You are in a group of five candidates at an assessment centre. Your task is to develop a Go-to-Market strategy for a new Mondelez healthy snack bar aimed at Gen Z consumers in a provincial city. The group has 20 minutes to discuss and then present. Halfway through, two members strongly disagree on whether to prioritize digital marketing or on-ground activations. How would you handle this situation to help the group reach a consensus and deliver a strong presentation?

Situation

In a national case competition last year, my team of four had to develop a growth strategy for a local coffee chain. With only one hour to prepare, we got stuck because two teammates wanted to focus on product innovation while the other two insisted on geographic expansion. The clock was ticking, and we had to submit a one-page summary and a 10-minute pitch.

Task

My goal was to broker a compromise that used the best ideas from both sides and kept us on schedule, without alienating anyone.

Action

I quickly suggested we take three minutes for each side to bullet their strongest argument on a whiteboard. I then pointed out that both aimed to increase market share, just through different paths. I proposed a hybrid: test a new product line in the top-priority expansion city, so we could validate both concepts. I also volunteered to draft the one-pager while the others refined the financials and presentation flow. I set a timer on my phone to keep us moving.

Result

We submitted on time and presented a cohesive plan. The judges praised our integrated approach and we placed second out of 20 teams. Afterward, my team said they appreciated how I listened and kept us calm.