For Kellstadt students, connecting with the business community is essential. That’s why the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business offers dozens of opportunities – from networking events to student organizations – for students to succeed. One of the best ways for students to demonstrate their business acumen are case competitions. Not only do they allow students to come up with solutions under a tight deadline, but they build comradery, leadership skills and set you up for career success.
Below we’ve highlighted two recent Kellstadt case competitions along with testimonies from students on how they benefited from the experience.
Kellstadt Marketing Group Cisco Case Competition
MBA students (from left to right) Alexandra Kritikou, Edith De La Torre, Kelly Kester and Michelle Fronmuller won the Cicso Case Competition. | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds
Hosted by the Kellstadt Marketing Group, this year’s annual group case competition featured six teams of DePaul MBA and MS students developing a business solution to a challenge by Cisco, a global leader in IT, networking and cybersecurity. The goal of the competition was to give students a real-world experience of business strategy development.
On Feb. 22, each team presented a 20-minute pitch in front of a panel of Cisco executives (learn more about the competition from the winning team’s captain here).
The winning team – called team “M.A.K.E IT” – consisted of full-time MBA students with diverse backgrounds who pitched a Blockchain and IoT solution focused on the healthcare industry.
According to team captain Alex Kritikou, patience and teamwork are important components to a successful pitch. “Our approach was to learn as much as possible given the short timeframe,” she says. “Trust the process and your teammates and be honest with your teammates when you need help.” Team M.A.K.E. It agreed that the competition provided a unique opportunity to receive personalized feedback from a panel of experts.
Minority MBA Student Case Competition
Three Kellstadt students participated in the KeyBank Case Competition, which took place in Cleveland, Ohio in February.
The 2019 KeyBank Foundation Minority MBA Student Case Competition took place on Feb. 22-24 in Cleveland, Ohio. DePaul’s three-member team consisted of full-time MBA students, who were led by faculty advisor Neal Outland, an instructor in DePaul’s Department of Management & Entrepreneurship. The team pitched a solution to a business case that addressed issues with varied implications at either a national or an international level. Students from universities and colleges throughout the country competed. One of the participating students, MBA student Ewa Tran, says one of the competition highlights was getting to know her teammates and learning more about her strengths and weaknesses.
“Understanding how to leverage our strengths only improved our team cohesion as the weeks went by,” she says. “We applied different skills from different classes, and were able to come together as a team to compose a real-life business solution to KeyBank.”
Takeaways
As for students interested in future case competitions? MBA student Edith De La Torre, one of the members of team “M.A.K.E. It,” says to “be inquisitive and resourceful with the DePaul network and beyond. There is incredibly useful information and experts at your fingertips. Don’t get bogged down by technical terms, ask others to explain and simplify it. When presenting the actual business idea, focus on the big picture.”
By Alexandra Kritikou (MBA ’20)
On Feb. 22, six teams of DePaul MBA and MS students participated in the Kellstadt Marketing Group Case Competition. This unique opportunity allowed students to apply concepts learned in class and develop a real business solution to a challenge by Cisco, a global leader in IT, networking and cybersecurity. The goal of the competition was to give students real-world experience of business strategy development and proposal pitching to a panel of Cisco executives.
My team “M.A.K.E IT” consisted of full-time MBA students with diverse backgrounds: Michelle Fronmuller, Kelly Kester, Edith De La Torre and me (Alexandra Kritikou). Our journey began in January when we first got our case: Blockchain and IoT. Our first reaction was “What did we get ourselves into?” The concept was over our head. On top of that we had only two weeks to write our executive summary. But that was the challenge: to understand a difficult concept and create a business plan within a limited time frame. We said “Challenge accepted!”
MBA students (from lef tto right) Kelly Kester, Michelle Fronmuller, Edith De La Torre, and Alexandra Kritikou won first place at the Kellstadt Marketing Group’s Case Competition, where they presented to a panel of Cisco executives.
