Last week, I had the opportunity to compete in the John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition (JMUCC), one of the largest events of its kind, set against the backdrop of beautiful Montréal, Canada. Over the span of a week, my team and I— under the guidance of University of Vermont Grossman School of Business Professor Marie-France Nelson— challenged ourselves against established case competition universities from around the world.  

Competition Format 

We navigated through three intense three-hour cases and capped off the week with a grueling 24-hour challenge. With each round, our team transitioned from crafting scrappy solutions to becoming strategy masters, approaching each unique case with unwavering enthusiasm and determination.  

I thought finals week was stressful; JMUCC takes stress to a whole new level — in the best possible way. Even though our team practiced and prepared as much as we could, nothing compares to the real deal of presenting in front of judges who are experts in their fields. Lovingly titled the “pressure cooker,” JMUCC truly lived up to its reputation, pushing us to generate creative solutions within the tight constraints of just three hours. At the end of each round, my team and I looked at each other in disbelief, "Did we just do that? And did the judges like it?"  

Guiding Growth

With unwavering support from Professor Nelson, our team embraced the invaluable lessons gleaned from the judges' feedback, evolving with each case. Her guidance and encouragement instilled a growing sense of confidence in us as we navigated through each phase of the competition. It came as no surprise when Professor Nelson was honored with the Coach of the Year Award; her enduring passion and unwavering determination left an indelible impact on everyone throughout the competition.  

Intercollegiate Connections 

The energy throughout the week was tangible, from the nerves of the first night to the celebration at the end of the week — every participant, including students, coaches, volunteers, and organizers, were fully invested. Creating a micro-community, universities from across the world came together, shared insights and experiences, challenged each delegate to rise to the occasion and, most importantly, supported each other through the competition. It was tremendously valuable to not only build business networks but also friendships that will extend beyond the competition. Participating in JMUCC helped me to develop numerous skills within just a week, offering invaluable preparation for professional life, encompassing presentation skills, interview readiness, and building my professional network. 

Craving a Challenge? 

I implore students to reach out to Professor Nelson if you are interested in getting involved with future case competitions.