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2023 JDC Laurier Team
From the classroom to the world stage: celebrating our students’ success
May 1, 2023
Print | PDFFrom September 2022 to April 2023, undergraduate Lazaridis School students showcased their talents and were celebrated for their accomplishments on local, national, and international levels. From 24-hour case competitions to the Bank of Canada Research Awards, our students’ hard work was recognized in over 15 case competitions and awards, with the Lazaridis School earning first-place five times.
Participation in competitions and receiving awards is a testament to our students' ongoing commitment to further education. Drawing on classroom teachings, students worked together with Lazaridis School faculty and alumni who provided endless hours of guidance and support to help make the Lazaridis School a global competitor.
We are proud to celebrate their hard work and can’t wait to see what is in store for next year!
Lazaridis Around the World
These student competitions have taken Lazaridis students around the world to Ottawa, ON; Toronto, ON; Vancouver, BC; the Netherlands; Sydney, Australia (remotely); Vermont, USA; Paris, France; and Pamplona, Spain.
Celebrating the 2022/23 Competition Season
In chronological event order:
Economics student shines at Bank of Canada Undergraduate Student Paper Awards
Congratulations to Yu Ning Mao, Lazaridis School Economics student for making it to the Finals of the 2022 Canadian Economics Association - Bank of Canada Undergraduate Student Paper Awards. In her paper, Yu Ning studied whether students graduating in the COVID-19 recession experienced additional labour market difficulties compared with earlier cohorts. Originally started as a course project for EC481: Economics Paper and Seminar, Yu Ning impressed professors with not only the research paper, but her engagement in class and support of her peers.
Led by undergraduate students dedicated to creating social change through innovation and entrepreneurship, the team earned a top-five finish at the Enactus National Competition in Toronto. Enactus is a global network that uses entrepreneurship as a catalyst for positive social and environmental impact. Enactus Laurier was represented by student-run enterprises The RJ Project and Kuponya Innovations, they were one of 25 teams from Canadian postsecondary institutions to compete in the national competition.
Laura Allan, director of innovation and entrepreneurship at Laurier and faculty advisor for Laurier’s Waterloo Enactus team said, “I am so inspired by the team this year and how focused they are on building communities in which everyone can thrive. I have no doubt they will make a considerable impact on the lives of many individuals, and that they will go on to be exceptional leaders making positive change in the world for many years to come.”
Laurier Case Team brings home bronze in Portugal at U.Porto International Case Competition
Laurier Case Team (LCT) members solved a real-life business problem in this extensive case study earning them third place at the 2022 FEP – U.Porto International Case Competition. This year’s company, Galp Energia challenged students to develop a 10-year strategic plan that identifies how trends such as the shift towards electric vehicles and increased needs of consumer flexibility, would impact their business model. Congratulations to LCT members Vivek Bhardwaj, Isabella Brodeur, Kyle Chang, and Imaad Mian.
“What really interested me in joining the Laurier Case Team was the community aspect of the team - I am so lucky to build friendships with some of the brightest students at Laurier,” says Kyle Chang, fourth-year BBA/BMath double-degree student. “I have had tremendous opportunities to learn from very successful alumni of the Laurier Case Team, and it has honestly played a key role in helping me secure my internship next summer in consulting.”
“Being on the Laurier Case Team has been the highlight of my university career!”
~ Kyle Chang
Lazaridis students shine at Rotterdam/Carleton International Case Competition
Congratulations to Laurier Case Team members Brayden Royston, Georgia Bryson, Tailai Wang, and Jason Amri for bringing home the silver medal at the 2022 Rotterdam/Carleton International Case Competition (ROCA)! ROCA brings together undergraduate student teams from 16 top-ranked business schools from around the world for a six-day, immersive case experience. Participants are given cases that cover a broad range of interdisciplinary business problems with a strong focus on sustainability, leadership, and other shifts in the present-day economy. Teams present their business recommendations to a panel of expert judges from leading companies.
“We all tried our hand at various case competitions and found that we enjoyed the balance between an opportunity to learn and the thrill of the competition,” said Brayden Royston, fourth-year BBA student.
