Laurier Case Team wins first place at the Rotterdam-Carleton International Case Competition

Nov. 8, 2023

The 2023 Rotterdam-Carleton International Case Competition (ROCA), hosted in partnership by Carleton University's Sprott School of Business and the Rotterdam Business School, has concluded with a resounding victory for the team representing the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University earning first place.

This prestigious competition, held from October 22-27, 2023, brought together top business students from across the globe to tackle complex real-world challenges presented by various companies.

The Lazaridis School team's exceptional performance and innovative solutions secured them the top spot in the competition. Congratulations to Kyle Chang, Rachel Clark, Arnav Hiremath and Duncan Spizziri, who showcased their exemplary problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking.

The team was guided and supported by coach, Sean Cameron (BBA ‘15), add his work title here, who played a vital role in their journey, contributing extensively to their case preparation leading up to the competition. He provided valuable feedback, identified areas for improvement, and aided the team in researching the case companies leading up to ROCA.

The team reflected, “Sean not only gave fantastic feedback, but guided us to the tools necessary to improve week-over-week. During the week of competition, Sean was pivotal in preparing for the next case while additionally providing feedback on our previous presentation. Notably, he helped us to brainstorm multiple potential solutions with us in the late evening in our hotel room – teaching us insights from his marketing experiences.”

The ROCA Case Competition allows students to apply their classroom knowledge to real business problems. Bringing together 16 teams from 10 countries, the competition is made up of a series of intense case-solving challenges over one week. Students work against the clock to develop and present strategic solutions to a panel of judges. The competition has a rigorous selection process and highly competitive environment.

Congratulations to all participating schools and students

Gold Medalist: Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University
Silver Medalist: HEC Montreal
Bronze Medalist: Heilbronn University 

Most Spirited Team: Rotterdam Business School
Best Presenters: Alice Gravel-Chouinard (HEC Montreal), Sanjay Kiru (Carleton University)

During the ROCA competition, the Lazaridis School team faced a diverse array of cases. Each case presented unique challenges and required innovative solutions. Here is a glimpse of the cases and the solutions the team presented:

• Day 1: Plantaform - The team was tasked with developing an expansion and customer acquisition strategy for an Ottawa-based startup specializing in indoor gardening systems using fogponics, which entails using fog to grow things. They presented "Plantafriends," a community-building strategy aimed at health enthusiasts through gym marketing and the Plantaform app.
  
  
• Day 2: Stinis - The team worked on a strategy for Stinis, a Dutch manufacturer of container spreaders, to address customer needs and prepare for the next generation of owners. Their presentation, "Stinis Supports," included new sensory capabilities and a buyback program.
  
  
• Day 3: Kinaxis and Avia Aerospace - The team served as Kinaxis consultants and facilitated a smooth transition from Avia Aerospace's old supply chain software to Kinaxis' 'RapidResponse' product. Their solution, "Avia Aboard," combined learning programs, townhalls, and monetary incentives to assist employees in learning the new platform.
  
  
• Day 4: Zibi - The team was challenged to attract more residents and businesses to Zibi, a new community development. They presented a phased approach for attracting businesses and supporting local, sustainable and Indigenous businesses, named "One Community."

The Lazaridis School team's dedication, innovative thinking, and strong teamwork helped them secure the first-place finish in this international competition. This victory holds special significance for Kyle Chang, who has competed in six international competitions since the spring of 2022 and celebrated his last international competition with this triumph. Congratulations to the whole team on this well-deserved win.

Meet the 2023 ROCA team from the Lazaridis School:

• Kyle Chang: A fifth-year student from Toronto, Ontario, pursuing a Double Degree in BBA/BMath. Kyle aspires to work in consulting after graduation. He chose Laurier for its strong sense of community.
  
  
• Rachel Clark:  Fifth-year student from Burlington, Ontario, pursuing a Double Degree in BBA/BMath. Rachel's post-graduation plans involve data science and software sales. Her initial attraction to Laurier was the welcoming community she felt during her campus tour.
  
  
• Arnav Hiremath: A third-year student from Ottawa, Ontario, pursuing a BBA degree with co-op. Arnav aspires to work in investment banking and Laurier's co-op program played a significant role in his decision to attend the university.
  
  
• Duncan Spizziri: A fifth-year student from Toronto, Ontario, pursuing a Double Degree in BBA/BSc with aspirations in consulting.

The journey to success in case competitions is not easy and it often begins with the passion for solving real-world business challenges. Many of the Lazaridis School team members had their first taste of case competitions during BU111 Live Case, a pivotal component of the BBA program. Some of their instructors were former case competitors themselves, serving as role models and inspiring them to join the Laurier Case Team.

 “The opportunity to learn from Sofy Carayannopoulos and our very distinguished alumni --like our coach Sean Cameron-- piqued our interest. We applied and began as academic delegates and competed at JDCC [commerce games]. It was a great honour to be selected as International Delegates for the 2023-24 academic year,” the team said.

Preparing for a case competition like ROCA is no small feat. The team dedicated extensive time to hone their skills, complete practice cases and thoroughly research the case companies. Their rigorous preparation included 10 practice sessions over several months leading up to the competition. Their preparation time also led to some unique habits and rituals, including team building moments and coordinated outfits. This practice brought a sense of fun and togetherness to a hectic week.

Beyond the competition, the team had the opportunity to bond with students from other schools during a scavenger hunt at the National Museum in Ottawa. This experience was followed by a quintessentially Canadian poutine bar for lunch, offering a delightful break from their intense case-solving sessions.

The Lazaridis School team's victory at the Rotterdam-Carleton International Case Competition reflects not only their exceptional problem-solving skills but also their dedication, teamwork, and the supportive environment at Laurier. This triumph is a testament to the talent and potential of the next generation of business leaders and it will undoubtedly inspire future students to follow in their footsteps.