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The ambassador for JMSB: Matthew Parker-Jones 

By Michael Keegan

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Matthew Parker-Jones has spent his Concordia career showcasing JMSB at case competitions around the world and growing the competition program at home.

Parker-Jones, who is graduating in June with a BComm with Honours in Finance, was bitten by the case competition bug in 2007 and hasn’t stopped scratching.
He’s competed for JMSB every year since in regional, national and international competitions, but he’s done much more.

In 2008-09, as VP Academic for the Case Competition program, he selected and trained team members, booked flights, and coached teams.

And as Academic Director for the John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition from March 2009 to February of this year, he was instrumental in bringing two innovations.

“We wanted to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world by getting the Montreal business community involved and excited,” says Parker-Jones. “So we identified companies and had them write up real-life business problems, so that competitors not only had to find a solution, but also stand their ground defending it to the execs involved. Also, competitors got written feedback from these executive judges on their proposals.”

The reaction to both innovations from all participants was exceptionally positive. One of Parker-Jones’s proudest moments was receiving a posterboard at the end of the competition with signatures from all the students and coaches from around the world.

Another came last fall at Princeton University’s Business Today Global Conference in New York City, an exclusive leadership conference where students essentially “speed-date” with 50 business leaders in two hours.

“People didn’t really know Concordia, but after a couple of days, we were getting respect from people from all over,” he remembers, “saying what a great school we were, getting handshakes.”

Such Concordia experiences have taught him a valuable lesson: “It’s easy to compromise, for money or prestige,” he says, “but being true to yourself, your values, work ethic and integrity, and pursuing your passions – that will make you succeed.” Parker-Jones begins work in investment banking with TD Securities in July.