16.5.2024
The ESSEC GMBA team has successfully landed in the top 10 at the Harvard Business Case Competition. Their success speaks volumes about their skills and teamwork, and it's a proud moment for ESSEC Business School. Let's take a look back on their journey and this wonderful achievement.
The three weeks of competition have been incredibly intense. We divided our efforts into two main teams: one focused on market/industry analysis and strategy (Jenny, Rachit, and Jacob), and the other on finance (Tristan and Georges). In just three weeks, we produced a detailed 75-page document that propelled us into the top 10 out of 252 teams. For the final round, we created a 10-minute video explaining our work and recommendations. This was followed by a 20-minute Q&A session with highly experienced M&A experts.
One thing we didn't expect to learn was the power of diverse perspectives. Collaborating with talented minds from various backgrounds opened my eyes to new approaches and ideas. It taught us that tackling complex problems benefits immensely from different viewpoints and creative thinking. The diversity of thought among the teams enhanced our ability to identify and solve problems creatively.
It also allowed us to do things we had never done before.
The key lesson from this competition was the depth of analysis required for an acquisition, considering strategic alignment, financial implications, and cultural fit. In just three weeks, we applied lessons from various MBA courses, offering a practical experience that deepened our understanding of how these subjects interconnect.
The most significant takeaway from this experience is the importance of teamwork and effective communication. Working under tight deadlines, I realized how crucial it is to leverage each team member's strengths and maintain clear communication. This experience reaffirmed my belief in the power of collaboration, and I will carry this lesson forward in future projects and endeavors.
If you have a passion for Finance or M&A, don't hesitate to apply and represent ESSEC at this prestigious competition. You'll gain practical experience in market analysis, strategy, and finance.
1- Quickly targeting experts and professionals for interviews will help you gain the latest views of the industry and the topic.
2- How to elaborate on your ideas and deliver a consulting presentation: You need to make your slides very efficient and clear for the judges, and also show a deep level of analysis with a limited number of slides.
3- Stay calm and work together under a heavy workload, squeezing time between your studies and personal life to make it happen.
4- Be critical, accept the differing opinions within your team, and lead to impactful results.
And the cherry on the cake was this participation was the trip to Boston, the lectures at Harvard and the closing gala ceremony where we were able to network with students and experts from all around the world.
