Serie - John Molson Case Competition - Felix Haubold Testimonial

Felix Haubold a German student at International MBA Full Time at FIA Business School give his opinion about the Competition at John Molson Business School. 

Participating in the John Molson MBA Competition 2016 was a truly inspiring and decisive part of the MBA Program. Having the chance to exchange ideas and perspectives on challenging cases with students from across the world and a variety of judges was exceptional. The cases and structure of the competition forced the team to improve and enhance its level of communication as well as improving our analytic and presentational skills, lifting our post graduate learning curve exponentially. The analyses that were required to solve and win the cases were challenging and provided a great insight into a far more competitive and professional experience beyond a purely academic factor.

An important part of the competition is the coach whom holds a crucial part to the team’s success through feedback and advice. Participating in this competition allows business schools to extend its network and outreach and creating academic exchanges which lift the competitive level of each participating school.

Competing in a global event with 36 of the best teams from globally renowned business schools spanning 19 countries and 6 continents is a truly uplifting experience, and, for an MBA, can only be described as a defining moment during his MBA program.

(Learn more about our course:http://www.fia.com.br/internationalmba)

Serie - John Molson Case Competition - Adam Dugan Strott Testimonial

Adam Dugan Strott, International MBA student and also part of the John Molson Case Competition team. Adam is American and graduated in Film Production. Before he came to Brazil in 2015 he was a Sales and Marketing Administrator. In April this year he will graduate from the Full Time International MBA, a one year course at FIA Business School. Take a look at his testimonial of his experience during the competition:
(Learn more about our course: http://www.fia.com.br/internationalmba)

Within the realm of business, competition breeds innovation, and, through that evolution, a culture is fostered that perpetuates these ideals. With its participation in the 2016 John Molson International MBA Case Study Competition, FIA is continuing to lay the groundwork for a future exchange of knowledge and experience gained through the sport of analyzing and presenting business cases in a competitive environment. These were never more apparent than how the team recognized and utilized the three central thematic elements of this year’s event of competing, connecting and innovating.

From the moment of the first opportunity to meet the other teams, we immediately understood the complex dynamic that exists between us all, as oft does between coworkers and even businesses. They were both potential allies and fierce adversaries. They wanted to be our friends, as we did theirs, but not for one moment did we, nor they, forget the roles that we each were there to fill. The spirit of camaraderie that eventually arose was forged through the fires of competition, and while one team sought to topple the other, we all sat together to cheer the winner, as it was our combined efforts in the competition that brought them to the podium.

Of course, the challenge of being locked in room for three hours with a complex case was exacerbated by the pressure of knowing that our conclusion would be presented to a panel of professionals with illustrious backgrounds and experiences. It was through this crucible that our team, most of whom were merely acquaintances not but a few weeks previous, quickly created an internal synergy that manifested itself through our focus and presence. It was at this moment that we truly understood and embraced one of the competition's central themes of connection. We not only connected with one other as we disseminated cases and worked together under pressure, but connected with the judges, exhorting them to believe in our recommendation through our confidence in ourselves and solutions.

However, the growth that our team, FIA’s team, experienced was not limited to our ability of breaking down a case quickly and decisively, and presenting it therein. No, it had also manifested itself through the relationships fostered throughout the process, through developing a fair competitive spirit, and through our ability to create new and innovative ideas. While perhaps we had not the strongest analytical background, our team found itself with an advantage in its generation of creative solutions. This was our wheelhouse, and used to our fullest advantage, and one that was honed through continuous practice throughout the week.

Ultimately, through the guidance of our coach, we had gained the skills and the confidence necessary, which were not present before the competition. She pushed us forward when we needed motivation, and spared no detail in what we needed to succeed when we had failed. It was through her tutelage directly that we won twice in one day, one of the few teams to do so. Ultimately, this competition is more than event, but it is an experience that will forever have an impact on the way we approach problems and develop solutions. For a group of MBA candidates, this is the greatest lesson that any could receive.

