The Dhillon School of Business continues to make its mark on the global stage, with students Maxim Ciobanu and Bill Houenagnon earning an impressive third-place finish at the International Commodities Trading Competition. Hosted by the Alberta School of Business, the competition brings together teams from business schools around the world to test their skills in fast-paced, real-time commodities trading scenarios.
Competing against top student teams, Maxim and Bill navigated the pressures of trading futures contracts, storage assets and cargo in a dynamic environment where every second counted. Their strong performance showcased not only technical knowledge, but also the composure and teamwork needed to succeed under pressure.
“The experience was fast-paced and required us to think and analyze quickly,” said Maxim Ciobanu. “What stood out most was the live, real-time format. Trading future contracts, storage assets and cargo against teams from business schools around the world meant every decision had to be made in seconds, not minutes.”
Their success came from a combination of preparation, communication and trust in each other’s strengths. Rather than overlapping responsibilities, the pair divided tasks strategically while maintaining constant communication throughout the competition.
“Bill and I split responsibilities based on our strengths so we could cover more of the market without overlapping, but stayed in constant communication so we never drifted off-strategy,” Maxim explained. “We also went in with clear risk parameters agreed on ahead of time, such as position sizing, which kept us disciplined when the market moved against us.”
For Bill Houenagnon, one of the biggest lessons from the experience was learning how important structure and adaptability are in high-pressure environments.
“The biggest takeaway was that having a clear framework for processing new information and adjusting quickly was what drove our performance,” he said. “That discipline of staying systematic under pressure is something I’ll carry forward into my career.”
Their third-place finish is an exciting achievement and a reflection of the talent, drive and professionalism Dhillon students bring to experiential learning opportunities. By competing on an international stage and excelling against teams from around the world, Maxim and Bill demonstrated the kind of leadership and analytical thinking that defines the next generation of business professionals.
The Dhillon School of Business at the University of Lethbridge is known for its immersive experiential learning opportunities, connecting learners with industry and its supportive, personalized approach. Study options available in both Lethbridge and Calgary.