I had always wondered what it was like to analyze a real- life business problem and pitch to industry professionals. I was always fascinated by the idea of presenting to a panel of executives of a corporation. So, I competed for the first time at Montreal Real Estate Games.
As a finance student, I knew what to expect and was aware that there was going to be a lot of mathematical calculations and financial modelling. I had a very interesting case about an abandoned mall in Sherbrooke, Quebec. We had 3 hours to prepare and come up with a solution which met their requirements of diversifying the products, implementing the plan in 1 year and breaking even in 5 years. Those 3 hours were intense, as my team and I were making a PowerPoint presentation, discussing our strategy and solution and deciding our parts.
When it was time to present to the judges, my heart was pounding. I was so scared to say my part, but the judges were very welcoming and open. When it was my turn to present, I began explaining our ideas and made sure to maintain eye contact and stay professional. In the past 4 years, I came across many opportunities that involved oral presentations, and was able to develop public speaking skills. I felt very confident and enjoyed presenting my part and also answering their questions during the Q&A.
After the presentations were over, there was a second round, where teams who were selected had to present their ideas to all the judges and the audience. Our team didn’t make it to the second round, but I wasn’t disappointed because I learned a lot from the case competition. During this round, I got to watch and learn about the ideas of the winning teams. Some people had very unique ideas and solutions to the problem, and they were very enthusiastic and confident while presenting them. The judges asked questions that were specific to the case and also very challenging to answer. After that round was over, the organizing committee requested the judges to share their ideas and give their take on the problem. The ideas that the judges gave were different than the rest of the teams. This was the best part of the competition because I got to learn new ways to analyze a case and know what they were looking for.
Following this round was a networking cocktail with the judges and all the attendees. I felt that this was a great way to end the night. All the attendees met, networked with each other and shared their ideas. I met many new people and really enjoyed getting to know their motives for competing.
One thing I love about case competitions is that they teach things that one doesn’t learn in classrooms. They allow me to gain knowledge and learn new things about a company and what goes behind running it. Before getting exposed to the world of case competitions, I never knew such problems existed in corporations. Overall, I had a great time, analyzing the case with my team, meeting new people and gaining knowledge about the real estate industry.