Nicolai H. F. Kreutz

Interview with Nicolai Kreutz

1. When were you an active member of BI Case Teams and at which campus did you study?

I study at BI's campus in Oslo and was a member of the BI case for the year 23/24. 
 
2. Why did you decide to join BI Case Teams? 

I was lucky enough to participate in Harvard's global case competition in May 2023 together with a team through BISO. I was put in a team with four fellow students, and we solved our first case. Here I got an eye out for case solving and the culture around it, and I wanted to participate in more competitions. That's when I came across BI Case Teams. I saw that they had workshops with relevant partners and participated in competitions around the world, and I think it looked like a perfect place to be able to get to know more fellow students and a platform where you could improve your skills. I therefore chose to apply and have never regretted it since.  
 
3. What was the name of your case team(s) and what did you do to create a good team dynamic?  

Our team was called Sirius Consulting. We created good team dynamics by having respect for each other and being open to listening and giving feedback to each other. We knew that the only way to produce good results is to work together and use each other's values ​​to solve the problems we faced. Through this, we became comfortable with each other, and knew that we could trust each other. This made us a good team. 
 
4. Did you have a specific role in your team?  

Yes, I had the main responsibility for finance. 
 
5. Which case competitions did you take part in (national and international)?  

We participated in BI National Case Competition 2023 (BI's internal case competition), and the Belgrade Business International Case Competition (BBICC) 2024 in Serbia. 
 
6. What is your best memory from your case journey at BI? 

I have many memories from the BI Case Teams, so it is difficult to choose the best one. Everything from the first bootcamp where we first met the entire BI Case Teams over a weekend of fun activities and learning, or when our team solved a 24-hour case in Serbia. There is something special about sitting in a hotel room for 24 hours straight solving a case, with no sleep and only the same three people next to you. It was just a good atmosphere, and something I will remember for the rest of my life. 
There is so much to take away from our trip to Serbia. Meeting students from around the world and getting to know so many new people with different backgrounds is also something very special that you get by participating in such competitions. 
 
7. What are your top three takeaways from case training and competitions? 

What you learn at school can actually be used in practice to help large and small businesses with their problems. National and international. 
It is much better to work with a team when solving tasks and problems. You may think that you like working alone better, but it will be much better and more efficient with a good team. This is something I really value after going through a year of workshops and competitions. 
You learn to think creatively and outside the box. Something you might not get from just sitting in the classroom. 
 
8. What skills did you learn from participating in case which were relevant to your development/career and how? 

I think the main skill I have learned is to master teamwork and work effectively as a team. This will be very useful later in my career, as most workplaces require you to work in a team and that you can collaborate with people from different backgrounds. I have also learned to be more open and value other people's ideas and ways of thinking. If you work alone, you can quickly become a bit biased and be closed to a way of thinking. 
 
On the professional side, I have learned how to analyze a company and how they create value. Through this, I have gained insight into what one should focus on when giving them advice on further development. This is something that will come in handy anyway, as everything around us in society is built on different companies. 
 
9. Do you have any advice to students who are curious about BI Case Teams? 

If you think it sounds interesting, apply. Do not hesitate to apply, because this could be the highlight of your entire bachelor's degree at BI. I was a bit unsure whether to apply or not, but after becoming a member I have never regretted it.