From Macau to Spain: Eunice’s Journey Through Case Competitions and Global Perspectives

For many students, competitions are one-off experiences. For Eunice, they became a gateway—to confidence, community, and the global stage.

From pitching in Macau to tackling high-pressure strategy cases in Spain, Eunice’s journey reflects how local ecosystems can nurture young talent and prepare them for international challenges. In this interview, she shares how it all started, what she learned along the way, and why stepping out of your comfort zone matters more than where you come from.

Finding Confidence in the Macau Startup Ecosystem

Eunice first joined the Macau Startup Club Startup Day competition as a participant—and it left a deeper impact than she expected.

“Getting second place was awesome,” she recalls, “but the absolute best part was realizing how much of a supportive community we actually have for young founders right here in Macao.”

What surprised her most was the scale and openness of the ecosystem. Meeting like-minded peers and receiving direct, practical feedback from judges helped her see new possibilities for herself. Stepping into the pitching arena pushed her far outside her comfort zone—but it also gave her something crucial: confidence.

“That experience made me realize I wanted to step up, represent Macao internationally, and show the rest of the world what our local talent can do.”

Competing in Spain: More Than Just a Case Competition

That motivation eventually led Eunice to an international case competition in Spain—an experience she describes as completely different from regional or university-level events.

“International competitions hit differently,” she says. “It’s not just a test of what you know; it’s a full-on cultural experience.”

Working alongside students from Norway, Germany, Peru, Australia, and beyond, the competition emphasized collaboration as much as performance. Ice-breaking activities like a ‘100 Climate-Neutral Cities’ VR simulation, a city hunt through the historic streets of Segovia, and shared travel experiences helped teams bond before facing intense competition pressure.

And the cases themselves were no less demanding:

• A five-hour strategy case for Spanish wine group Alma Carraovejas, focused on sustainable global scaling

• A 12-hour case for Amazon, tackling the balance between long-term growth, operational efficiency, and sustainability

“Tackling these massive global issues completely shifted my mindset,” Eunice reflects. “It forced me to think outside the box.”

Beyond the competition, winery visits and lasting friendships made the experience truly life-changing.

Skills That Matter Beyond the Classroom

When asked what truly drives success in case competitions, Eunice doesn’t point to textbooks.

“For me, the three most critical elements are critical thinking, storytelling, and confidence.”

She believes case competitions are ultimately about storytelling—stepping into a founder’s shoes, understanding their vision, and crafting solutions grounded in real-world constraints. As her fifth and final international case competition before graduating in International Business and Chinese Enterprise, the Spain experience represented the culmination of years of practice.

“I’ve faced plenty of failures in earlier local competitions,” she admits. “But resilience is key. You learn from mistakes, improve how you structure your thinking, and communicate your strategy so clearly that anyone can understand it.”

When it’s time to present, her mindset is simple: give it everything, enjoy the moment, and leave no regrets.

Why Local Ecosystems Matter

Having experienced both the Macau startup ecosystem and global competitions, Eunice sees a clear connection between the two.

“The local ecosystem in Macao is growing significantly stronger,” she says. “It acts as a crucial incubator and stepping stone.”

Local communities provide a safe environment to practice pitching, test ideas, and build foundational skills—without the overwhelming pressure of global stages. For Eunice, that early support made all the difference.

“Without that initial training ground and encouragement, it would have been much harder to make the leap to a high-pressure international competition like the one in Spain.”

A Message to Those Just Starting Out

For students and early-stage founders—especially those from smaller markets like Macau—Eunice’s advice is refreshingly straightforward:

“Just take the first step, and don’t be afraid.”

She acknowledges that starting is often the hardest part, but reminds others not to underestimate themselves.

“Coming from a smaller market is not a limitation—it’s an asset. Failure is expected. Use setbacks as data, practice constantly, and keep stepping out of your comfort zone.”

Her final message is one of quiet confidence:

“Back yourself. You’ll be surprised at how far you can go.”

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