Serie - John Molson Case Competition - Depoimento de Marco Aurélio Gehlen

Marco Aurélio Gehlen é aluno da turma 8 do Americas MBA do Profuturo FIA, e é “Reliability Engineer” na Embraer desde 2014 mas atua na empresa desde 2012. EM 2016 o aluno integrou o time do Profuturo FIA na John Molson Case Competition e deu seu depoimento de como foi esta experiência:

Marco Aurélio Gehlen is an Americas MBA student at Profuturo FIA and Reliability Engineer at Embraer since 2014, working at the company since 2012. In 2016, he joined the Profuturo FIA team in the John Molson Case Competition and gives his testimony on the experience:

“A competição de resolução de cases realizada na John Molson School of Business de Montreal é um desafio que vai além das fronteiras acadêmicas e profissionais. Trata-se de um desafio pessoal. Em um ambiente extremamente competitivo, durante uma semana, cada participante vive fora de sua zona de conforto ao ter pouco tempo de preparo para defender estratégias que são extremamente estressadas por bancas de juízes experientes de todo o mundo. Ao mesmo passo, competidores de escolas de negócios renomadas buscam dar o melhor de si para apresentarem coerência na tomada de decisão, utilizando seus melhores alunos, ferramentas e métodos.

"The case resolution competition held at the John Molson School of Business in Montreal is a challenge that surpasses academic and professional boundaries. It is a personal challenge. In an extremely competitive environment for one week, participants live outside their comfort zone, having scarce preparation time to advocate strategies that are scrutinized to the extreme by panels of experienced judges from all over the world. To the same end, renowned business schools seek to give their best to present consistency in decision-making, making use of their best students, tools and methods.

Mesmo líderes experientes encontrarão no evento um chamariz para se superar. O tempo é escasso, a vitrine que expõe a reputação da escola e do participante é abrangente e a cobrança pessoal a fim de se provar um estrategista, fazem da semana uma experiência intensa. Clichês sobre trabalho em equipe se põe a prova trazendo à baila diferenças culturais, “mindsets” provenientes de diferentes “backgrounds” e uma mistura de sentimentos e ações que rapidamente, e necessariamente, se concretizam em um planejamento estratégico para um problema complexo recém conhecido. A combinação necessária de pensamento não-linear com pensamento orientado a processo para fazer acontecer, tornam a experiência ainda mais agregadora. É preciso inovar e vender ao mesmo tempo em que a implementação deve ser viável (exatamente como o cotidiano nos exige), porém o evento extrapola um ambiente de pressão que alguém possa clamar “realidade do dia-a-dia”. Com 36 escolas e com seus respectivos melhores alunos e orientadores de 19 países somados a mais de 200 juízes interagindo, vivem-se os conceitos de liderança em ambientes multiculturais, gestão de conflitos e tomada de decisão em meio a incerteza acrescidos de um desconforto constante que só resulta em crescimento. Independente dos desafios profissionais prévios, o John Molson Case Competition é um ambiente intenso em que o aprendizado certamente acontece. ”
(Saiba mais sobre nossos cursos: http://www.fia.com.br/executivo)

Even experienced leaders find allurement in the event to overcome themselves. Time is scarce, the showcase that exposes school and participant reputation is comprehensive and the pressure to prove oneself a strategist, make this week an intense experience. Clichés about teamwork are put to the test, bringing up cultural differences, mindsets from different backgrounds and a mixture of feelings and actions that quickly and necessarily must materialize into strategic planning for a complex issue just recently uncovered. The required combination of non-linear thinking with process-oriented thought to make it happen, make the experience even more valuable. We need to innovate and sell at the same time that implementation must be feasible (just like everyday demands), but the contest goes beyond a pressure environment one can call "day-to-day reality". 36 schools with their best students and coaches, from 19 countries, added up to more than 200 judges, all interacting, participants experience the concepts of leadership in multicultural environments, conflict management and decision-making amid uncertainty, plus a constant discomfort that only results in growth. Regardless of previous professional challenges, the John Molson Case Competition is an intense environment where learning certainly happens." (Learn more about our courses: http://www.fia.com.br/internationalmba)

