“I’ve been involved with the Case Competition almost since its inception—initially as a student volunteer, and for many years now as a judge and lead judge. It remains one of the most inspiring and rewarding activities I participate in each year.

Held every January, just after the busy holiday season and often when spirits tend to dip, the competition offers a refreshing boost. It brings together bright, energetic students from around the world, each offering fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.

 Equally enriching is the camaraderie among the judges—many of whom have become long-standing friends, alongside new and fascinating colleagues we meet each year. It’s an event I look forward to and try never to miss. For me, it sets a positive and energizing tone for the year ahead.”

–  Mackie I. Vadacchino, Corporate Director

“Year after year, I am constantly impressed by the high level of business skills the students bring to the competition. A showcase that should not be missed by professionals either in the academic or business communities.”
– Stephen Sharp, Senior Vice President, Waygar Capital Inc.

“Being lead judge at this one-of-a-kind event has been among the most rewarding experiences of my career.”
– Serge Helou, Director of Strategy, CAE

2026 Judges Guide

Each year, the John Molson MBA International Case Competition (ICC) brings together top MBA students from around the world to tackle real-world business challenges. We invite experienced professionals to serve as judges and evaluate presentations based on strategic insight, analytical rigor, and communication clarity. 

We are committed to assembling a dynamic, diverse, and experienced panel of judges for the 2026 competition, which will take place January 4–9, 2026 in Montreal. Judges are selected based on their professional expertise, active engagement in their field, and alignment with the values of fairness, collaboration, and open-minded evaluation.

Judges will assess live presentations delivered by MBA students, who analyze original, unpublished business cases written specifically for the competition. Each panel is responsible for evaluating team performance based on strategic thinking, analytical depth, relevance of alternatives and recommendations, quality and breadth of action plans and supporting financials, overall creativity and clarity of communication, ensuring a rigorous and balanced scoring process. 

Professional Background

To qualify as a judge, individuals must:

    -Hold a senior leadership or decision-making role (e.g., C-level executive, VP, director, senior or middle-management).

    -Be actively engaged in their professional field (beyond board memberships), and not fully retired for more than five years.

  -Have expertise in business domains such as finance, operations, marketing, HR, strategy, technology, or legal affairs, entrepreneurship, supply chain management, innovation, sustainability, data analytics, digital transformation, or international business.

    -Have up-to-date experience and insight into today’s complex business landscape, including areas such as AI and digital transformation, ESG and sustainability (including decarbonization and global warming), geopolitical and regulatory risk, DEI and workforce evolution, ethical business practices, cybersecurity, and the impact of misinformation, stakeholder capitalism, agile leadership, behavioral economics, crisis and resilience management, platform and gig economy dynamics, corporate innovation, and responsible AI and automation.

    -Be comfortable using standard digital tools for pre-event coordination and training. 

Personal Attributes

    -Be committed, reliable, open-minded, and aligned with ICC values.

    -Exercise sound judgment, remain unbiased, and maintain impartiality.

    -Listen actively, provide constructive feedback, and engage respectfully.

    -Embrace collaboration and not let ego get in the way.

    -Demonstrate openness to diverse perspectives and cultural diversity.

    -Be fluent in English (bilingualism is an asset).

    -Be capable of analyzing financial and strategic data effectively.

    -Evaluate not only content, but also the clarity and impact of student presentations.

Why Become a Judge

   -Network with industry leaders, connect with senior professionals, executives, and thought leaders from diverse sectors in a dynamic and collegial environment.

    -Hear fresh perspectives on real-world business challenges and gain exposure to how future leaders approach strategy, innovation, and leadership.

    -Have the possibility to request early access (AFTER the competition) to résumés from highly motivated MBA students—a valuable advantage for those seeking talent or future collaborators.

    -Be part of a world-class event that brings together participants from six continents and celebrates excellence in business education.

    -Share your experience and insights while helping to shape the next generation of decision-makers.

We hope you’ll consider joining us as a judge for ICC 2026—an opportunity to connect, contribute, and grow.

You can find the ICC rules here.

You can register as a judge here. Upon selection, you will be contacted regarding the next steps after September.

For any other inquiries, feel free to contact us:

judges@mbacasecomp.com