SIEML Case Competition
The Case Competition is one of the highlights of the SIEML experience. Each year the case study, a real or fictional business problem, changes and is decided by the sponsor of the competition. Students are divided into teams and have four days to prepare their response or solution to the case before presenting it to a panel of judges comprised of industry leaders. The three teams with the highest scores receive cash prize awards.
2023 Case Competition
This year's case competition focused on Disneyland, one of the largest employers in Orange County. The teams combined their diverse backgrounds and experiences, along with all the knowledge they learned from the 11-day programming (and a trip to Disneyland), to deliver insightful ideas for the Disney-themed case competition. There were two rounds in the case competition - all students participated in the first round, and then 4 teams were chosen to move to the final rounds to present to SEGA. The finalist teams only had two hours to work on a completely new and different case question - they were asked to make recommendations to Bob Iger regarding what generative AI tools mean for the future of the media industry and Disney specifically. With the rise of ChatGPT in our lives, and the current writer's strike in Hollywood partially regarding this topic, it was a very timely question to be asked of the teams. The four finalist teams gave presentations on leveraging generative AI into the Disney experience. The teams came up with a number of great ideas, including taking advantage of generative AI to move the entertainment industry forward as well as using these AI tools to prioritize exceptional cast and guest experiences in the parks and on the Disney+ app.
The first-place team (five people in the middle of the photo in this order): Sherese Eaglin, a Comparative Women's Studies major and Management and Organization minor from Spelman College; Morise Duffin, III, a Business Administration & Management major from Xavier University of Louisiana; Sienna Williamson, an Accounting and Finance major from Howard University; Natalia Cruz, a Business Administration & Management major from MiraCosta College; and Diego Cruz, a Business Administration & Management major from Whittier College.
2022 Case Competition
This year's case competition focused on Candi & Co, a woman founded South African hair salon franchise. Teams conducted an analysis of the global hair industry, developed a business strategy, and presented their recommendation on whether or not this entrepreneur should sell her company, or continue to independently build her vision. Pictured is the first place team (from left): Clara Garcia, a business administration major from San Francisco State University; Marla McGhee, a business administration student from North Carolina Central University; Braxton McMillon, a business administration major from Florida A&M University, Miguel Ramos, a communications major from Compton College/ Cal State Los Angeles; Busayo Ogunbiyi, a business administration major from Howard University.
2021 Case Competition
Accenture provided this year’s case which focused on providing housing, support, and resources for unhoused youth in California. The teams received guidance and advice from a variety of experts including UC Riverside AGSM faculty, Accenture consultants, and UC Riverside MBA students and alumni who mentored each case team. Judges included senior leaders from Accenture who had the difficult decision of selecting the winning teams. Pictured are the first place team (from left): Iman Davis, an accounting major from Howard University; Olivia Fenwick, a sociology major from Hampton University; Alexis Hobbs, a political science major from Spelman College, Kevin Mwangi, a business administration major from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, and Jacquelyn Rivas, a business administration major from San Diego State University.
2020 Case Competition
The 2020 case competition was provided by by the Potrero Group and focused on recommending strategies and opportunities for growth for the nonprofit organization Outdoor Afro. Each case team was mentored by a UC Davis MBA student, and the judging panel included the founder of Outdoor Afro, members of the Potrero Group, and a diverse group of experts with experience leading and consulting with nonprofit environmental and social justice organizations. The 1st place team included (from left): Jasmine Atkinson, a finance and accounting major from North Carolina A&T University; Luis Antonio Davila, an economics and finance major from the University of Texas at El Paso; Z'Kijah Fleming a marketing major from Howard University; Ruben Rangel, a finance and accounting major from St. Mary's College of California.
2019 Case Competition
This year’s case competition was sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton and focused on strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives. In addition to the case, BAH also hosted a case overview, a Q&A with each team, and served on the judging panel. The 1st place team included (from left): Dylan Paul, a finance and accounting major from Howard University; Richard Amaechi, an international business major from San Diego State University; Chandler Boone, a finance and accounting major from Hampton University; Victoria Acosta, a marketing management major from the University of Texas at El Paso.
2018 Case Competition
The 1st place team in the Deloitte Case Competition and Visa-sponsored prizes held during SIEML 2018 at the Haas School of Business included (from left): Abril Woocay, a finance and marketing major from the University of Texas at El Paso; Priscilla Zamora, a media advertising major from the University of Texas at El Paso Lyniece Hill, a journalism major from Hampton University; Jessica Handy-Burris, a marketing major from Howard University; Jordan Randle, a business administration and finance major from Morehouse College.
2017 Case Competition
The 1st place team in the Deloitte Case Competition held during SIEML at the Merage School of Business included (from left): Alexis Pigg, a chemistry major from Dillard University; Samuel Abrams, an economics major from Morehouse College; Russell Williams, III, a political science major from Philander Smith College; Morgan Dukes, a business administration major from Florida A&M University; Ja’Von Williams, a business administration major from North Carolina Central University; and Natalie Delille, a marketing major from Howard University.