studying on different continents through the CEMS exchange program, they had to overcome logistical challenges, developing their problem-solving and presentation skills online. Intensive case-solving weekends and industry research in December were essential, as internet use was not allowed during the competition. 

Three team members had prior Case Track competition experience from their bachelor’s studies, which gave them a significant advantage. However, since they had not previously worked together as a team, they focused on building team spirit and collaboration skills during their preparation. 

The emphasis on building team cohesion helped the team adapt to the competition’s unusual format.

Our flexibility helped us adapt effectively to the challenges,

highlighted Zsanett Örsi. During the cases, each team member played a key role: Ákos led financial analysis and forecasts, while Zsanett, Péter, and Bálint alternated in conducting analyses, developing strategic recommendations, and detailing implementation plans. 

Memorable Moments and Key Takeaways 

One particularly memorable experience for the team was the Air Canada “live case,” where they had to propose solutions to stakeholder management challenges. The jury praised the team’s detailed implementation, enthusiasm, and dynamic responses during the Q&A session. 

I especially enjoyed the Air Canada live case, where we could directly interact with the case company before developing our solution,

said Bálint Hábenczius.

Competing in such a diverse and international environment was a completely new challenge for me and contributed greatly to my professional development,

–he added. 

The competition also fostered the team’s personal growth.

I think our team dynamics improved significantly, we learned to collaborate effectively and understand each other quickly,

–said Zsanett Őrsi. 

After our final divisional presentation, Péter told me he thought I had delivered the best presentation of my life. We agreed that we had both improved significantly in this area since starting the Case Track. Four years ago, during my first online presentations in the Cases on Business Economics (COBE) course, I was nervous before presenting. But now, during the Air Canada case, when I noticed the jury raising their eyebrows in confusion, I easily added two more sentences to clarify our point without any issues,

 –added Zsanett Őrsi. 

Every evening, after the announcement of results for the day’s case, we held intensive workshops based on feedback and our own experiences. I was impressed by how well the team integrated lessons learned from previous cases,

 –emphasized Dr. Miklós Stocker. 

A Lifelong Experience 

In addition to their professional growth, the team cherished the cultural programs and trips to Montreal’s underground city. 

I’m glad that the competition provided an excellent platform for building new international connections, both academically and personally. I had the opportunity to meet many talented students and inspiring professors from around the world—from Canada and Sweden to Germany and Singapore. The latter is particularly relevant to me since I’m currently spending my CEMS exchange semester in Singapore, so the connections I made there are especially valuable. Overall, I’m very happy I had the chance to participate in the competition, and I’m grateful to the university and Professor Stocker for making it possible. I hope that many more students, both in bachelor’s and master’s programs, will have similar opportunities in the future,

–added Péter Zombori.