Our approach was to do the best we could and learn as much as possible along the way. We asked our professors for help and we got in touch with Lamont Black, professor in the Department of Finance at the Driehaus College of Business, and Jeff Wiand, president at DePaul’s blockchain student-run organization (called DeBlock). They both helped us immensely by helping us understand the technology and giving us some technical and business background. After consulting with them, we narrowed down our research to an industry and things started to come along. It was a fun process too, as my teammates and I had many good laughs and inside jokes which helped lift our spirits. It was also very stressful: the tight deadline, our busy schedule with midterms, and the idea of pitching our idea to executives was nerve-wracking. I think having supportive teammates played a significant role – when any of us felt discouraged, the others would be encouraging and motivating.
The week leading up to the presentation was the hardest. We started writing our presentation two days before the presentation because we focused on the content rather than the PowerPoint itself. Our presentation was ready the night before, with all of us exhausted and in no mood to rehearse. We rehearsed Friday morning and gave it our best shot! After our presentation we all felt happy with ourselves and realized we had come a long way from hardly knowing anything about blockchain to proposing a business plan. When the winning team was announced we could not believe it…we won! We were all thrilled!
All in all, we all found the case competition a unique and rewarding experience. My key takeaways from this experience are:
- Do your research!
Although time is limited, spend it researching.
- Emphasize the problem you are solving and spend less time on the solution.
Back up the problem with statistics and show why it is a business opportunity.
- Keep the presentation entertaining and practical.
Tell a story and support your suggestions with some statistics.
- Seek help from faculty and colleagues.
You will be surprise how helpful and how willing people are to help out.
- Trust and listen to your teammates.
Be honest with your teammates about what you do not know and when you need help.
- Talk it out with your teammates.
If you understand something, you can explain it. This really helped us break down the information and simplify it.
This piece originally appeared on KellstadtMarketingGroup.com
Now that the fall quarter has ended, Kellstadt students have the opportunity to enjoy the winter intersession before returning to campus in the new year. Some students opt to take a course during the winter intersession while others take the time to relax and recharge. Regardless of academic plans, Kellstadt students can still be spotted enjoying all that Chicago has to offer. Here are the top five activities where DePaul students can be found during this holiday season:
1. “Cohortsgiving” | The members of the full-time cohort brought together homemade dishes – traditional and non-traditional – to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Two full turkeys were enjoyed among the celebration. In a toast, a full-time student noted being grateful for the newfound friendships within the cohort.
2. Chicago Holiday Events
- Christkindlmarket | This Chicago favorite includes an arrangement of traditional, festive German shopping and cuisine…all located in Downtown Chicago. Inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, enjoy a bit of Deutschland this holiday season.
- Lincoln Park ZooLights | See the Lincoln Park Zoo in a whole new light. Through Jan. 6, festive Christmas lights will be on display throughout the zoo.
- Catching the CTA Holiday Train | On the way to any of the above events, DePaul students will be chasing this festive train based on the schedule. Look for the “Season’s Greetings from the CTA” sign and catch a ride on one of the jovial cars.
3. DePaul Athletics Events | As avid sports fans, a number of current students plan to attend DePaul games during December. The Blue Demons men’s basketball team face Northwestern in a crosstown match-up at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8.
4. Professional Reflection | Students can use the time off from classes to set themselves up for professional success in the remaining school year. A number of students plan to polish résumés and LinkedIn profiles as they reflect on New Year’s resolutions related to leadership, career development and professional goals. A few other ways to make the most of your time off include:
5. Rest, Relax, & Recharge | Make sure to also indulge in some R&R and self-care. Try a workout at The Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center or a walk on the Chicago Lakefront Path.
Happy holidays!
Rob Hermany (BUS ’12)
Many students who attend DePaul University for their undergraduate degrees return to get their MBA. We kindly refer to them as Double Demons. It’s not only a moniker—they also receive the Double Demon Scholarship which covers 25 percent of their tuition. We interviewed current, full-time Double Demons and weighed in on why they chose to return to DePaul:
Deciding to Pursue an MBA
Fabian Campbell (BUS ’18)
The process of deciding to pursue an MBA allows students to take time to reflect and explore the next steps in their career. According to Rob Hermany (BUS ’12), “The MBA holds an opportunity for significant self-discovery, which stems from a desire to expand my overall professional development.” For Fabian Campbell (BUS ’18), pursuing an advanced business degree is a step toward making a career change. “In order to switch sectors and advance my career, I needed to learn new skills as well as enhance my existing skills,” he says.
