Exploring a World of Opportunities, one business idea at a time

Feb. 26, 2025

What happens when you bring together bright young minds, a global perspective, and a challenge to uncover the next international business opportunity? You get World of Opportunities (WOO). Part of BU491, Strategic Management in the Global Context, WOO immerses fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics in the complexities of international markets.  

Each student group is assigned a country and tasked with identifying a promising business opportunity in that market that Canadian companies can seize. This isn’t just a theoretical exercise; it’s a deep dive into economic landscapes, industry trends, and the social impacts of global business expansion. 

The highlight of the assignment is the WOO Conference, which took place on Friday, Feb. 7. In winter term, students explored 79 countries, uncovering investment ideas that could drive economic growth, create jobs, and foster innovation worldwide. By identifying ventures that drive economic and social change, students gain invaluable insights into international markets while proving they have what it takes to shape the future of business on a global scale. 

Acting as economic development officers, they examined local industries, assessed risks, and crafted compelling cases for Canadian businesses to expand internationally. But they didn’t stop there—students also analyzed how these opportunities could uplift communities, improve infrastructure, and promote sustainability.  

Delivering their findings in a polished executive summary and a visually engaging poster, students participated in a dynamic trade-show style conference, where judges and students mingled throughout the auditorium, engaging with teams while reviewing posters, listening to presentations, and participating in discussions. Additionally, a peer evaluation element added another layer of insight and feedback.  

The competition was intense, with teams vying for recognition through the Experts’ Choice and People’s Choice awards. The experience mirrors real-world business pitches, sharpening students’ skills in market analysis, strategic planning, and public speaking. 

A special thank you to the 48 faculty, alumni, and graduate student judges who supported the event, dedicating their time and expertise to evaluating the students’ work and providing valuable feedback. Their involvement was instrumental in making the conference a meaningful and impactful experience for all participants. 

Congratulations to all participants for their hard work, creativity, and strategic thinking in identifying global business opportunities. A special shoutout to the winning teams who stood out with their exceptional research, innovative ideas, and compelling presentations! Your hard work and strategic thinking have set a high bar for future participants, and we celebrate your achievements in making a meaningful impact on global business.  

Experts’ Choice: 1st Place – Saudi Arabia 

Team: Simran Bassi, Chloe Dickson, Bryan Jones, Logan Lehecka (Marketing), Ben Osmond (Finance), Amy Strader (Strategic Management) 

Team Saudi Arabia won first place for their solution that identified opportunities in commercial real estate and construction, driven by Vision 2030.  

"The government’s investment in infrastructure is creating demand for residential, commercial, and hospitality developments,” noted Lehecka. "These large-scale projects attract foreign investment, stimulate growth in tourism, and create thousands of jobs for local workers, supporting long-term prosperity. Canadian firms can tap into a fast-growing market." 

Osmond added, “The growth in the commercial real estate industry will generate employment opportunities, support business and tourism growth, and enhance the standard of living.”

The team appreciated the trade-show style presentation, highlighting the interactive format, real-time feedback, and diverse panel of judges that made it feel like a real pitch. Strader noted, “This experience allowed us to showcase our business knowledge alongside what we learned about Saudi Arabia in an integrated setting. It was inspiring to learn from peers and judges while seeing classmates’ skills and insights shine.”  

Experts’ Choice: 2nd Place – Oman 

Team: Matthew Babich (Finance), Natalie Bazouzi (Sustainability), Andrew Behan (Entrepreneurship), Zachary Karam, Audrey Zhang 

Oman earned second place for its exploration of the solar energy sector, aligned with its economic diversification goals.  

Babich remarked: “Oman is positioning itself as a future hub for foreign investment in solar energy.”  

Bazouzi noted: "The Omani government’s focus on renewables creates opportunities through incentives and policy shifts."  

The team’s solution recognized how solar energy could create jobs and enhance energy security, while presenting a market for expertise in solar technology that Canadian companies. Canadian companies can contribute to Oman’s green energy transition through infrastructure development, engineering, and energy management. 