Serie - John Molson Case Competition - Mahindra Finance: Accelerating Growth

Saiba mais sobre os casos resolvidos por nossa equipe na “John Molson Case Competition” no Canadá em Janeiro, formada pelos alunos do International MBA do Profuturo FIA, André Felipe Torres, Marco Aurélio Gehlen, Felix Haubold, Adam Dugan Strott e pela “coach” Samantha Mazzero. Ela comenta sobre o caso “Mahindra Finance: Accelerating Growth”. 

Read more about the cases solved by our team in January for the the "John Molson Case Competition" in Canada. Composed of Profuturo FIA’s International MBA students, André Felipe Torres, Marco Aurélio Gehlen, Felix Haubold, Adam Dugan Strott and Coach Samantha Mazzero. She comments our team’s experience in the case "Mahindra Finance: Accelerating Growth". 

“Vencemos nosso terceiro caso, que solicitava o desenvolvimento de planejamento estratégico para operacionalizar o crescimento na Índia e região por meio de diversificação e foco no cliente. O caso demandava uma forte análise de posicionamento e competição, onde “timeline” e a viabilidade precisavam ser coerentes para ação imediata. Em adição, requeria o uso de tecnologia para alcançar um maior número de clientes. Um dos mais complexos e difíceis da competição. Os “feedbacks” oficiais dos juízes, disponibilizados para os “coachs” pela organização da competição, elogiaram mais uma vez a forma criativa de pensar soluções e recebemos duas notas 9 no “Q&A” sobre capacidade de argumentação e defesa das proposições. Também demonstramos forte capacidade em demonstrar a viabilidade do projeto proposto, um dos itens de maior peso na avaliação dos juízes.
Ganhamos a última rodada dos casos, mas pela somatória de pontos não conseguimos alcançar a liderança da chave. Todavia, fizemos nossa melhor pontuação e alcançamos a melhor colocação de nossa participação. Nosso histórico é positivo, em 2014 ficamos em 29º, em 2015 em 23º e agora em 2016 em 18º com 3 vitórias e uma pontuação de 110 pontos (1 ponto a mais que 2015). Segundo os próprios organizadores, o evento fica mais competitivo a cada ano, especialmente com um preparo cada vez mais forte por parte das equipes. Em nossa divisão ganhamos inclusive dos líderes que foram às semi-finais deste ano e os vice-campeões de 2015: Porto Business Schools."

(Saiba mais dos nossos cursos: http://www.fia.com.br/executivo)

"We won our third case, which required the development of strategic planning for operational growth in India and the region through diversification and customer focus. The case demanded strong positioning and competition analyses, where timeline and viability should be consistent for immediate action. In addition, the case required the use of technology to reach more customers. One of the most complex and difficult cases in the competition. The official feedback by judges, made available to coaches by the competition, once more praised the creative thinking and solutions presented by the team, receiving two “9”s for the Q&A on argumentation skills and defense of propositions. We also excelled in demonstrating the feasibility of the project proposed, one of the most important criteria in the judges’ evaluation.
Although our team won the last round, the sum of points did not grant the lead in our division. However, we won more points and had the best performance ever. Our trajectory is positive: in 2014, ranked 29th, in 2015, 23rd, and now in 2016, 18th place, with 3 wins and a score of 110 points (1 point more than in 2015). According to the organizers themselves, the event becomes more competitive each year, especially due to the increasingly tougher preparation of teams. We even won against our division’s leader, who went to the semi-finals this year and were runners-up 2015: Porto Business School."

