Dhillon School of Business team places second at HRC West 2025

Four Dhillon School of Business students — Nikki Neave, Mmesoma Ezebuala, Chine Rajafa and Deon Davidson — recently put their human resource (HR) skills to the test at HRC West 2025, a prestigious case competition hosted at the Alberta School of Business. Competing against 20 teams from across Western Canada, they showcased their ability to think strategically, work under pressure and deliver compelling solutions, earning 2nd place overall!

HRC West is a weekend-long event where students from across Alberta are challenged to analyze complex HR scenarios and develop real-world solutions, which they then present to a panel of industry professionals. For the Dhillon team, it was a transformative experience that tested both their academic knowledge and practical abilities.

For Chine Rajafa, the competition proved to be a true test of critical thinking under pressure. Reflecting on the experience, she explains, “One of the biggest takeaways from the competition was how crucial it is to think critically and adapt quickly. It reinforced just how important teamwork and adaptability are in real-world decision-making.”

The team was thrust into a situation where time was of the essence, and as they faced tight deadlines, they quickly realized the importance of managing time effectively. Nikki Neave learned the value of slowing down and listening to her teammates. She shares, “In a fast-paced environment like HRC West, it’s easy to jump into the solution, but I learned the importance of taking a step back. Slowing down and listening to each other’s ideas made our solutions stronger and more inclusive. We discovered that the best outcomes often come from collaboration and shared insights, not rushing to be first.”

Despite this realization, the competition wasn’t without its challenges. The team had to overcome moments of self-doubt, especially when they saw the caliber of the other competing teams. Deon Davidson recalls, “At first, we were a little intimidated by the other teams, but we kept reminding ourselves why we were there, to represent our school and bring our best. We had a coach who believed in us from day one, and even when nerves crept in, we leaned on each other, trusted the process and stuck to the plan we had practiced.”

As they worked together, the team grew stronger by leveraging each other’s strengths. Mmesoma Ezebuala emphasized how critical it was to trust the process. “Throughout the preparation phase, I realized that while having quick ideas is valuable, it’s equally important to take the time to build on each other’s strengths. On competition day, everything we practiced came together. It was a huge learning curve, understanding the value of teamwork and staying calm under pressure made all the difference in our success.”

For Deon, the experience deepened her passion for HR. “Participating in HRC West has given me more confidence in my abilities. It confirmed my decision to pursue HR as my major, and it also gave me hands-on experience solving real HR problems under time constraints. It’s a level of learning I couldn’t have gotten from the classroom alone,” she says.

Looking back on the experience, Nikki was proud of what the team achieved, despite the intense emotional and mental effort required. “It was exhausting, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. The energy and feedback we received throughout the competition were incredible, and I feel like it truly brought out the best in all of us. I’m still driving around with the massive cheque in my car!”

The team’s journey to HRC West was made possible through funding from the Student Professional Development Fund, which supports students in attending career-enhancing opportunities like this.