The 2026 Business STRIDE Challenge is taking place at Trent University Durham GTA, providing a unique platform for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to compete and present their solutions to some of today’s most pressing workplace challenges. The competition will be held on Thursday, April 3 at Trent’s Oshawa campus, bringing together aspiring business leaders from various levels of education to showcase their critical thinking and innovative ideas.
What is the Business STRIDE Challenge?
The Business STRIDE Challenge is an annual event where students are given the opportunity to tackle real-world problems affecting today’s workforce. This year, the competition focuses on three major themes: skills-based hiring, hybrid work models, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in human resources. Each of these topics is highly relevant to the evolving business landscape, and the students will be presenting their ideas to a panel of distinguished judges from both the industry and academia.
Competitors and Categories
The challenge is divided into three streams, each targeting different education levels:
- High School Stream – This stream focuses on skills-based hiring, where senior secondary students will present solutions on how employers can identify and evaluate the essential skills for entry-level roles, while ensuring that the hiring process remains fair and equitable.
- Undergraduate Stream – Business students in this category will explore hybrid workplace models, proposing ideas that balance organizational culture, collaboration, and employee autonomy while navigating the complexities of remote and in-office work arrangements.
- Master of Management Stream – Graduate students will be tasked with exploring the responsible integration of AI into human resources. This stream involves developing strategic HR transformation plans to ensure AI is used responsibly across the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to performance management.
Judges and Sponsors
The event is sponsored in part by Zabeen Hirji, the former Chief Human Resources Officer at Royal Bank and the incoming Chancellor of Trent University. The judging panel will consist of several notable figures, including:
- Dr. Scott Henderson, Trent Durham’s Vice-President.
- Stephen Harrington, a partner at Deloitte Canada.
- Omo Akintan, the Chief Engagement and People Officer at University Pension Plan Toronto.
The judges will evaluate student presentations based on the quality of their analysis, practical insights, and the real-world applicability of their solutions to workplace issues. The winners of each stream will receive cash prizes and a donation made to a charity of their choice.
Event Schedule
The event will run from noon to 4 p.m. at the west-end campus (next to the Civic Recreation Complex) in Oshawa, with presentations starting at 12:20 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. This competition offers students a unique opportunity to showcase their skills, gain valuable experience, and potentially influence the future of work.
Why This Matters
The Business STRIDE Challenge is a crucial event for students aiming to make an impact in the business world. Not only does it offer the chance to solve relevant workplace issues, but it also prepares the next generation of leaders for the evolving demands of the business landscape. By focusing on areas such as AI integration, hybrid work, and skills-based hiring, students will play a pivotal role in shaping how organizations will adapt to future challenges.
This event underscores Trent Durham’s commitment to innovation, research, and collaboration with both academic institutions and businesses to prepare students for success in their careers.
