U of M business case competition takes Winnipeg Art Gallery stage

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/02/2024 (600 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Students across Canada will soon present ideas to effectively remove admission fees, and other barriers, at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

It will be the first of three challenges in the University of Manitoba’s second annual business case competition held at the Asper School of Business. The event draws scholars to the keystone province.

Pavan Balani’s team has been preparing since mid-January. The three-day event begins Thursday.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Balani said, roughly 24 hours away from presenting to a panel at the WAG.

Still, he’s not overly confident, he added. He’s majoring in finance and entrepreneurship — reducing admission fees isn’t a typical assignment.

“You’re always trying to increase revenue, you’re always trying to grow the business,” the 25-year-old Asper student said. “I think this case is training a lot of business minds of the future to think about things in a more holistic way, not just what would make the most money.”

Four students each from nine universities will participate in the competition, travelling from Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary, among other cities.

Businesses used as case studies sometimes implement suggestions, but it isn’t required, noted Judy Jayasuriya, lead of experiential learning with the U of M’s Asper School of Business.

“These students, I think, provide a lot of value because they give a bit of an outside perspective… and they come with their own regional knowledge.”

During Thursday’s contest, teams will lob ideas to expand Independent Jewellers’ national presence. Pitches will last three minutes each, with at least 20 minutes of discussion following.

The topic of Friday’s competition, which spotlights StandardAero, remains a secret.

The U of M launched its annual case competition last year to increase experiential learning within its walls. Students often travel abroad for such events.

This year, the number of judges from local businesses has doubled. Canada Life, Stantec and Deloitte are among the companies staffing the judge panel.

The event partnerships strengthen connections with the business community, Jayasuriya said.

Balani credits the competition for improving his presentation skills. Speaking to officials at WAG may make future pitches less intimidating, he noted.

Competition awards will be announced Saturday evening.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com