Graduate Student Teams Shine in Local and International Competitions
November 28, 2025
In recent days, HEC Montréal graduate students have distinguished themselves in two major student competitions.
Challenge Met at Centraide’s Jeux de l’Entraide
An MBA team from HEC Montréal stood out by winning the Communication Challenge during the second edition of the Jeux de l’Entraide, organized by Centraide of Greater Montreal with the support of National Bank of Canada. The team included Véronique Cloutier, Olivier Faure, Salim Guerroumi, Camille Bouchard, Filip Myszak, Mourad Bouaziz, and Hicham Safoine.
This event brought together participants, organizations, and businesses around a common goal: finding concrete solutions to meet the needs of community organizations. During this collaborative competition, teams worked on real-life challenges faced by local organizations, under themes such as human resources, communications, and operations management. Participants had three weeks to propose innovative and feasible ideas, leveraging their skills in strategy, creativity, and leadership.
The HEC Montréal team stood out for its structured approach and commitment to Centraide’s social mission. Their contribution perfectly illustrates the determination of future leaders to combine performance with social responsibility, putting their talents to work for the community.
An Innovative Strategy Rewarded at MIPC
The team composed of Tidiane Deme (M.Sc. – Finance) and Mohamed Bocandé (M.Sc. – Financial Engineering) won the Innovation Award at the prestigious McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC), an international university competition focused on institutional portfolio management.
This year’s case centered on the Finnish pension system. Teams were tasked with designing a long-term portfolio strategy and proposing public policy recommendations to address demographic and sustainability challenges.
Under the supervision of Professor Saad Ali Khan, our team stood out with its strategy entitled “Finnish Forest Regulatory Transition Accelerator”, which transforms a regulatory crisis in Finland’s forestry sector into an attractive investment opportunity. This innovative approach aims to turn regulatory constraints into competitive advantages by deploying patient capital and monetizing ecosystem services, while generating financial returns and promoting biodiversity.
Tidiane Deme and Mohamed Bocandé.
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