An MBA team from Boston University’s School of Management was selected to compete in the final round of the Aspen Institute’s 2014 Business and Society International MBA Case Competition.
Ji Chong (MBA ’14), David Cushman (MBA’14), Chris Kluesener (MBA’14), and Jonathan Sobin (MBA’14) are one of five teams chosen to compete in the third and final round in New York City.
“Being among the top five teams selected is a great honor for us and speaks to the strength of BU’s MBA program, which has given us the tools needed to compete at this level,” says Cushman. “Competitions are a worthwhile experience as part of an MBA as they allow you to apply what you’ve learned and explore current business challenges faced by real companies.” The Boston University team’s case subject is focused on marketing strategy and social impact revolving around a Mexican grain-processing company seeking to scale its operation in order to raise the standard of living and improve health in the rural Mexican town where it is based.
On April 4th the team presented their case to a panel judges, including senior corporate executives, in order to vie for a first place cash award of $15,000 with an additional $1,000 to donate to charity of the team’s choice. The competition’s prize pool is $35,000, unmatched in the MBA case competition circuit.
“If we won the competition we would likely choose a charity that has a sustainability-focused mission and a history of successfully realizing that mission, such as the Environmental Defense Fund,” says Cushman.