On the morning of March 31st, I departed Iowa with four MBA students by my side. Our destination? THE Ohio State University for the 19th Annual Big 10 Case Competition. Held each year on the Ohio State University campus, the Big 10 Case Competition pits first-year students from MBA programs in the Big 10 against one another in a 24-hour battle of creativity, innovation, strategy, and skill. Our 2011 team included: Yakubu Agbese, David McAllister, Cory Lasker, and Mike Judd. Selected in late January, the team spent hours preparing for this year’s competition with marketing Professor Lopo Rego.
Michael Judd presents to the judges.
This year’s competition was like no other – live! As competition sponsor, Cardinal Health provided the historical backdrop for the strategy-focused case. Participants had the opportunity to mingle with Cardinal Executives and fellow competitors at the kick-off ceremony held at the famous Jack Nicklaus Museum. Little did our competitors know that the fun had just begun! Teams received the case materials early Friday morning and were given just 24 hours to read, discuss, strategize and come up with a viable solution for the case. Traveling as the team’s advisor, I had the opportunity to watch all the team’s in our presentation room during the 1st round competition. Tippie Hawkeyes competed against the Fighting Illini, the Minnesota Badgers and Penn State Nittany Lions! The team learned during the lunch break that they would be advancing to the finals!
The final’s competition was fierce with Iowa, Northwestern and Purdue vying for first place and the Big 10 title! Each came up with an unique, innovative solution. As the final announcements were made, we waited anxiously for the results.
3rd place….Purdue….2nd place….Iowa….1st place…Northwestern. Excitement and relief. A great finish by a phenomenal team and the 2nd top 3 finish in the last two years! Way to go Tippie!
The Tippie Team (from left to right): Yakubu Agbese, David McAllister, Cory Lasker, and Michael Judd
See more photos in the Tippie Photo Album!
