Meet the 2024 ESSEC Global MBA Team Taking on the Harvard Business Case Competition

The competition provides an opportunity for participants to analyze complex scenarios, develop solutions, and present recommendations to a panel of judges. It offers students practical experience, networking opportunities, and unparalleled opportunities to connect with industry professionals, renowned academics, and fellow participants from around the globe, further enriching the competition experience.  It serves as a dynamic arena for the application of theoretical knowledge to practical situations, fostering a culture of strategic innovation and collaborative problem-solving among future leaders.

This year’s ESSEC Business School team made up of participants from the Global MBA program is ready to enter the competition. Let’s meet this year’s brilliant team players!

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Jenny (Wenjing) Yin

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I'm Jenny (Wenjing) Yin, currently pursuing my MBA at ESSEC Business School in France. With nearly 5 years in marketing consultancy, I was a senior analyst with Accenture, advising on brand marketing strategy and digital transformation for clients. I'm a person who is driven by curiosity and enjoys collaborating with teams and clients. Outside work, I love traveling—I spent a year backpacking in Australia—and staying active through workouts and tennis.

Why did you want to be part of it as a current GMBA participant?

My career plan is to continue working in consulting after completing my MBA, where we have extensively studied corporate strategy, finance, and consulting case studies. Participating in the Harvard Case Competition presents a tremendous opportunity for me to both test and showcase my skills, especially as we compete against students from the most prestigious schools worldwide. Additionally, it offers us a platform to exchange inspirational ideas and academic knowledge with professionals. On a personal note, I've yet to visit the US, so I'm particularly excited to represent my school at this international event in Boston. It's a chance to demonstrate our professional skills and academic achievements, marking a significant milestone in my MBA journey.

What do you hope to get out of it? 

During the competition, my primary goal is to continue sharpening my case-solving skills while embracing the challenge of navigating life and work under pressure. I see it as an opportunity to further develop my ability to collaborate effectively within a team setting. Additionally, I aim to expand my social network and connect with professionals from various countries, understanding that such interactions can offer valuable insights and opportunities for growth.

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Jacob Zachariah

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I’m from Kerala, India and hold a Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering. I am a participant of the ESSEC Global MBA program specializing in Strategy and Digital Leadership. Prior to moving to Paris for the MBA, I worked at Accenture for 13 years as an expert in Process Consulting, Product Management and Technology Consulting. I love sports and have played competitive football for a large part of my life. 

Why did you want to be part of it as a current GMBA participant?

Joining the GCCH as a current GMBA participant is about pushing my limits, testing my skills in a high-pressure environment, immersing myself in a transformative experience, and representing ESSEC with pride. This competition will be a testing ground for everything I've learned in the program, pushing me to grow and discover new dimensions of my capabilities. It's also a chance to contribute to the legacy of ESSEC by showcasing the calibre of its students. Ultimately, the GCCH is more than just a competition, it's an opportunity for me and the team to learn, refine our skills, and emerge as stronger, more well-rounded individuals.

What do you hope to get out of it? 

Bringing home the trophy for ESSEC would be awesome, but the main thing is pushing ourselves against top competitors. The GCCH will be a pressure cooker for our problem-solving skills, making us sharper and more confident. We'll meet amazing people, from fellow students to industry experts, and build connections that could last a lifetime. These conversations and friendships could even lead to future collaborations and opportunities. But let's not forget the memories! The experiences will stay with us forever, shaping who we become as individuals and professionals.
So yes, we want to win. But even more, we want to walk away from the GCCH as a stronger team, full of knowledge, new connections, and unforgettable memories that will fuel our future.

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Tristan Canovas

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I am Tristan, and I am from Paris. I have worked 7 years at VINCI, supporting major international firms in their digital transformation. I am currently enrolled in the Global MBA at ESSEC, focusing particularly on Strategy and Digital Leadership. My goal is to enhance my skills in making impactful strategic decisions within the business world. I visited the Harvard Campus in 2012, it will be an honor for me to go there again.

