RPG Blizzard was announced at a time when almost everyone on campus had wracked their brains and tried their hands solving at least 10 case studies for various companies – ranging from marketing problems for a sports company to supply chain problem for a pharmaceutical major to devising a market entry strategy for a firm planning digital disruption. If that was not the end of it, companies were throwing challenges in the form of business simulations, gamifying the whole experience to attract increasing number of registrations. In the midst of all this, RPG group announced Blizzard - introducing a completely different format of competition that took people off the hook – a tangent to the normal!
With the tagline “Endure the Storm of Wits”, Blizzard truly stood to its name. It was not only a test of intelligence but also of speed, accuracy, determination and grit. The competition involved three exhilarating rounds leading up to the finals – it started with a 100-question quiz – Quizzer Bender - which tested our knowledge on topics such as sports, politics, pop culture, history and literature. Next up was a round of picture puzzles – The Online Treasure Hunt - which tested our problem solving and reasoning skills. Participants clearing the first two rounds then proceeded to a business challenge round where each of us brainstormed solutions to cases based on RPG’s businesses. If you are wondering it ends here, I may interject to say “Not so soon, buddy!”. Two finalists from each B-school finally move on to the finals in Mumbai to compete with the best of the best to win the coveted title and spend a day interacting with the leadership team.
Blizzard is not for the faint-hearted. It redefines the cliched competition formats held in B-schools throughout the year. Every year it introduces an exciting and mind-boggling way of interacting with the campuses. It certainly remains an experience to cherish and reminisce.