QUT MBA suite students go head-to-head in inaugural case competition

Four QUT Executive MBA and MBA students recently headed to Sydney to put their skills to the test at the QUT x Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Head to Head MBA Case Competition.

Hosted at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the new competition brought together MBA and Executive MBA students from QUT Business School and AGSM to tackle complex business challenges in a fast-paced, competitive environment.

While QUT and UNSW students have gone head-to-head in case competitions before, this was the first competition specifically designed for MBA suite students from the two universities.

QUT MBA Director Dr Udo Gottlieb said the competition was an opportunity to build on the universities’ established relationship and create a new experience for postgraduate business students.

“QUT and UNSW already have an established relationship through student case competitions, and we wanted to take that partnership to the next level by creating an experience specifically for our Executive MBA and MBA students,” Dr Gottlieb said.

“The idea was to place students from two leading business schools into a high-pressure environment and see how effectively they could draw on the knowledge, skills, and experience they have accumulated throughout their studies and careers.”

Rising to the challenge

Representing QUT were Executive MBA students Sarah Daniel and Shazia Ahmadi and MBA students Hayley Teale and Frankie Li, accompanied by Dr Gottlieb.

Across the two days, the team tackled two challenging business cases, developing and presenting their recommendations to a panel of industry judges.

The judges included UNSW Business Mentor Simon Millet; Solvexia Founder and Director and Ripple Managing Director Jonathan Glass; Mettina Pty Ltd Director Mettina Pavlakis; ASX APAC Business Development and FIX Trading Community Asia Pacific Co-Chair Murrough O’Brien; Career Accelerator AGSM & UNSW Business School Director Sabine King; and UNSW academic and Prosper Financial Planning Director Jane Lim.

For the QUT team, the competition was an opportunity to apply their learning under pressure, drawing on their problem-solving, decision-making and teamwork skills to navigate complex business challenges.

QUT Executive MBA student Shazia Ahmadi, Founder and Director of Underestimated, a global refugee women's empowerment network, said the experience challenged students to think critically and make decisions with limited time and information.

“On paper, that sounds straightforward, but in reality, it required us to make decisions quickly while dealing with ambiguity, competing priorities and incomplete information,” Shazia said.

“One of the most interesting parts of the experience was that there was no single formula we could follow.

“We had to decide what information mattered most, what assumptions we were willing to make, what risks we needed to consider and how we could turn our analysis into a recommendation that was both strategic and practical.”

Working collaboratively was also an important part of the experience, with team members drawing on their different strengths to navigate complex decisions and reach a shared outcome.

“We each brought different perspectives and strengths, and there were moments when we challenged one another's thinking,” Shazia said.

“But that was exactly where the learning happened.

“We had to listen, disagree constructively, adapt and ultimately align behind one clear direction.”

“It was intense, fast-paced and highly collaborative — and it gave us a genuine taste of what decision-making can feel like when the stakes are high and the clock is running.”

Strengthening leadership through experience

Beyond the competition itself, students had the opportunity to test their abilities in an unfamiliar environment, receive direct feedback from experienced industry leaders and build connections with peers and professionals outside their existing networks.

Dr Gottlieb said experiences like the Head to Head MBA Case Competition offered students benefits that extended well beyond the competition.

“Students gain much more than simply competition experience,” Dr Gottlieb said.

“They have the opportunity to benchmark themselves against their peers, test their abilities in unfamiliar situations, and build confidence in applying what they know under time pressure.”

The competition also created opportunities for students to expand their professional networks and learn from others with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

“The networking opportunities are also significant,” Dr Gottlieb said.

“Our students engaged with students from another leading university, industry professionals serving as judges, and experienced business leaders who provide direct feedback on their work.”

For Shazia, representing QUT at UNSW was a memorable experience that offered valuable opportunities for connection, collaboration and reflection on her own leadership approach.

“Being surrounded by ambitious MBA students, academics and professionals created an atmosphere of healthy competition and shared learning,” Shazia said.

“But beyond the competition itself, I think the most meaningful part was what it revealed about leadership.

“The experience reminded me that leadership is not about being the person with the quickest answer.

“Sometimes leadership is knowing which questions to ask, recognising when you need to change direction, giving other people space to contribute and keeping the team focused when the pressure increases.

“That is a lesson I will carry with me long after the competition.”

The Head to Head MBA Case Competition is one of the many opportunities QUT Executive MBA and MBA students can take part in beyond the classroom, complementing their studies with experiences that help them put their learning into practice, expand their professional networks and develop the skills to navigate complex business challenges.