Newsletters
Episode 1: How to Get Started with a Solution - So What?
May 31, 2024 As a case-solving coach, I had the opportunity to attend the Global Circularity Cha...
Episode 2: The Problem Statement - Keep it Simple and Concise
June 14, 2024 In this article, I will discuss problem identification. First, it's crucial to ask...
Episode 3: Getting Consensus on the Problem
June 28, 2024 Throughout my experience coaching over 300 case-solving teams, I've found that sta...
Episode 4: Building the Analysis to Support a Solution
July 11, 2024 In this episode, the focus is on establishing strong evidence and analysis to supp...
Episode 5: SWOT is a Great Tool if it is Used Right
July 18, 2024 Teams frequently miss the mark when utilising SWOT Analysis and fail to deliver si...
Episode 6: Tying the Recommendation and Implementation Plan Together
July 25, 2024 In my years of coaching case-solving teams, I consistently emphasise the crucial i...
Episode 7: Risk and Mitigation, and Future Considerations: Some Words of Caution
August 1, 2024 In my experience, I've noticed some common mistakes when teams present their Risk...
Episode 8: Ending on a High Note
August 9, 2024 As you prepare to conclude your presentation, the wrap-up phase is your final cha...
Episode 9: Communication is Key to Successful Case Solving and the Q&A
August 15, 2024 In a recent discussion, my colleague asked her LinkedIn network for advice on te...
Episode 10/11: Little Used Powerful Case Solving Tools
August 21, 2024 There are a variety of tools that can be utilised to construct an analysis for c...
Episode 12: Teamwork and Process Trump Content Early in the Training Cycle
September 13, 2024 This week, I initially planned to explore the art of storytelling, but I've d...
Episode 13: The Art of Storytelling in Case-Solving
September 20, 2024 When I first engage with my case-solving teams, I often notice a disconnect b...
Episode 14: Thinking About Strategy when Case-Solving
September 27, 2024 This week, I'm excited to delve into the crucial topic of strategic thinking ...
Episode 15: What Does Strategy Development Look Like in the Resolution Phase?
October 2, 2024 In the previous episode, I delved into the diverse strategies and offered valuab...
Episode 16: Lessons from the Other Side, What Judges May Be Looking for?
October 21, 2024 This past week, I spent judging teams from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico proposin...
Episode 17: Building Communication Mad Skills: Some of the Basics
October 26, 2024 Over the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of watching students present ...
Episode 18: Advice for Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
October 31, 2024 Building strong relationships is essential for effective teamwork and successfu...
Episode 19-21: Reflections on Developing Leadership Skills in Aspiring Young Professionals
November 7, 2024 Last week, I attended a gathering where a friend asked me about the biggest rew...
Episode 22: Building a Cohesive Story, Balancing the Story and the Structure
December 3, 2024 This week, I spent time guest coaching a case-solving team and advising student...
Episode 23: What Are Mad Skills?
December 11, 2024 As I embark on the next chapter of my life and prepare for exciting new projec...
Episode 24: Reflection - A MAD SKILL Leadership Skill
January 3, 2025 In the last days before my emeritus designation takes effect, I continue to rece...
Episode 25/26: A Weekend at JDC West 2025
January 15, 2025 This past weekend, I had the opportunity to observe several academic stream pre...
Episode 27: Some Thoughts on Reading and Resolving the Case
February 12, 2025 Over the past few weekends, I have had the opportunity to judge and mentor at ...
Episode 28: The Importance of Being an Authentic Storyteller in Your Communication
February 26, 2025 Over the past week, I have been reading Dr Michael Gerharz's posts about the i...
Episode 29: Making Sure Q&A Is Consistent with Your Authentic Story
March 12, 2025 In my upcoming workshop for The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, I will discuss ...
Episode 30: Design Mindsets for Design Thinking
March 26, 2025 One of the key skills that helps teams develop their ideas is design thinking, wh...
Episode 31: Managing Nervousness When You Present
April 9, 2025 During a recent workshop, one of the students asked me how to manage nervousness w...
Episode 32: Having Uncomfortable Conversations
April 23, 2025 In business education, there is often a reluctance to engage in what a recent pos...
Episode 33: Case-Solving Success Factors
May 7, 2025 Over my two decades of coaching case-solving teams, I have coached 301 teams at var...
Episode 34: Case-Solving Team Building for Success
May 21, 2025 The two questions I frequently receive from coaches at both other schools and my ow...
Episode 35: Language - The Key to Communicating Your Solution
June 4, 2025 The language used to communicate your message is very important. Over my two decad...
Episode 36: Observations as a Mentor and Judge
A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to talk with Ph.D. students in the GradProSkills (Conco...
Episode 37: Creating a Mic Drop Moment
In a recent post, Oliver Aust discussed unforgettable endings for speeches. This is a topic I hav...
Episode 38: Structure Leads to Better Stories
In October 2024, I had the pleasure of judging the Collegiate Ethics Case Competition at the Univ...
Episode 39: The Team Debrief: A Coach's View
A few weeks ago, Ben Cohen shared an interesting post on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/posts...
Episode 40: An Opinion: Case Solving Competitions and AI
I continue to serve on several coaches' advisory boards for case-solving competitions. Before my...
Episode 41: Rephrasing Three Days Back in the Classroom
Last week, I resumed teaching the case course at the Haskayne School of Business. This time, it w...
Episode 42: What is Upcoming?
Over the past year, I have been working on my retirement plan. This journey began a few years ago...
Episode 43: Making the Presentation Connect with your Audience
Recently, Oliver Aust shared a post about the ten most common presentation mistakes. This inspire...
Episode 44: The Case for the Art of Storytelling
A few weeks ago, Simon Sinek posted his answer to a question that asked him to summarise the art ...
Episode 45: Observations from the Past Two Weeks
The past couple of weeks have seen me conducting case-solving workshops for The Hong Kong Polytec...
Episode 46: Future Core Skills and Knowledge in the ERA of AI
Recently, numerous posts have circulated, citing the WEF’s Core Skills in 2030 found in their “Fu...
Episode 47: Helping High-Performance Teams Perform
In a recent post, Tash Marshall Bean discussed a concept she calls “feedforward.” This resonated ...
Episode 48: How to Pass on Mad Skills in the Age of AI
In recent weeks, I have come across several posts discussing the role of post-secondary education...
Episode 49: Advice for the Upcoming Case-Solving Winter Season
Welcome to 2026. When I was teaching, the new year marked the start of 4 months of heavy travel a...
Episode 50: Future Skills: A Classroom Requirement
In recent weeks, my professional feeds have been filled with thoughtful conversations about the n...
Episode 51: What I Learned From 6 Intense Hours of Judging MBA Teams
This past week, I had the privilege of mentoring and judging WXP Europe. This virtual competition...
Episode 52: Becoming AI-Resilient: What I Saw in the Green Room
February 18, 2026 If we want AI-resilient graduates, we can’t just talk about disruption. ...
Episode 53: 302 Teams. 180+ Podiums. 5 Lessons That Still Win.
March 4, 2026 After 20+ years coaching and mentoring over 300 case teams at the Universi...
Episode 54: Why a 4.0 GPA Got Zero Interviews (And What Actually Turns Heads)
March 18, 2026 Sebastian Tsang recently dropped a raw, eye-opening post on LinkedIn that...
Episode 55: Feeling Anxious is 100% Normal
Two of the best skills you pick up from case competitions aren't solving the actual case. They're...
Episode 56: Don't Boil the Ocean: The #1 Advice That Separates Winning Teams from the Rest
Over the years of coaching teams for case-solving competitions, if you asked any of my team membe...
Episode 57: Why Case Teams Lose Even When Their Solution Is Strong: The Missing “Moment” That Judges Remember
Too many teams deliver a great solution but leave the real impact in the resolution room. Here’s ...
Episode 58: Why Case Teams Sound Inconsistent on Stage: The Simple Tool That Fixes It
The best teams deliver a unified, high-energy, emotionally connected performance. Most teams don’...
Episode 59: The Missing Ingredient in Modern Education: Real Confidence
The biggest reward I get as a case-solving coach isn’t when a student finally cracks a complex pr...
Episode 60: How to Design Practice Environments That Actually Build Real Confidence
In the last episode, I talked about the missing piece in education: real confidence isn’t built t...
Episode 61: The Best Lessons From Case Competitions Rarely Come From the Case
The real value of case competitions is not the case. It's the person you become through the proce...
Episode 62: The Problem With Most Personas in Case Competitions
A few weeks ago, Anna Mykheieva made some great points about the use of personas, and it got me t...
Episode 63: Deciphering Cases: The Problem Isn't Time. It's Focus.
"Time doesn't create clarity. Strategic choices do." Over the past few weeks, I've been working ...