Business Society: VP of Competitions

Hey, I'm Sarp. I’m putting myself forward for VP of Competitions because after this year as First Year Representative of Director, I’ve realised UCL students are passionately competitive about everything, so we might as well channel that energy into something useful. Competitions are one of the best ways to actually apply what we learn, meet new people, and occasionally realise consulting cases are harder than they look on YouTube and lectures.

I’d love to help run competitions that are both challenging and genuinely fun, from classic case competitions to more creative formats that get people thinking differently. I also want to make sure they’re accessible to everyone, not just people who’ve already done ten case interviews and have 5 different consulting internships.

My goal is just to make them engaging, well-run, and actually worth signing up for, the kind of competitions where people leave thinking “okay that was actually pretty fun” or "I can see myself doing this in the future."

Confession: I didn’t fall in love with Business Society because of the talks. I did because of the competitions.

Nothing accelerates your confidence at UCL faster than being thrown into a room, given a messy problem, and told: Figure it out.

Over the past year, I’ve actively competed in Business Society competitions and placed among the top teams. More importantly, I’ve seen both sides: what makes competitions exciting and career-shaping… and what quietly holds participation back.

If elected, my mission is simple: make competitions the engine of Business Society.

How will I do it?

1. More accessible entry points (especially for first-timers): Too many capable students hesitate to apply. I will introduce beginner-friendly prep sessions and live team-matching so more members actually step in and try.
2. Higher-stakes, higher-energy flagship competitions: Stronger partner outreach and tighter event design so our competitions feel competitive and genuinely worth preparing for.
3. Clear progression for returning competitors: From first case -> advanced rounds -> external competitions. Members shouldn’t compete once and disappear; they should level up!

I see competitions as the fastest way to build analytical thinking, confidence under pressure, and real stories for internships ;)

If you want competitions that feel sharper and more genuinely impactful, I would truly value your vote.

Let’s make Business Society competitions the place where people prove themselves.

— Rustam

I am standing for VP of Competitions because competitions are one of the most effective ways students can develop practical business skills. Through participating in consulting case competitions, DECA competitions, and strategy simulations, I have experienced how working under time pressure to analyse a problem, build a clear strategy, and present recommendations pushes teams to think logically and communicate clearly. During these competitions, participants must quickly identify the key issue, evaluate different options, and justify a structured solution. Because of this process, competitions help students develop analytical thinking, teamwork, and confidence when presenting ideas. Having benefited from these experiences myself, I want to expand these opportunities within the Business Society.

If elected, I would focus on organising well-structured internal competitions that allow members to practise case solving and business analysis. At the same time, I would aim to connect members with external competitions, helping teams represent the society more widely. By creating accessible entry points for beginners while also supporting more advanced competitors, I would aim to build a strong and active competition culture within the society.