Eight student teams competed at the third annual UCR Women In Business (WIB) Case Competition on Feb. 22, organized by the student-run WIB within the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM). The annual competition has quickly become one of the most anticipated student-led events at the School of Business, drawing interest from MBA and PMBA students eager to test their business knowledge, communication skills, and ability to perform under pressure.
“The case study competition is a valuable learning opportunity for participants,” says Pooja Bhatia ’25 MBA, president of WIB, who helped organize the event. For Bhatia and the WIB leadership team, the event was not only about competition but also about providing their peers with a platform to practice problem-solving in a setting that closely mirrors professional consulting and business strategy environments.
Preparation for the competition began in mid-January, when all competitors attended two structured seminars. “The seminars help students navigate case competitions and to step into the role of consultant—learning to be interview ready and industry competent,” adds Bhatia. These sessions served as both training and community building, giving participants a chance to collaborate with peers, exchange ideas, and refine their presentation skills before the formal challenge began.
For the competition itself, participants were given a Harvard real-world business case study just 24 hours before the 9 a.m. call time. At that moment, all teams were required to stop their preparation and assemble in person at the UCR School of Business Building. The compressed timeline ensured that students had to work quickly and efficiently, balancing thorough analysis with clear, concise communication. That morning, the teams presented their solutions before a distinguished panel of judges: David Ayrapetyan ’22 MBA, influence marketing associate at Esri; UCR School of Business Professor of Practice Sean Jasso, the WIB club’s faculty adviser; Alliant International University Professor Erick Jensen; and Viresha Perera ’22 MBA, employment-based visas manager at the Immigration Law Offices of Hadley Bajramovic. Each judge brought a unique perspective, ensuring that students’ ideas were evaluated on multiple dimensions, including strategic soundness, innovation, and presentation style
The winning teams were celebrated for their strong analyses and confident delivery. The first-place $300 prize was awarded to Kinshuk Agarwal, Charchika Bansal, Ayush Holania, and Surbhi Kwatra. The second-place $150 prize went to Shrujal Agarwal, Shubham Lai, and Vaibhav Soni. The third-place $100 prize was awarded to Sahair Akber, Justin Berkmor, Anshuman Chiplunkar, and Pary Townson. These awards recognized not only the effort put into the 24-hour preparation but also the months of learning and practice leading up to the event.
Faculty adviser Jasso commended the WIB leaders—including Bhatia, Shivani Bharadwaj ’25 PMBA, and Devyani Mishra ’25 PMBA—for their leadership in organizing the event and creating an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience. By combining classroom concepts with real-world application, the competition allowed participants to see how academic lessons in strategy, finance, and leadership translate into actionable solutions for complex business problems.
“The competition was limited to AGSM teams with no entry fee during its first three years,” says Bhatia. This approach ensured that the event remained accessible to all students, regardless of financial background, and emphasized inclusivity as a core value of the WIB organization. “Looking ahead, the vision is to expand it into an inter-college competition for our fourth year.” By opening the doors to other universities, WIB leaders hope to broaden the reach of the event, foster collaboration across institutions, and further position UCR as a leader in experiential business education.
Beyond the immediate results, the case competition highlighted the strength of the UCR School of Business community. It demonstrated how student-run organizations like WIB can take the initiative to design experiences that are academically rigorous, professionally relevant, and personally rewarding. For many participants, the competition was not only a chance to showcase their skills but also to build lasting friendships, expand professional networks, and gain confidence in their ability to contribute to the business world.