Case Conference brings international business students to Waterloo!
In October 2022, the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics hosted the Lazaridis International Case Competition (LazICC), a week-long case conference. Led by a team of Laurier students who organized and ran the competition, LazICC brought 60 undergraduate students from across the globe to Waterloo to compete in two live cases, network with leading organizations and experience Canadian and Waterloo culture.
Of the competition, Simrit Randhawa, fourth-year BBA student and LazICC president says, "You're in an environment where everyone has the same passion, eagerness, and excitement for the cases. They're not just here for the competition, they are here to make friends."
G’Day mate! Lazaridis students bring home silver from University of Sydney Case Competition
In October, a team of undergraduate students from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University won second place in the 2022 University of Sydney Business School Case Competition (USCC). The international competition was held remotely and brought together 11 teams from leading universities around the world. Congratulations to, Abigail Leu, Allison Sutherland, Connor Sinclair, and Imaad Mian.
Fourth-year BBA and BMath double degree student Allison Sutherland said, “Training for the competition was a lot of work but it was also really fun. I was able to work alongside some really talented individuals who pushed me to be my best.”
Connor Sinclair, a fourth-year BBA student, continued, “[in competitions] You develop your confidence and comfort with thoughtful business analysis, which is helpful for school, co-op placements, and in our careers.”
“You develop your confidence and comfort with thoughtful business analysis, which is helpful for school, co-op placements, and in our careers.”
~ Connor Sinclair
Finalist spot secured in CFA Institute Research Challenge Finals
Students representing the Lazaridis School traveled to Toronto to present their research findings at the CFA Institute Local Final Round and Awards Reception where they were evaluated on their analytical, valuation, report writing, and presentation skills. Congratulations to Dipal Doshi, Natalia Rusu, and Violeta Shabatura.
Business Technology Management students think outside the box
Lazaridis School Business Technology Management (BTM) students impressed judges at the Symcor Case Competition in Toronto earning them the most Innovative Pitch Award. Congratulations to Pery Au, Wesley Choy, Ethan Gardiner, and Shaza Najeeb.
Proud podium moments at JDC Central
The Laurier Case Team (LCT) made the Lazaridis School proud at JDC Central, with podium finishes in seven of the eight academic tracks and winning the Academic Cup for the sixth time in the 11 years it has been awarded. The Lazaridis School has continued to show excellence at JDCC over more than 10 years of participation in the competition.
“In University, most things that we do in the classroom are highly theoretical, often assume perfect conditions and typically try to point you towards one “right” answer. When it comes to case analysis, a lot of these things are thrown out the window because cases attempt to simulate a real-world environment. Therefore, being a part of LCT gives you the opportunity to take the things you’ve learned and apply them to real business problems in real time,” 2023 JDCC co-captains, Lazaridis School alumnus Jared Roy (BBA ‘22) and Rachel Curwen, fourth-year BBA student, told us. “Beyond professional development, being a part of LCT connects you to an amazing network of individuals. This includes distinguished alumni and some of the best and brightest individuals that are currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at Laurier.”
Winner, winner! Students bring home first place at Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition
The University of Vermont’s (UVM) Grossman School of Business hosted the Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition where for the fourth year in a row that the Lazaridis School team has taken the top spot. Members of the Laurier Case Team competed against nine other schools to earn the first-place win, and two Lazaridis School students were recognized with “Best Undergraduate Presenter” awards, which acknowledge depth of analysis, conviction, and grace when presenting. Congratulations to Vivek Bhardwaj, Sia Bhaskar, Harleen Grewal, and Arnav Hiremath.
“After hearing about the overwhelming success of the Laurier Case Team in BU111, I knew I wanted the opportunity to represent Laurier on a global scale. Training with the case team every week has allowed me to develop my critical thinking and presentation skills,” says Sia Bhaskar, fourth-year BBA student.
Human-centered focus awarded second place at HRPA Case Competition
Congratulations to Micayah Coutinho, Suhavi Garg, and Victoria Talvitie for taking second place in the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) Student Case Competition. The Lazaridis team competed against 19 teams from universities and colleges across Ontario to tackle real-life business and HR situations.
