While many students focused on midterms, a group of ambitious Northeastern students took on an additional challenge by competing in the Fall 2024 Case Competition, hosted by the Center for Emerging Markets (CEM), on Saturday, October 19th.
The student organizing team, led by Wanru Shao, Khoury '25; Rachel (Anh) Le, DMSB '26; Nishita Vyas, DMSB '26, Tanmay Shah, Khoury '27; Brecker Ferguson, DMSB/COS '25; Santiago Forster, DMSB '25, worked diligently to bring this event to life. “Even though midterms were happening, the energy and dedication from all the students were truly impressive,” said Wanru Shao. Nearly all of the organizers are Student Associates at CEM, recognized for their dedication to deepening their understanding of emerging markets and representing CEM as student ambassadors at the university.
The competition attracted 90 students from 20 teams and six colleges, with 12 teams advancing after a rigorous screening process. Teams were often multidisciplinary, bringing together students from several different colleges across Northeastern, including the College of Engineering, D'Amore-McKim School of Business, Khoury College of Computer Sciences, and the College of Science. Together, they tackled a complex real-world challenge: How should an Indian company expand into Africa? Students had just two days to analyze the case, considering market conditions, cultural nuances, and risk management.
Professor William A. Lovely, III, who guided the event alongside Professor Larissa Marchiori Pacheco, remarked on how students from diverse backgrounds contributed unique insights. The competition offered $3,000 in prizes, made possible by a gift to CEM by D'Amore-McKim School of Business Professor Joe Giglio. But the real prize might have been the opportunity to present in front of 17 seasoned executives who served as judges, many of whom have led major international business initiatives.
As one student shared, “Their feedback was invaluable – you can't get this kind of experience in a classroom.” For these students, the competition was more than a challenge – it was a step toward becoming global business leaders. The Center for Emerging Markets looks forward to hosting more events like this, where students take the lead, and tackle real-world problems with innovative solutions, and defend their decisions in front of senior executives.
Diya Kadakia, Logan Ravinuthala, Deekshita Madhalam, Diya Ganesh, and Thillainayaki Sudhaka