(Learn more about our courses: http://www.fia.com.br/internationalmba)

Série - John Molson Case Competition

Essa semana daremos início a série de “John Molson Case Competition”, que aconteceu em Janeiro no Canadá. Vamos compartilhar os desafios enfrentados por nossa equipe do International MBA do Profuturo FIA. É a terceira vez que tomamos parte nesta competição internacional e fomos a primeira escola de negócios brasileira a participar.
Esse a equipe formada pelos alunos do International MBA e Americas MBA, da esquerda para a direita na foto: André Felipe Torres, Marco Aurélio Gehlen, Felix Haubold, Adam Dugan Strott e pela “coach” Samantha Mazzero. No início da competição nossa equipe foi desafiada pelos cases da UNIQLO e Maggi Noodles. Samantha comenta como foi esta etapa: 

This week we will begin a series of posts relating to the "John Molson Case Competition", held in January in Canada. We will share the challenges faced by Profuturo FIA’s International MBA team. This is the third time we take part in this international competition, being the first and only Brazilian business school to participate. This team is formed by International MBA and Americas MBA students, from left to right in the photo: André Felipe Torres, Marco Aurélio Gehlen, Felix Haubold, Adam Dugan Strott and the team’s Coach, prof. Samantha Mazzero. At the beginning of the competition, our team was challenged to provide solutions to the cases UNIQLO and Maggi Noodles. Samantha shares her experience in this round:

“UNIQLO: A supply chain going global”

“Embora o título levasse a acreditar que se tratava de um problema relativamente tático de “supply chain”, o problema central ultrapassava esta questão e solicitava por endereçar novas estratégicas de crescimento global, como se posicionar em novos mercados considerando suas respectivas culturas e perfis de consumo. O Caso também requeria um plano estratégico de crescimento a longo prazo, prioridades nas escolhas dos novos mercados e principalmente como manter a alta qualidade a baixos preços, especialmente nos mercados ocidentais. Um caso longo, complexo e profundo. Nesta rodada enfrentamos a Universidade de Kent (EUA), considerada como grande revelação de 2015. Desta vez a equipe FIA venceu a batalha por unanimidade dos juízes e o “feedback” oficial fornecido pelos mesmos destacou a forma criativa de pensar “fora da caixa” e muito bem estruturada em termos de posicionamento de marca. Outro ponto alto destacado pelos juízes foi a consistência do plano estratégico com a viabilidade financeira e a capacidade de argumentação durante a sessão de perguntas e respostas. ”

“UNIQLO: A supply chain going global”

"Although the title led to believe that the case involved a relatively tactical supply chain problem, the central issue surpassed this and asked to address new strategies for global growth, how to position oneself in new markets considering their respective cultures and consumption profiles. The case also required a strategic plan for long-term growth, priorities in the choice of new markets and, mainly, how to maintain high quality at low prices, especially in Western markets. An extensive, complex and profound case. In this round, we faced the University of Kent (USA), considered the great revelation of the 2015 edition. The FIA team won the battle by unanimous vote of the judges with official "feedback" emphasizing our creative "out of the box" thinking and structured thought in terms of brand positioning. Another point highlighted by the judges was the consistency of the strategic plan with financial viability and reasoning ability during the questions and answers session."

”Maggi Noodles in India: The revival challenge”.

“Um caso extremamente instigante sobre gestão de crise e de como retomar o crescimento após um incidente de controle de qualidade que estava em desacordo com a regulamentação alimentar imposta pelo Governo Indiano. O caso demandava a elaboração de um planejamento estratégico de comunicação para gestão e contenção de crise. A equipe propôs uma solução inteligente e consistente, onde uma parceria junto ao Governo Indiano e o desenvolvimento de uma versão com nutrientes do antigo “noodles” seria lançado, subsidiado por uma campanha de alimentação saudável no país. O “timeline” proposto foi elogiado pelos juízes, assim como a demonstração financeira de sua viabilidade. Com esta proposta, ganhamos da Porto Business School, que obteve a segunda colocação em 2015 e foi um dos semifinalistas de 2016. Uma das equipes mais fortes e preparadas.”

(Saiba mais sobre nossos cursos:http://www.fia.com.br/executivo)

”Maggi Noodles in India: The revival challenge”.

