By Kaitlin Loeffler-White, 26 September, 2025
Since 2010, QUT Business School has empowered students to step beyond the classroom and into the world of real business challenges through local and international case competitions. These events offer students the chance to act as consultants, solving complex problems for real-world clients while sharpening their analytical, strategic, and presentation skills.
Recently, a team of QUT students, Finn, Henry, Lana, and Jordyn, flew to Sydney to represent the university at the prestigious Sydney International Business Competition (SIBC), where they were tested with two demanding case studies under tight time constraints: a rapid-fire 6-hour challenge and a more comprehensive 24-hour case.
Case One: Marrickville Legal Centre
The first case focused on Marrickville Legal Centre (MLC), a not-for-profit organisation offering free legal services to disadvantaged communities in Sydney. As the demographics of its catchment area shift toward affluence, MLC faces a dilemma: how to remain true to its mission while addressing the growing needs of the “missing middle” for those who can’t afford private legal services but don’t qualify for Legal Aid.
Teams were asked to recommend whether MLC should prioritise raising awareness among low-income clients or expand “low bono” services tailored to this underserved group. The ultimate goal? Increase client reach and amplify social impact.
Case Two: Mastercard Click to Pay
The second challenge centred on Mastercard’s Click to Pay - a secure, frictionless online checkout solution aimed at reducing card-not-present fraud and enhancing digital commerce. Despite recent adoption by major Australian banks like CBA and Westpac, Mastercard faces hurdles in consumer awareness, merchant integration, and differentiation from competitors such as Apple Pay and PayPal.
Teams were tasked with crafting a go-to-market strategy to accelerate adoption in Australia and scale globally. The brief called for a focus on education, strategic partnerships, and positioning Mastercard as the trusted leader in seamless digital payments.
The Team’s Approach
Faced with intense time pressure, the team quickly aligned on key issues and divided responsibilities to maximise efficiency.
“Finn led the analysis and structured insights, Henry focused on financial modelling, while Lana and I split solution design, implementation, and risk assessment,” explains Jordyn.
Each member drafted their own section of the PowerPoint deck before regrouping to refine and elevate the final presentation. Time management was critical.
“Being locked in a room for hours with a ticking clock and a complex business problem is both intense and rewarding,” says Jordyn. “The first stage often feels like controlled chaos, with creative ideas flowing and potential solutions taking shape. As the hours pass, we balance ambition with feasibility to craft a strategy and communicate it through a professional pitch deck.”
The team leaned on each other’s strengths, and camaraderie played a key role.
“Lana was our MVP,” Jordyn shared. “She turned our workspace into a mini apothecary with every kind of tea imaginable, focus tea, metabolism tea, you name it. Between the caffeine, the laughter, and reminders to eat, we stayed sharp right through to submission.”
Lessons from the Global Stage
Competing internationally was a transformative experience for the team, especially as first-time participants on the global stage.
“Many of the other teams had years of experience and it showed in their presenting skills, creativity, and innovation,” says Jordyn.
The QUT team adapted their style to suit each audience. For Mastercard, they delivered a polished, commercially rigorous pitch to senior executives including Mastercard’s Head of Strategy.
For Marrickville Legal Centre, they adopted a more accessible, impact-driven narrative tailored to its CEO.
“One of the most memorable moments was when the judges said our presentation felt like it came from real consultants, which was fitting, since our team’s name was Real Consulting,” Jordyn recalls. “We were honoured to be described as professional, poised, and polished.”
Their approach was shaped by QUT’s ethos as “the university for the real world.”
“We focused on practical, implementable solutions grounded in analysis, not just theory,” says Jordyn. “We backed our ideas with evidence and real-world case studies to show our strategies could work in practice.”
Their dedication and teamwork paid off, with team Real Consulting taking first place in the competition and Lana winning overall Best Speaker.
The experience was more than a competition - it was a masterclass in collaboration, resilience, and strategic thinking,” says Jordyn.
“One word to summarise the experience? Rewarding.”
