This weekend, I had the opportunity to serve as one of 64 judges at the TelferINTL Case Competition, an event that brought together nearly 500 students from the Telfer School of Management. Held twice a year, the competition is a major experiential learning component for third-year BCom students and challenges them to apply international business knowledge to real-world strategic problems.
Although I have supported Telfer before, including as a guest lecturer, I was struck by the scale and professionalism of this event. Dozens of judges from the public and private sectors gathered to evaluate student presentations built on limited time, imperfect information, and newly formed teams.
One clear theme emerged early: AI is reshaping how students analyze complex problems. Many presentations reflected a level of structure and analytical depth that would not have been possible even a few years ago. The challenge for judges was distinguishing original thought from AI-generated reasoning. The strongest teams rose above this by drawing on external research, interpreting data with nuance, and arriving at conclusions that differed from the conventional pattern. One team in particular stood out for taking a completely different analytical path than groups before them, demonstrating a thoughtful and well-supported approach.
It is important to remember these students are only about 21 years old. Their ability to navigate ambiguity, synthesize conflicting information, and work with teammates they met just days before is still developing. Competitions like this accelerate that development in meaningful ways. They test collaboration, communication, trust, and the ability to make decisions when the data is incomplete.
Judges benefit as well. The day offered the chance to think differently, engage with a new industry, and reflect on our own early career experiences. Many of us presented to panels like this decades ago, facing similar nerves and uncertainty. That perspective adds depth to the judging process and reinforces the importance of empathy in evaluating emerging talent.
A broader insight also became clear: while AI will continue to transform how business analysis is done, the core attributes of leadership remain unchanged. Building trusting relationships, communicating effectively, and exercising sound judgment will always matter. My advice to students is simple: embrace ambiguity early. The leaders who thrive will be those who make thoughtful decisions without perfect information.
A final word of congratulations
I want to congratulate every student who presented. Standing in front of a panel of judges and proposing strategic decisions for a billion-dollar company is not easy. Doing it under time pressure, with new teammates and evolving expectations, is even harder. But this is the type of practice that builds real-world confidence.
To other professionals considering getting involved, I encourage it. Competitions like TelferINTL strengthen the Telfer community and showcase the impressive potential of the next generation of business leaders.
