In photo: Team Burnaby North and BCIT judges. Back row, from left to right: George Tsogas, Manny Judge, Ben Zheng ‘23, Owen Hu ‘23, Steven Zhang ‘24, Kenton Low, Morgan Westcott. Front row: Simon Ing ‘23, Richard Min ‘23. 

It was an unforgettable moment when Team Burnaby North won the 2022 BCIT Business Case Competition for the second iteration in a row. I was part of the five-member group that worked diligently for the past few weeks in preparation for our final presentation. Through quick research, on-the-spot thinking, and creativity, we developed a unique and comprehensive proposal to present to a panel of industry professionals and teams from other Burnaby high schools.

The competition was intense, with many brilliant teams and unique solutions. In the lead-up to the announcement, the atmosphere was tense; you could almost hear the beating of the hearts of those around you. As third place was announced, the room erupted in cheers; the second place announcement also resulted in resounding applause. When Team Burnaby North was declared the winner, however, the cheer was the loudest: we sprang up from our seats, bursting with joy, as celebrations of “let’s go!” could be heard around me. The atmosphere of the BCIT Telus theater was lively with applause, and it was an incredible feeling to be acknowledged and rewarded for our hard work.

Going into this competition, I was initially uninterested. After meeting my teammates, however, I was astounded by their skill and experience. My teammates consisted of Simon Ing, Owen Hu, Ben Zheng, and Richard Min. Even though I was unconfident, I converted this nervousness into an opportunity to hone my skills and gain valuable knowledge from my team. During the weeks of preparation and mentoring, I learned all the fundamentals of success in a business case competition as our BCIT business mentor taught insightful lessons, both virtually and in person. Despite being inexperienced in business competitions, the sessions were engaging and comprehensible, enriching my understanding of the world of business.

On the day of the competition, teams were assigned private rooms with three hours to analyze the situation, plan a solution, and tie it together using a concise slideshow. The best strategy to work around the time limit was to divide and conquer. I was in charge of analyzing the competitors of the given company, while my teammates took other areas such as market research, solutions, and financing. Because of the time crunch, we only had 20 minutes remaining to rehearse once everyone finished their parts. Although this was my first case competition, my teammates were very supportive and provided me with the necessary presentation tips. As a team, we strictly practiced each of our speaking roles, which led us to rehearse almost perfectly before we entered the spacious BCIT Telus Theater. As nerve-wracking as the presenting aspect was, I felt both satisfaction and pride at the presentation our team gave as we looked up into the audience.

Overall, the BCIT Business Case Competition was a rewarding experience that I would highly recommend to any high school student keen on business. It was a great way to gain my experience, build confidence, and just have fun with friends. The experience taught me the importance of preparation and hard work; I am grateful for the opportunity to have competed at such a prestigious competition. I look forward to competing in future business case competitions and will use the skills and knowledge I’ve gained to help me succeed.