DePaul topped our Double Demon’s list when considering their MBA for a number of reasons, including the university’s approach to education. “The DePaul MBA is challenging yet approachable and provides the opportunity to learn from classmates with diverse backgrounds,” Hermany says .
Nicolette Bartzis (BUS ’16)
DePaul’s location within the heart of the business district in the city of Chicago was a common deciding factor cited by all Double Demons who were interviewed. “At DePaul, you’re immersed in the city and businesses,” says Nicolette Bartzis (BUS ’16).“ Kellstadt’s location in the heart of the Loop surrounds us with one-of-a-kind opportunities.”. Along with the Double Demon scholarship, these alumni gladly called DePaul home yet again.
Considering a DePaul MBA?
For DePaul alumni considering a DePaul MBA, our Double Demons have a few words of advice:
Rob Hermany: “You don’t need to ‘have it all figured out’ in order to pursue your MBA. Returning to DePaul is a tremendous opportunity to advance your career and make purposeful decisions toward that next step.”
Nicolette Bartzis: “A bachelor’s degree has become a standard in today’s market. Earning a DePaul MBA is a way to differentiate yourself between other candidates applying for the job.”
Fabian Campbell: “DePaul is an honorable school with a great reputation in Chicago. Coming home to DePaul to earn an MBA surrounds you with incredible opportunities.”
Have more questions? Contact our admissions team to start your journey: kgsb@depaul.edu.
Making the decision to return to school can often be a difficult one, and even more so when a student chooses to attend an academic institution abroad. Three Kellstadt MBA students came together to reflect on their academic year as international students and the connections they formed with their classmates and faculty. Priscilla Mwaura, Shweta Gujrathi and Jing Liu selected DePaul University based on its strong academic reputation, but these students gained more than just an education–they discovered a community.
Mwaura chose to relocate from her home country of Kenya in part due to Chicago’s diverse economy and reputation as a top financial city. Kellstadt offered not only AACSB accredited classes, but also a faculty made up of industry experts and entrepreneurs well connected in the Chicago business community. Both were vital to Mwaura, who wanted to ensure that the MBA program she selected was reputable if she were to leave Kenya.
Jing Liu
Kellstadt’s financial reputation also attracted Liu. “Kellstadt has provided an international perspective,” Liu says. “Not only have I learned about the American economy, but also the economies of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom through a study abroad trip.” For Liu, this professional knowledge has been invaluable. Liu continues, “I’ve been able to gain experience in some of the top financial industries and network with DePaul’s vast alumni network, helping to position me closer to achieving my career goals.”
Mwaura agrees that her first year at Kellstadt has broadened her outlook on global business, sometimes in surprising ways.“Some classes, such as MGT 584: Consulting Skills, developed my skill set in areas I knew little about before,” Mwaura says. “The learning environment at DePaul fosters teamwork and networking. Forming and sustaining these skills and relationships will directly impact the direction my career takes.”
Gujrathi found value not only in the academic resources, but also in the relationships she formed within the Kellstadt community. “The admissions team became my partners in the process even before I enrolled at DePaul, and I continue to receive the same support from the faculty and staff,” Gujrathi says. “Having someone to stand by you is particularly important for international students as they face various challenges in a new country.”
It has been a year full of education and networking for the three, and they look forward to finishing their degrees in 2019. With the support of the Kellstadt community they are positioned for success, whether in Chicago, or abroad.
Learn more about:
Contributors:
- Shweta Gujrathi is pursuing her MBA in Marketing full-time at Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
- Priscillia Mwaura is pursuing her MBA in Finance full-time at Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
- Jing Liu is pursuing her MBA in Finance full-time at Kellstadt Graduste School of Business
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