Reflecting on the experience of presenting to judges, the team appreciated the diversity of backgrounds and the different viewpoints each conversation brought to the solution.  

Babich shared that the experience was both challenging and rewarding: “It exposed me to the true importance of adaptability in uncertainty and precise communication to convey ideas concisely.”  

Reflecting on their WOO experience, Behan noted it was different from previous assignments and expressed appreciation for the unique learning opportunities embedded throughout the Lazaridis BBA program, saying: “I thought it was great. Not only do we get all the in-class learning, but these kinds of conferences offer a different approach to learning and different experiences.” 

Experts’ Choice: 3rd Place (tie) – Indonesia 

Team: Adhiraj Chauhan, Zachary Meihm-Guistini, Enzo Paje, Gurbinder Singh Bains (Finance), Sunny Soni, Jason Wong (Marketing) 

Indonesia’s team focused on geothermal energy, highlighting its untapped potential.  

Singh Bains shared: “Indonesia holds 40 per cent of the world’s geothermal reserves, but only 10 per cent is harnessed.” The country’s growing energy demand and its net-zero commitments create a significant opportunity for sustainable geothermal energy, the team felt.  

The team identified the potential for Canadian firms specializing in renewable energy technologies to establish profitable partnerships while sharing expertise with the Indonesian market. They said the partnership could also provide opportunities for Canada to advance its own clean energy transition by learning from Indonesia's geothermal industry. 

Reflecting on their experience, they found it challenging but rewarding, emphasizing real-world exposure to investment challenges, and the integration of feedback and networking opportunities.  

Experts’ Choice: 3rd Place (tie) – New Zealand 

Team: Daniel Brokhman (Finance), Spencer Griffiths (Marketing), Jonathan Groisman (Finance), William Huang, Cameron Richardson (Finance), Serena Su (Marketing) 

The New Zealand team identified opportunities in renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, solar, and green hydrogen production.  

Richardson noted: “New Zealand’s net-zero commitment and favorable legislation create opportunities in renewable energy.”  

Their recommendation emphasized the economic benefits, such as faster, more efficient municipal grid power.  

Brokhman said: "Hydrogen production on a large scale can help power local municipal grids faster and more efficiently. Allowing companies to reduce GHG emissions and refuel more efficiently." The team also pointed to job creation for New Zealand's Māori population, ensuring long-term benefits.  

The team found the WOO experience valuable for networking and enhancing presentation skills. Reflecting on their experience, Griffiths shared: "The free-flowing format allowed us to adapt our presentation and make small adjustments depending on the type of questions asked by the judges, and creating a large poster ‘scratched a creative itch’ and gave every group a unique personality.”  

Groisman added: "The multiple opportunities to present ensured that our grade wasn’t overly impacted by a single mistake, reducing the pressure and allowing us to speak more confidently."   

People’s Choice: Slovakia 

Team: Maria Akbari-Muia (Accounting), Caitlin Aseerwatham (Accounting), Shreya Dalal, Ryan Jobby (Marketing), Emma Roberts, Greg Waters (Marketing) 

The People’s Choice Award, voted by their peers, went to Slovakia, where the team identified an opportunity in the Agri-Tech sector.  

Dalal highlighted: “Our key opportunity was bringing technology like precision farming with drones and AI to modernize Slovakia’s agriculture.”  

Jobby added, “Slovakia has 48 per cent farmland but relies on traditional methods. Agri-Tech can increase efficiency.”  

Their solution emphasized sustainability and the potential for job creation. Roberts noted: “Precision farming helps reduce resource waste, leading to profitability and new jobs.”  

Reflecting on their experience, Akbari said: "It was wonderful engaging with professors and classmates. We had creative control over our presentation."  

Waters added: “Engaging with diverse judges refined our presentation skills.” Their solution also recognized that Slovakia has lower labour costs, making it a hotspot for outsourcing, and the average farm size is five times larger than the EU average." 

Of the assignment, Waters concluded: "It was a great learning experience that strengthened our teamwork, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.”