The St. Louis Chapter of the National Black MBA Association recently participated in the The Leaders of Tomorrow National Business Case Competition at the Emory Goizueta Business School in Atlanta.
Chaperoned by Paula Hughes, VP of Operations for the St. Louis Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, St. Louis Chapter’s Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) team included Justin Farrar, Alexis Jasper, Charles McElroy and Willard Moore.
These students analyzed an MBA-level graduate school business case about the social media platform Facebook and presented recommendations before a panel of senior corporate executives and business school faculty.
In the process, Hughes said, they had to master advanced math, critical thinking, analytical, writing, research and survey development and public speaking skills, and then present detailed financial projections and implementation plans. The judges are instructed to evaluate participants not as high school students but with the same level of objectivity they would use when evaluating a graduate student or a potential professional consultant.
Through the Business Case Competition, students are exposed to National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) mentors and coaches who work with them intensively for months. They are guaranteed the help and resources they need to thoroughly communicate the impact of their ideas. In the process, they develop the ability to draw connections between what they are learning in school and what it takes to be a successful leader – and the discipline to set goals and achieve them.
“Most importantly, they develop the confidence that comes from believing you can accomplish anything,” Hughes said. “Congratulations to our students. They weren’t the champions, but they all are winners!”
Founded in 1991 at the 13th Annual NBMBAA Conference and Exposition in New York, Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) is an academic enrichment and leadership program serving high school students who demonstrate leadership potential. The LOT program currently serves hundreds of young adults, ages 14 – 18, in chapters
throughout the United States and Canada, along with a contingency in London.
The NBMBAA-St. Louis Chapter’s LOT Program was established in 1994. From the beginning, the NBMBAA-St. Louis Chapter has had a long tradition of sending students to participate in the annual case competition, the national conference and the leadership camps.
“Having our students attend these events helps to create a great learning experience because it allows them an opportunity to interact with more than 125 LOT students domestically and internationally,” said Tracy Blue, NBMBAA-St. Louis Chapter chapter relations officer.
“It enhances their leadership skills; allows them to discuss career choices with industry professionals and network with successful corporate, civic, and academic professionals; shapes their outlook on life; and fills their future with possibility.”
This year the NBMBAA 34th Annual Conference & Exposition will be held in Indianapolis from September 25-29. The NBMBAA-St. Louis Chapter plans to send six students and one chaperone to the conference.
“However, the cost for a student to attend the five-day conference has risen to $1,500 per student, which includes hotel, meals, ground transportation and conference registration,” Blue said.
“These rising costs have made it necessary for the chapter to reach out to its members and friends for assistance in getting these students to the competition and the conference with our ‘Adopt-a-Leader’ campaign.”
Visit the chapter website http://stlblackmba.org for more information about the Leaders of Tomorrow program and/or to make a donation.