SMU scores high in business competition

Commerce students place second in ethics competition

Liz Mathews, Stephen Smith, Erin Garner, Chris Mitchell, Andrew Hill, Liam Murphy and Andrew Walker went to the business competition Jan. 8 and 9 in Kingston, Ont. Photo courtesy: Liz Mathews

Saint Mary's University commerce students proved they mean business at a competition held at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., on the weekend.

Seven SMU students made it to the final round of the Inter-Collegiate Business Competition, which, in its 32nd year, is the oldest undergraduate business case competition in Canada. Seventeen other universities also participated.

Liz Mathews and Liam Murphy from SMU took on five other teams to win second place in the ethics event. McGill University students Daniella Marando and Charlotte McLeod took first place.

SMU also competed in the business policy and debating events.

Mathews says she's "ecstatic" about the results.

"To be among the top six (teams), you're with students who are serious about what they want to do," she said. "(It) pushes you to do better, to have higher goals."

Mathews and Murphy had five and a half hours to solve an ethical situation a real company had faced. They presented the case in 15 minutes to a panel of judges - all experts from the business industry.

SMU professor Barry Gorman has been coaching students for the competition for 14 years. He says they're well-prepared, but it's still a challenge.

"When (students) get to these national competitions, they all of a sudden discover that they may very well be A students at their university...(but) they're up against the best students from other universities, and that can be intimidating," he said.

The judges' expectations are also high.

"Hypothetically, these (cases) are recommendations that they would take back to their company on Monday morning," Gorman said.

Ian Grundy co-chaired this year's competition. He says the students who participate view their success as a reflection on their university.

"(That's) the driving force behind why the competition is so intense," he said. "I'm always amazed at the school pride at this event."

For Mathews, the competition was also a great opportunity to network with other students, faculty and corporate sponsors. Some former SMU students were recruited to national business organizations straight from the final round.

But Gorman says the biggest reward for students is to realize their skills outside of the classroom.

Erin Garner competed on the SMU business policy team. She couldn't agree more.

"It was great motivation to prove to myself that when push came to shove, I could perform, which is what I'll need to do in my upcoming career," she said.

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