DCU Executive MBA Triumphs at the MBA Association of Ireland National Strategy Competition 2026

The DCU Business School proudly celebrates an outstanding achievement by its DCU Executive MBA team, who secured top prizes at the prestigious MBA Association of Ireland (MBAAI) National Strategy Competition 2026. Hosted by Aptiv, the event brought together some of Ireland’s brightest MBA minds for a dynamic and challenging day of strategic innovation.

A High-Pressure Strategic Challenge

Held last Friday, the competition placed participants in a fast-paced, “pressure cooker” environment. Over the course of just 2.5 hours, teams from Dublin Business School, TU Dublin Graduate Business School, University of Limerick, and DCU were tasked with creating a company and presenting a strategy to position Ireland as a global leader in the automotive and autonomous driving sector. This vision aligned with the Government’s economic and social targets for 2030.

To further test their resilience and adaptability, teams were required to respond to seven disruptive scenarios introduced at intervals throughout the challenge—demanding agility, creativity, and decisive leadership.

The event also featured an insightful keynote address by Ade McCormack, Founder – The Intelligent Organisation setting the tone for an inspiring day of strategic thinking and innovation.

DCU’s Winning Team

Representing the DCU Executive MBA programme were:

Ciaran Calvey
Michael Cawley
Joe Giltinane
Siobhan Sweeney (She/Her)
Grainne Sutcliffe

Following a compelling 20-minute presentation and a rigorous Q&A session with esteemed judges Ade McCormack, Dearg MacCarthaigh, and Jerry P. Crowley, the DCU team delivered an exceptional performance that captured the attention and admiration of the panel.

Siobhan Sweeney, Global Senior Director at Element Materials Technology reflected:

”It was an incredible experience to represent DCU Business School and our EMBA class. The journey challenged us to collaborate closely, adapt quickly, and perform under constant time pressure and change. Throughout, we worked seamlessly as a team, drawing on each other’s strengths to achieve the best possible outcome. I feel truly privileged to have been part of such a committed and supportive group.

A sincere thank you to Eric Clinton, Chair of the DCU Executive MBA, and Nuala Lonergan, Executive MBA Programme Manager, for their guidance and support.’

Celebrating Outstanding Success

The team’s excellence was recognised with an impressive clean sweep of awards:

Commendable Speaker: Michael Cawley
Best Speaker: Grainne Sutcliffe
Best Overall Team: DCU Executive MBA

On the DCU Business School MBA, we are commited to developing innovative, agile, and globally minded business leaders. The competition provided an invaluable opportunity for learning, networking, and engaging with peers across Ireland’s leading business schools.

DCU Business School extends its sincere gratitude to the MBA Association of Ireland for organising such an impactful event and to Aptiv for hosting. Special appreciation also goes to the mentors, supporters, and alumni who encouraged the team along the way.

As anticipation builds for next year’s competition, this victory stands as a testament to the talent, dedication, and ambition of DCU’s Executive MBA community.

View the Executive MBA programme page here.