"An extremely thought -provoking case of crisis management and how to resume growth after a quality control incident that was at odds with the food regulations imposed by the Indian government. The case demanded the development of a strategic communications plan for crisis management and containment. The team proposed an intelligent and consistent solution, comprising a partnership with the Indian government as well as the development and launch of a “noodles with nutrients” version, supported by a healthy food campaign in the country. The judges praised the "timeline" proposed, as well as the financial viability demonstrated. With this proposal, we won over Porto Business School, who won second place in 2015 and was a finalist in 2016. One of the strongest and most prepared teams."

(Learn more about our MBA programs: http://www.fia.com.br/internationalmba)

Depoimento de João Aleixo aluno do MBA Executivo Internacional

“Ser aluno do MBA Executivo Internacional da FIA significa ter acesso a recursos importantes, além da própria Fundação, uma série de palestras e aulas de alto nível e professores referência em suas áreas. O ambiente é cooperativo e o apoio para que cada aluno tenha sucesso é fantástico! A escola é relativamente pequena, assim como cada programa, o que permite a interação elevada com os professores e coordenadores, assim como um convívio intenso com os colegas, em sua maioria pessoas com experiências interessantes, diversificadas e de alto nível. Ao optar pelo Profuturo FIA, fiz uma escolha consciente por um programa que enfatiza a prática, questões profissionais e da arena corporativa, não só o mundo acadêmico. O ambiente, as pessoas e as histórias (23 anos de vida - MBA Executivo Internacional) são inspiradoras – é impossível não se sentir motivado a trabalhar duro e garantir oportunidades de uma educação de altíssima qualidade.” João Aleixo assumiu em janeiro o cargo de Brazil Head of Supply Chain and R&D na empresa UPL Limited (antiga United Phosphorus Ltd.). Atuando nesta empresa desde 2012, essa já é a sua segunda promoção desde que começou a cursar o MBA Executivo Internacional do Profuturo FIA. Saiba mais:http://www1.fia.com.br/executivo/

The First Alpha Team from Center for Global Enterprise

O ex-aluno Paulo Sérgio Teixeira Coelho Nasser do MBA Executivo Internacional do Profuturo FIA, realizou uma consultoria com um time multicultural com vários países representados para “vislumbrar” o futuro da indústria para o London Taxi - Taxi Company (LTC), do icônico taxi de Londres. 

Paulo Nasser, an alumni of the MBA International Executive, group 43, conducted consultancy together with a multicultural team, with several countries represented, to "glimpse" the future of the industry for the London Taxi Company (LTC), the iconic London black cab. Learn more.

Paulo foi indicado por nosso Diretor, o Prof. Dr. James Wright a concorrer a uma vaga ao primeiro “Alpha Team” criado pelo Center For Global Enterprise em Nova York. Foi selecionado e conta um pouco de sua experiência: “foram 22 profissionais escolhidos de diversos países trabalhando para a London Taxi Company e criando um “report” com as principais tendências do mercado de taxi para os próximos 10 anos (Sustentabilidade, Responsabilidade Social e Novas tecnologias / modelos de negócios).” Recentemente o aluno escreveu sobre o tema em seu Linkedin Pulse, veja mais: https://goo.gl/9nBABu

Paulo was indicated by our Dean, Prof. Dr. James Wright to compete for a position at the first "Alpha Team" created by the Center For Global Enterprise in New York. He was selected and has a bit of his experience: "were 22 professionals chosen from various countries working for the London Taxi Company and creating a" report "with the main trends of the taxi market for the next 10 years (Sustainability, Social Responsibility and New . technology / business models) "Recently the student wrote about the subject in his Linkedin Pulse, see more: https://goo.gl/9nBABu

Ele foi aluno de nossa turma 43 e diz que nossos cursos “certamente são uma grande oportunidade para alavancar a sua carreira”. Sucesso Paulo! 

He was a student of the class 43 and says that our courses "are certainly a great opportunity to leverage your career." Success Paulo!