Why did you want to be part of it as a current GMBA participant?

My desire to join the Harvard Global Case Competition is linked to my ambition to pivot into strategic consulting. It perfectly aligns with the program of the Global MBA Strategy and Digital Leadership at ESSEC. The Harvard Case Competition presents an ideal opportunity to immerse myself in a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment and to learn from challenging real-world business cases. It also represents for me an additional and valuable international experience, complementing my upcoming term in Singapore. Engaging in this competition will provide a global perspective, essential for my career in strategic consulting.

What do you hope to get out of it?

From the Harvard Case Competition, I hope to learn a lot about finance and hone my analytical and strategic skills. This experience will also provide a platform for networking with industry professionals and peers, enabling me to build valuable connections for my future career in strategic consulting. This challenge is also a great chance to work with other students from the cohort again before I move to Singapore.

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Rachit Singhal

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

My academic journey has been complemented by robust practical experiences, particularly in project management and business analysis within the IT sector. During my four years of work experience in IT, I held roles of increasing responsibility, which equipped me with invaluable skills and insights. As a Project Manager at InfoAxon Technologies, a global IT company, I led cross-cultural teams in delivering digital solutions to prominent clients in the BFSI sector. Prior to my role as a Project Manager, I served as a Business Analyst at InfoAxon, where I honed my skills in requirements gathering, high-level design, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. I played a pivotal role in creating clear Business Requirements Documents (BRDs) and Technical Specifications Documents (TSDs), demonstrating my commitment to efficiency and quality in project delivery.

Why did you want to be part of it as a current GMBA participant?

As a current GMBA participant, I saw the Harvard Global Case Competition as an unparalleled opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout my program in a practical setting. Moreover, the prestige associated with competing at Harvard, the networking opportunities offered by the competition, and the chance to represent ESSEC Business School on the global level were additional incentives for me to participate. Looking ahead to my future career aspirations, I am targeting roles in strategic consulting and digital transformations consulting. Participating in the Harvard Global Case Competition not only aligns with these aspirations but also provides a platform to further develop the skills and competencies essential for success in these fields.

What do you hope to get out of it? 

Participating in the Harvard Global Case Competition is about immersing myself in an experience that will stretch my limits, challenge my assumptions, and ultimately shape me into a more resilient and capable professional. First and foremost, I see this competition as an opportunity for personal growth, expand my problem-solving skills, and deepen my strategic thinking. Furthermore, I'm eager to seize the chance to broaden my network and forge connections with industry professionals and fellow participants. The real-world nature of the case challenges presented in the competition offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Ultimately, participating in the Harvard Global Case Competition is about seizing every opportunity for growth, learning, and connection, and carrying those lessons forward as I continue on my path toward achieving my aspirations in strategic consulting and digital transformations consulting roles.

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Georges Karam

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I am Georges, From Lebanon. I have a master’s in biomedical engineering, worked in medical equipment and the healthcare industry for 8 years in Lebanon and Mali.
I am currently following the strategy and digital leadership program at ESSEC to develop my managerial and business skills and knowledge.

Why did you want to be part of it as a current GMBA participant?

I had my eye and researched this competition since ESSEC's good performance and results last year.
I am fully aware of the importance of delivering good results in this competition and the importance of being finalists and why not winning. This will give our school the status we deserve and the recognition as a top finalist that reflects the world-class level of education we are having. And I believe my skills and knowledge will help the team in achieving our goal.

What do you hope to get out of it? 

I see this competition not only as an opportunity to showcase my skills and knowledge but also as a valuable learning experience. I am eager to engage with the case study, immerse myself in the challenges presented, and emerge with new insights and perspectives that will contribute to my personal and professional growth.
This opportunity will allow me to develop my consulting skills to learn more about finance and M&A and an opportunity to represent ESSEC in the most prestigious competition among business schools.

Want to know more about the Global MBA?

• Visit the program page
• Download the program brochure
• Talk about your project with a Program Advisor