Mar 03, 2026

Strategic Excellence on the Global Consulting Stage

KFUPM students achieved a remarkable international milestone by securing First Place at the prestigious EMEA Strategy Consulting Summit – Handshake Case Competition, held at University College London (UCL), United Kingdom, on February 28th, 2026.

Hosted by London Strategic Consulting (LSC), the summit brought together more than 100 participants from leading global institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial College London, King’s College London, Warwick, Manchester, NYU, and IE University. The competition combined advanced consulting workshops with a live, high-pressure strategy case simulating real-world consulting environments.

Representing KFUPM, the winning team—Shahad Altheeb, Lenah Aloraine, Najla Alkhathlan, Maryam Basmaih, and Maryam Alkhazraj—was challenged with solving a complex strategic case for Handshake, a global professional network connecting over 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, and more than 1 million employers worldwide. Guided and supported by their academic advisor, Dr. Ehab Qahwash, the team was capable of analyzing the problem in only two hours and developing a comprehensive executive-level strategy deck. The team advanced to the Top 10 finalists.

In the final round, the students delivered a 10-minute executive presentation followed by a Q&A session before a panel of judges from leading consulting firms, including PwC and McKinsey. Competing against top UK and international universities, the KFUPM team secured First Place overall.

As part of this distinction, the winning team was invited to present their strategic recommendations directly to Handshake executives, extending KFUPM’s representation onto a global professional platform and strengthening its international industry presence.

Reflecting on their experience, the team advised:

"Seek challenging opportunities beyond your comfort zone, develop structured problem-solving and presentation skills, and actively participate in competitions that simulate real-world environments. Strong teamwork, time management, and preparation in consulting methodologies are key success factors."

The achievement reflects the students’ analytical rigor, structured problem-solving capabilities, and ability to perform under pressure, hallmarks of KFUPM’s interdisciplinary excellence. It also highlights the university’s commitment to preparing globally competitive leaders capable of excelling in elite strategic and consulting environments.