Rivonia, Sandton - 19/10/2016 - The much anticipated and compelling CFO Case Study Competition finally unfolded, unpacking enormous and intricate business problems for the local and international teams to solve. The competition took place for two consecutive days at the JSE for the semi-finals (13 Oct 2016) and at the Finance Indaba Africa (Sandton Convention Centre) for the finals (14 Oct 2016).

 “The Case Study Competition is something that Africa has been waiting for, it is high time our students got in touch with the rest of the world and stepped outside the classroom to find themselves in the Global Business environment, this competition enables them to do that and I fully support it.” –Emmarentia Bweupe, High Commission of the Republic of Zambia & the 1st Secretary of Education (SA).

Six Teams from 5 countries: Indonesia, Ghana, Australia, Zambia and South Africa went head-to-head for top spot at the global semi-finals on the 13th of October 2016. With emotions running high and judges needing to make a difficult decision, the teams

were sent on a tour to experience what we call Jozi Maboneng, the City that never sleeps, Johannesburg and then they were off to dinner later that night buying judges more time to make the excruciating decision. The following day Team Allez Consulting (Australia), Team Athena (Zambia) and Team Snipers (Ghana) were announced as the successful teams and were then given yet another challenge, to solve the second part of the MCOM Telecommunications Case Study which presented yet another set of real business problems, the twist this time was the urgency to solve these problems locked away in a room in no more than 3 hours! This undoubtedly saw the making of tough, determined and extraordinary Future CFOs.

The unsuccessful teams were briefed and consulted by some of the most influential finance executives who served as judges namely Fabian Cazares, CFO of Philips - Southern Africa, Professor Cosmas Ambe of the University of Limpopo, Bukkie Adewuyi, Director & Partner of SNG and of course the Visionary himself Valentine Nti, CEO of The CharterQuest Insti

tute and Founder Of The CFO Case Study Competition, the briefing was crucial for the development of the unsuccessful teams and was handled with a high level of importance. Serving as Judges at the Finals was some of Africa’s most powerful Business and Finance Executives namely, Group CFO of Telesure Jo-Ann Pohl, CFO of Philips Southern Africa Fabian Cazares, CFO of JSE Aarti Takoordeen, and Chief Judge, Group CFO of Telkom SA, Deon Fredericks. The time came for the Top 3 (Australia, Zambia and Ghana) to state their cases, put their best feet forward and impress the judges. The judges deliberated and finally came down to a decision, a decision that would change one team’s lives and careers forever. After over 9months of competing against 319 other teams and 52 other Universities from across the world, Zambia was the last team standing, taking home ZAR100,000, and the coveted title of The CharterQuest Future CFOs & Business Leaders 2016. 

Congratulations Team Athena from the Copperbelt University in Zambia; your futures start today!