Pointers for Case Competition
• Put yourselves on a schedule and stick to it.
o You’ll tend to think you have “lots of time,” but you really don’t.
o A good night’s rest plays a lot into the way you present and how much
nervousness you reveal to your audience.
• Strive for a formal look and style in slides, dress/attire, posture
o Present yourselves as professionals in the real world (e.g., consultants),
not as students in a case competition speaking to a “pseudo executive
board”
o Gestures should be purposeful and formal
o Chosen Powerpoint template should be conservative in appearance
• Be consistent in using pronouns
o “We” or “You” when referring to the “client company”
• Have a unified look among team members
o For those not speaking, stand/sit in the same place
• Use the “standard” case competition presentation template
o All schools use this
o Judges seem to love it, so when you don’t have it, they notice its absence
• Provide a brief outline of how the presentation will proceed
o Tell who is going to present what part and in what order
• Give your assumptions where necessary
o Important for financial analysis
o Important in laying the foundation for your recommendations
• Use a simple example to illustrate your recommendations
o This may seem “elementary,” but is important for effectively conveying
your ideas
o Helpful with calculations (finance) and conceptual theories that you need
to explain your recommendations and reasoning
• Don’t forget to put in a timeline that shows the stages of your
recommendations
o Shows that you’ve considered the steps involved
o Shows you’re cognizant of the feasibility of your recommendations and
how they fit within the constraints of the firm
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• Strategically use a black screen at various times in the Powerpoint
presentation
o For when you’re changing speakers
o For when you’re addressing the judges and are not referring to the slides
o Why: Provides an effective means of getting the judges to focus on YOU
(neutral background won’t compete for the judges’ attention)
o Practice, practice, practice using the black screen because it looks a lot
easier to do than it really is
o You’ll (likely) be able to use a remote to advance the slides so you won’t
be stuck behind the podium/computer – so stand in front of the black
screen when you want the judges to focus on you
• DON’T USE NOTECARDS, NOTES, ETC.
o Yes, lose them all!
o You will have worked on the case all day and night.
o Know the case, presentation, assumptions, calculations, and
recommendations front and back.
o Conveys an air of confidence in yourselves – which you already have 
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