“The competition was an overall fascinating experience that pushed us to challenge ourselves and test our learning,” says Alexandra Taranenko from the winning team.
NCBE, or the Nordic Championship in Business and Economics, is an annual competition for business and economics students from Finland, Sweden, and Norway. This year’s competition in Stockholm tested participants’ financial and business skills through an academic exam and case tasks that required problem-solving abilities.
Each participating country sends the top three teams from their national championship. From Finland, the top three teams from the BizPotential were sent: Team Boomi from Tampere University, Team KY from Aalto University, and Team Probba from Aalto University’s Mikkeli campus.
The outcome was a celebration for Finland, as, for the first time in the competition’s history, the championship trophies were brought home by Team Probba. The winning team members were Alexandra Taranenko, Nicolas Noel Perheentupa, and Phan Chau Anh Bui. Team Boomi, comprising Immu Koskinen, Noora Myyryläinen, and Pirkka Perkola, secured second place after a highly competitive contest. Team KY, featuring Belinda Puutio, Iulia Peret, and Nirmal Sugavanam, achieved an impressive fourth place.
The Competition Began with an Academic Exam
The first day of the competition kicked off with an academic exam. The teams had two hours to complete the test, which included questions covering all major business subjects.
“From the judge’s perspective, it was truly impressive to see the level of skill among the Nordic business students throughout the weekend. We might even need to make the academic portion a bit more challenging in the coming years, as the competitors demonstrated exceptionally strong knowledge,” commented Lotta Pennala, special adviser in education policy at Suomen Ekonomit and one of the competition’s judges.
Following the exam, the competition’s sponsors, Akavia and Grant Thornton, presented their organizations to the participants. The evening concluded with an international networking dinner.
Day Two: Case Tasks and the Super Final
The second day began with case tasks where creativity and teamwork shone. “You should be boldly creative and seek out-of-the-box solutions,” advises Noora Myyryläinen from Team Boomi.
“We already had experience from the BizPotential in Finland, so we approached the task with a clearer plan. Presenting was stressfull, but I felt proud of myself and my team,” says Iulia Peret from Team KY, recounting their case experience.
Teams Probba and Boomi advanced to the NCBE Gala’s super final, where they tackled multiple-choice questions that demanded quick decision-making in front of the audience. After a fierce competition, Probba emerged victorious.
“One of the biggest lessons is that, in the end, you shouldn’t fear taking risks. Even if you fail, you must keep trying. We didn’t succeed on our first attempt and had no idea we’d end up here,” reflects Nicolas Noel Perheentupa from the winning team.
Suomen Ekonomit congratulate the Finnish teams on their success. Next year’s representatives for NCBE will be selected in the BizPotential competition held in the spring.
More information:
