So Helen, what is the Tiger Global Case Competition?
The Tiger Global Case Competition (TGCC) is an online, global business case competition run by the consultancy firms Tiger Global and PwC for high school students. Students can participate in teams of 2-4 to identify the most prominent issues faced by a real company based off a business scenario, and present their solutions to a panel of judges.
How do the competitions run – who is in your team, what do you work together on, and what is it like presenting?
My team consisted of myself and two members from Australia. Over seven days, we met regularly to crack a case on Renesas, a Japanese semi-conductor company. We aimed to improve their revenue and cost synergies, and suggested a viable company for them to acquire to broaden their market reach. We were eventually selected as one of the top 10 teams to represent Australia and New Zealand. This was my first case competition experience, so the idea of wearing formal attire on Zoom and presenting to an expert panel of executives was daunting at first. However, my team practised our presentation frequently, and we were all happy with our performance by the end of the competition.
How did you come to be part of this competition and your team?
I was recruited to be part of the student-led organisational team of the competition last year, which is how I met my Australian teammates. As the Country Lead of New Zealand, I led organisation and outreach initiatives for the Australian and New Zealand regional rounds. This year, I chose to participate as a competitor for fun.
Do you find the experience that you gain from these competitions helpful for your schoolwork?
The experience was definitely helpful to my learning in many ways. I am a member of the KC Phillips Society, and I have studied CIE economics for two years. By stepping into the shoes of management consultants, I was able to practically apply the knowledge I learned in the CIE economics course, and gain real life business experience beyond textbooks or classroom discussions. By limiting the time frame to solve and present the case to one week, my team had to practice critical thinking and research skills, teamwork, and public speaking, which are important skills for any school subject or career.
Do you know what you’d like to do when you finish school, and do you think this experience will set you up well for your next steps?
I am actively considering a degree in business management, and a career in management consulting. Organising and competing in case competitions has allowed me to gain insight into the world of business as a high school student, which helped me consider management as a viable and interesting future pathway for myself.
What would you say to a King’s student who’s interested in getting involved in a competition like this?
Even though lockdown is a time to recharge and study for exams, it also provides many opportunities to participate in online extracurricular activities. I strongly recommend TGCC and similar case competitions to other King’s students as they are fun and unique opportunities to meet new people and simulate a future career for anyone who is interested in business related fields.