“I could not have been more impressed by these three students! We are so lucky to have such motivated, engaged, and professional students at our school,” said Steve Risavy, faculty advisor and Associate Dean of Student Engagement.
Micayah Coutinho, fourth-year BBA student told us, “Our decision to participate in the case competition stemmed from the aspiration to take on a challenging opportunity and apply the theoretical knowledge of HR that we’ve acquired throughout the BBA degree in a practical setting. Furthermore, the competition presented a unique opportunity to represent Laurier and showcase our school's excellence, which was both motivating and fulfilling.”
Bullseye! Students triumph against global competitors at Accuracy Case Competition
Lazaridis School students earn ranking as one of the top teams at the 2023 Accuracy Business Cup! This three-step competition featured a preliminary round in each of the nine participating countries, followed by national finals, with each national winner going on to compete at the international finals held in Paris, France. Congratulations to Lazaridis School students Grace Bilodeau and Sean Cornelius who triumphed over 400 other teams to make it to the finals.
Fourth-year BBA student Grace Bilodeau said, “I found that the curriculum at the Lazaridis School prepares us well with presentations, competitions, and teamwork.”
“I’ve always enjoyed the blend of creative problem solving, research and intuition, and storytelling that goes into perfecting a presentation. It’s something that I’ve used in my internships and will continue to develop further into my career,” reflected teammate Sean Cornelius, fourth-year BBA student.
Lazaridis Students bring home second place at the Venture Capital Investment Competition
Congratulations to Lazaridis School students Nicholas De Sario, Lara Unal, Mitchell Switzer, Daniel Frank, Umar Kapadia, and Thomas Dixon for earning second place at the Venture Capital Investment Competition! Competing with schools from across Canada, students were provided information on three early-stage companies seeking financing and given an opportunity to interview the company founders before presenting their recommendations to judges serving in the role of venture capital partners.
Not just tapas and walking tours: first place finish at University of Navarra International Case Competition in Spain
Lazaridis School students bring home the trophy for earning first place at the 2023 University of Navarra International Case Competition (UNICC) after competing against 15 teams from across the globe to complete two three-hour cases, and one twelve-hour business case study. Congratulations to Vivek Bhardwaj, Georgia Bryson, Hassan El-Essawi, and Kyle Chang.
“Case competitions offer a unique opportunity to develop practical problem-solving skills that could be applied in a variety of contexts. We were eager to analyze complex business problems and come up with innovative solutions that could make a positive impact,” shared Vivek Bhardwaj, fourth-year BBA student.
“We were drawn to the idea of being part of a community of like-minded individuals who were all passionate about business and eager to succeed. We knew that working alongside motivated and talented individuals would help us grow both personally and professionally.”
~Georgia Bryson
Economics students celebrated in research awards
In Winter 2022, the Department of Economics awarded their two Undergraduate Research Prizes. Congratulations to Alexander Bond, fourth-year Economics student for being awarded Peter Sinclair Undergraduate Research Prize for his paper “Copper and Silicon Interaction with Semiconductor Equity Index Prices”, and James Williams, fourth-year Economics student for being awarded the Short Undergraduate Paper Prize for his paper “Forecasting Inflation and Maintaining Capital Gains”.
BTM Students represent Lazaridis School at CaseIT in Vancouver
Lazaridis School BTM students made Laurier proud at the 2023 CaseIT competition by bringing home fourth place in the division B five-hour case and second place in the division B 24-hour case. 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the competition, hosted at the Beedie School of Management at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, BC. Congratulations to Ben Lalonde, Maureen Mao, Jacob Parkhill, and Christopher Rodgers.
“It was amazing to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who share my passion for business and create lasting memories that I will always cherish,” said Maureen Mao, fourth-year BTM student. “My teammates played a significant role in encouraging me to get involved. Their encouragement and support helped to build my confidence and gave me the motivation I needed to take action.”
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Did we miss an external case competition in our wrap up? This article is only highlighting competitions from September 2022 to April 2023. If you participated in a case competition representing the Lazaridis School, please send us details. You can email us at LazaridisMarketing@wlu.ca - we would love to hear from you and celebrate your experience.