Four undergraduate Corvinus students, Henrik Szalay, Kinga Ródler, Réka Ruprecht and  Viktória Blanka Pásztor represented the university at the prestigious HKUST International Case Competition (HKICC) in Hong Kong between 27 September and 3 October. Under the guidance of Balázs Benedek Fejes, the team achieved exceptional results, becoming divisional winners in the 5-hour case and placing 4th in their division for the 24-hour case. The team had been selected based on their excellent performance in Cases on International Business Strategy and other Case Track courses.

Their preparation began in the summer, allowing them to work through multiple cases and participate in workshops on presentation techniques, problem-structuring, and judge-handling.

Kinga Ródler recalled that the team spent considerable time learning to structure solutions clearly, explaining that “we were really working on finding the processes in every company and case to be able to logically build up the flow.” 

Réka Ruprecht emphasized how this period helped refine their thinking, noting that they focused on “what crucial elements can make our solutions unique, business and customer-centric,” while Blanka Pásztor highlighted the importance of aligning the team’s mindset and creating a distinctive slide style.

The 5-hour case, provided by HSBC, explored how AI could support relationship managers in private banking while retaining human touch. Their proposed solution integrated improved data quality with an AI-driven toolkit to empower relationship managers. The jury praised the clarity and structure of their work; as Réka Ruprecht shared, the judges highlighted how logical and simple their messaging was and appreciated the use of relevant industry benchmarks.

The 24-hour case, also from HSBC, focused on enhancing fraud detection capabilities against AI-driven threats such as deepfakes. Although the team approached the challenge with a strong customer-centric logic, the divisional jury favored more technologically detailed solutions. Still, judges commended their clear problem identification and coherent recommendations, noting that their messaging was easy to follow.

The competition also contributed significantly to their personal development. Kinga Ródler noted how eye-opening it was to observe international teams: “I was lucky to see other presentations too and could embrace how differently teams view case solving.” 

For Réka Ruprecht, her first international competition brought a boost in confidence: “Whatever comes, we can – and we will – handle it with high quality.” 

Blanka Pásztor reflected on the broader takeaway, emphasizing that growth comes from openness and learning: “what really matters is the process of learning, the journey of improving and being open to things that others show you.”

Throughout the preparation and competition, the team’s cohesion deepened. Even in moments of fatigue or disagreement, the team remained committed to collaboration; as Réka Ruprecht expressed, “the bond that the preparation created within our team is very strong, and I am more than grateful to them for working together.”

We extend our congratulations to the team and their advisor, Balázs Benedek Fejes, for their outstanding performance. We also thank the Case Track professors, mentors, and alumni for their unwavering support throughout the preparation process. We are excited to carry forward these experiences and insights into future competitions and continue strengthening our presence on the international stage!