In January, our team of second-year Accounting and Financial Management students—Gurpartap, Leo, Brishank, and Franco—participated in the Eclipse Case Competition, hosted by the University of Toronto. The competition brought together students from across Ontario to solve business challenges in four streams: Sales Management, ESG Strategy, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. We chose to compete in the Technology stream which was sponsored by BMO.
The day began early with registration and an opening ceremony. Afterward, we jumped right into the first round of case presentations. The challenge in the Technology stream required us to analyze a business scenario where a company was struggling to adapt to new technological trends. Our task was to propose a scalable solution that balanced innovation with feasibility.
We received the case one week prior to the competition day and spent our evenings after co-op working through the requirements, debating different approaches, and narrowing down our solution. It was a team effort, and each of us contributed in our own ways, whether it was conducting in-depth market research, developing financial projections, or designing the slides for our presentation.
Presenting to the judges was both challenging and rewarding. We had to clearly articulate our solution under time constraints while staying composed during the Q&A. The judges asked tough, detailed questions, testing our ability to think on our feet. While the experience was nerve-wracking, it was also an opportunity to showcase our in-depth analysis and strategic thinking skills.
The rest of the day featured speaker sessions and networking opportunities. The speakers shared their experiences in various industries, which gave us valuable insights into potential career paths. Interacting with professionals and fellow competitors was also a great way to connect and expand our vision.
When the results were announced during the awards ceremony, we were thrilled to find out that we had won first place in the Technology stream! Standing out in a highly competitive field was incredibly rewarding. Winning the $1,000 prize was a nice bonus, but more importantly, the experience gave us a sense of accomplishment and confidence in our ability to tackle real-world problems.
Overall, the Eclipse Case Competition was a transformative experience. It pushed us to think critically under tight deadlines, work effectively as a team, and present our ideas confidently. It also gave us a chance to meet new people and learn from the process. For anyone considering participating in a case competition, it’s an excellent way to apply your knowledge, develop your skills, and challenge yourself in a practical setting.