Montreal, Molson & Masti!

A quick background: We receive mail from Caleb about John Molson MBA Case Compeitition from Concordia University, Montreal - Elims based on CV and some case. I apply. I get invitation for elims presentation. I end up with wrong slides. Maintain my cool. Get selected to represent NUS.

Cut to: January 1, 2010

What a way to start the year! Flying 32 hours through 2 different countries finally to reach -25 degree celsius from +26 degrees! Finally reach Montreal, Canada! For a person who never saw snow, it was exciting! To see snowflakes! To see inches of snow lying on roads! To feel the feet freezing and mouth go numb! To expose less than 4 square inches of body to open air and with 4 layers of clothing!

We dint do great at the competition but the experience was amazing. A quick quote from roomie - At competitions, either you win prizes or earn experience!

But seriously, never we had been so productive! 3 hours and we could present situation, complications, analysis, alternatives, risks and mitigations and the financials! All without Powerpoint or excel! Thats a different story that we could never adapt so quickly and maintain the level judges expected us to! And with agility, it also promoted thinking outside the box (with concrete proof of things happening inside the box as well) ! But if we had this approach to all case studies in MBA, we would have not only been far more learned but productive and efficient as well!

Not forgetting to mention the best team for so far - a team so diverse, a team so brilliant, a team where complementary skills was not just another adjective - With Hugo on broader strategy, to Suveer on detailed operations and Gaurav on Marketing, my role was mainly to stick with financials and I loved it! Thats in the room! Outside the room, it was a laughter riot! Some phrases will just stick with me for life! And the situations especially with Hugo with darker side! Notable Mentions: Italllyyyy Schooool of Businesss and Have you considered Mexico?

And oh the coach - Paulo Molson.. oops Paulo Magalhaes! A guide and a friend - but most important a great host! How comfortable it feels in a new city when you have such a warm host! Never mind his driving skills :-)

A North American city with great architecture, it seemed so European! And while city was freezing, the underground city concept was very unique! We did not get much time to explore around, but whatever we saw was simply 'beautiful'!

All in all, a trip to remember for all reasons!