A transition year student from Glanmire Community College in Cork has won the 2026 Chartered Accountants Ireland ‘Be the Boss’ challenge.

Abimbola Fashade (pictured here Institute President Joan Curry) collected her award at an event held in May in Dublin to recognise the winning and shortlisted entrants in this year’s competition, sponsored by GRID Finance.

More than 11,000 students have enrolled in Chartered Accountants Ireland’s second level Boot Camp schools’ programme since it launched in 2019.

Students from around the country gathered at Chartered Accountants House on Pearse Street where the winners of the ‘Be the Boss’ challenge, the culmination of Boot Camp, were announced.

‘Be the Boss’ is a gamified business simulation exercise in which entrants take on the role of CEO of their own fictitious company which is facing a major crisis scenario. They are tasked with applying problem solving and critical thinking skills to develop a solution to overcome the challenge and justify their rationale.