Our Strategy to Make AWS the Leader in the Hybrid Cloud Market 

Competing in the Case Competition World Cup 2025, hosted by Management Consulted, was an intense and exhilarating experience. It pushed our analytical skills, tested our ability to perform under pressure and strengthened our teamwork in a high-stakes environment. 

This competition provides students with a platform to tackle real-world business challenges and highlight their strategic problem-solving abilities. It is also a great opportunity to build analytical expertise and gain resume-worthy experience for future job applications. 

For the competition, we were tasked to develop an 18-month strategy for AWS to maintain market leadership by exploring industry specialization, emerging markets, or AI-driven innovations, delivering insights in a seven-slide presentation with revenue projections.

Over the course of several weeks, my teammates—Jerry Xia, Rohan Saxena and Jeremy Twumasi Ampofo—and I took on a revenue growth case, designing a bold strategy for AWS to dominate the rapidly growing hybrid cloud market. 

The Challenge and Our Strategic Approach 

The competition started with over 250 applicants worldwide, narrowing to 50 teams through rigorous screening rounds. From there, only five teams earned a coveted spot in the finals, presenting to a panel of judges from McKinsey, L.E.K. Consulting, Stax, FTI and Slalom. The pressure was immense, but so was the opportunity to innovate and learn. 

Our strategy for AWS targeted the hybrid cloud market, projected to grow to $555 billion by 2034. With no dominant leader, AWS has an opportunity to secure its position by focusing on industries that require both on-premises security and cloud scalability: 

• Healthcare 
• Telecom 
• Financial services

By strengthening AWS’s infrastructure, partnerships and regulatory compliance, we projected a 5% to 7 % revenue increase, adding approximately $6 billion in new revenue by 2025. Our strategy prioritized seamless enterprise adoption, scalability and security, positioning AWS not just as a market leader but as a transformative force in hybrid cloud computing. 

Teamwork Under Pressure 

Collaboration is at the heart of the UC Davis MSBA experience, and this competition reinforced that lesson. Our team’s success was built on: 

• Diverse perspectives: Each member brought unique expertise, enhancing our analysis. 
• Clear communication: Regular brainstorming helped us refine our strategy. 
• Shared commitment: Long hours of research and iteration paid off in the final presentation. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

One of the most valuable takeaways was the hands-on exposure to consulting-style problem-solving. Although none of us had prior case competition experience, we embraced the challenge, developing critical skills such as: 

• Market analysis and revenue modeling 
• Identifying key growth drivers and potential roadblocks 
• Crafting data-backed, actionable business recommendations 

Earning Second Place on the Global Stage 

Presenting our strategy to top industry professionals—including Luke Jackson, Slalom; Jon Moss, L.E.K.; Laura Bentz, FTI; Sameer Tejani, Stax; and Thomas Buchte, McKinsey—was a milestone.

Learning that our team secured second place in the competition was a moment of immense pride. More than just a placement, this achievement reflected our hard work, strategic thinking and the supportive UC Davis community. 

A special thank you to the UC Davis GSM faculty, mentors and peers who helped us refine our approach, sharpen our storytelling and communicate our findings effectively. 

Key Takeaways 

This experience reinforced the power of collaboration, analytical rigor and stepping outside one’s comfort zone. Case competitions are an invaluable way to develop problem-solving skills, build lasting connections and prepare for a career in consulting, tech or strategy. 

If you are curious about my journey or how the UC Davis MSBA program can shape your career, feel free to contact me on LinkedIn.