New connections and networking at the heart of Global MBA programme

Four Global MBA students have proudly represented GCU at the 2026 ASBS MBA Case Competition.

The event, which was organised by the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow, was held between 10 and 15 May.

GCU students were joined by their counterparts from countries around the world, including Canada, South Africa, USA, Austria and Hungary.

The participants were tasked with working on three live business case studies, which encouraged them to develop innovative strategic solutions under significant time pressure. Each team then presented their recommendations to an expert judging panel, which included senior executives from the organisations themselves.

One of those students involved was Zaid Anas Ahmed, who came to study at GCU after a successful career with Nestle in Pakistan.

We sat down with Zaid to hear more about the event and also find out about his experience on the Global MBA course at GCU.

Just to start us off, how did you come to study at GCU?

“I completed my original degree in business, specialising in marketing, and then I went on to join Nestle. I joined them as a management trainee office for a year and then got promoted to assistant manager. I was working there for almost two years, and then I decided that I needed to upskill and gain more qualifications. I decided to get a Masters degree abroad because I wanted to basically explore more cultures and meet new people.

“I started shortlisting universities to find the most suitable places. There were only around four or five universities in the whole world offering Global MBA. The most suitable university in every aspect was GCU – I knew it was the right choice for me.”

Why did you want to get involved in the 2026 ASBS MBA Case Competition?

“I love to meet other people and have the opportunity to network. I also wanted to test my skills and knowledge around what I have learned so far on the Global MBA course.

“Every person in my team at the event also had the same objective. We’ve all made significant personal investments to come to GCU and study, so we are all passionate about getting the most out of our experience - this was a good platform to test ourselves.”

What was the experience like overall?

“The whole event started with a networking event on 10 May and then we had to work on three case studies throughout the week. There were different companies present throughout the week and they wanted actual practical solutions to challenges they faced with very specific deadlines.

“It was definitely very challenging but I would actually say it helped push me out my comfort zone. One of the major bonuses was that it made me think critically in a very short period of time. Up until now a lot of my work has been presentations that I’ve had weeks to prepare for – this week helped me think on my feet. We were also having to present our solutions directly to the companies as well, so there was a lot of positive pressure.

“Another interesting part of the event was having the chance to complete an industry visit. We went to the Auchentoshan Whiskey Distillery. They took us through the whole process of how it’s made and how it is stored. It was very nice to learn and I would definitely say it was an interesting experience overall.”

Was there any particular highlight from the conference that stands out to you?

“I really enjoyed getting to work on the Commonwealth Games case study. It’s incredible to work on something like this because everyone knows it and we’ve grown up hearing about it. It’s obviously taking place in Glasgow this year and we were tasked with coming up with a marketing plan to help sell tickets for it.

“The main purpose of the event was to meet people and test our knowledge. A lot of the other universities had more experience in comparison to us, but we tried our best and definitely gave the other teams a good competition. We definitely played our part in what was a fantastic event.”

How was the experience of working alongside students from the likes of Canada, USA, South Africa, Austria and Hungary?

“It was very interesting meeting them, especially being a business student and having a business background. Most of them were there from marketing or sales and that’s something I’m really interested in, so it was nice. It was interesting to hear how markets operate in their different countries, how they do business over there and how different companies have different policies.

“I also enjoyed meeting the students from the likes of Austria and Hungary because they’re in a similar situation to me in that they have moved from the Middle East to another country to study. It’s nice to see how different cultures can come together and take part in a competition like this.”

Do you feel this experience has benefitted you for the future?

“100%, definitely! I always felt pressure previously trying to network, but when I came over here I knew I had to make an effort to do it as much as possible. I’ve now got a lot of different connections in place within the business world that can help me in my future career.

“Meeting people from different countries at this event allows me to get a better understanding of markets around the world, which can only be of benefit. Coming to Scotland meant making that effort to make new friends and expand my horizons both in a professional and personal sense – I feel I have done that.”

How much have you enjoyed your experience on the course overall?

“It's been very nice. I have really enjoyed my time here because the course has been amazing. I've had the opportunity to be tutored by some great lecturers around different topics, including the likes of consumer behaviour and crisis management.

“This course gives you the perfect opportunity to learn but also to make new connections. I’ve had my coursework, but there have been so many other opportunities presented to us. I’ve gained so much knowledge that I can take with me on my future career.”

Would you recommend the Global MBA course to other people?

“Absolutely. An important point to make is that I think it can be really easy to take an opportunity to come and study in Scotland for granted. I’m from Pakistan and people there may look at coming to Scotland and not taking it seriously, but that’s not the case with myself. I consider myself extremely privileged that I’m able to afford this and come to such an amazing country.

“If someone is reading this article in Pakistan and considering coming then please do, but please make the most of the opportunity – do not waste your time while you are in Scotland. Importantly, make sure you put the knowledge you gain to good use – we need more businesses in Pakistan rather than just jobs, it’s a common theme all over the world. We’ve had a responsibility to do it and this course gives you all the knowledge you need to achieve that.”

You can find out more about GCU’s Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) course here