Close to one hundred MBA and MFin students recently returned from competing at MBAT, a “European MBA Olympics” tournament comprising of three days of fun yet competitive sport.
This year saw the MBA Tournament return after two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic (2021 was run virtually only, and 2020 cancelled altogether). MBAT 2022 offered CJBS students a chance to network with their European counterparts, strengthen connections with their classmates, and show off their athletic prowess in a wide variety of events.
Hosted on the campus of HEC-Paris, Cambridge Judge students competed against thirteen other MBA programmes from all over the Europe. After three days of competition, Cambridge walked away with a fourth place finish in the overall medal count, and a lot of great memories to boot. Of particular note was the incredibly strong Cambridge Woman’s Rowing team (with our very own Olympian rower), claiming victory over an equally impressive Oxford Woman’s side.
No MBA event would be complete without networking opportunities, and MBAT was no exception. Each day, after the sporting events finished, all MBAT participants met up under a large outdoor tent to celebrate and reminisce about their wins and losses, and the highs and low. We saw Cambridge students take part in both a dance competition, and a Battle of the Bands, where it was clear that CJBS’ talents extend further than just the classroom or athletic fields.
After a couple more hours dancing under the stars to some local DJ’s, participants went off to bed for a few hours sleep before the next day of competition. Saturday night saw an end to the proceedings, with a black-tie gala in central Paris – only a quick walk to the Eiffel Tower.
MBAT was certainly a highlight of the 2021-2022 Cambridge MBA year, and an event that hopefully is given the support it deserves for future cohorts by the CJBS executive team. GDBO!