Toronto, ON – March 18, 2026 – A team of MBA students from International Business University (IBU) has earned second place at the 2026 Reimagining Women in Leadership Conference and Case Competition, hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) on March 6-7, 2026.
The IBU team, Angenica Afable, Pauline Romualdo, Daria Staroverova, and Alain Junior, competed against MBA students from leading Canadian institutions, including TMU, McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, HEC Montréal, and the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba. The team advanced to the final round, finishing second overall.
A National Platform for Leadership and Strategy
The two-day event brought together MBA students from across Canada to experience practical challenges related to gender equity and leadership representation. The first day featured conference sessions with speakers discussing leadership strategy, organizational equity, and pathways to advancing women into senior roles.
On the second day, teams participated in a case competition that required them to analyze organizational barriers to women’s leadership progression and present actionable recommendations to a panel of judges. Teams were evaluated on analytical depth, solution feasibility, and presentation quality.
IBU Team’s Strategic Approach
The IBU team focused on identifying structural and systemic barriers that impact women’s advancement into leadership roles. Their analysis examined areas such as hiring pipelines, promotion criteria, and performance evaluation systems.
The team proposed practical solutions, including:
- Strengthening formal sponsorship programs to support career advancement
- Creating transparent and standardized promotion pathways
- Addressing structural biases within organizational systems
Their recommendations highlighted practical changes organizations can make to improve leadership representation.
Faculty Support and Applied Learning
The team was guided by Professor Supinder Babra, whose mentorship played a key role in preparing students for the competition. Faculty involvement in case competitions reflects IBU’s approach to integrating applied learning into its MBA programs.
Participation in national competitions provides students with opportunities to develop critical skills in strategic analysis, teamwork, and professional communication under time constraints.
Advancing Industry-Relevant Education
The competition highlighted the importance of applied learning experiences in business education. Through events like this, IBU connects students with broader academic and professional communities while reinforcing practical skills that translate directly into the workplace.
About International Business University (IBU)
International Business University (IBU) is Ontario’s first independent, not-for-profit university exclusively dedicated to business education. Guided by its mission to provide accessible, affordable, and personalized learning, IBU prepares graduates to thrive in a global, purpose-driven economy.
With Centres of Excellence such as the Future Talent Research Institute and the Centre for Sustainable Business, IBU ensures its curriculum is continuously aligned with employer demands and emerging workforce needs. Through small class sizes, industry-engaged faculty, and innovative teaching methods, IBU delivers a graduate education that is practical, globally relevant, and deeply connected to the real world of business.
From its foundation, IBU has integrated sustainability, innovation, and industry collaboration into every program-positioning itself as a forward-looking institution committed to shaping Canada’s next generation of business leaders.
Media Contact at IBU:
For media inquiries, please contact:
Flossy Lobo
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