Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management
Competition Sponsored by Exxon Mobil Corporation
A team of four MBA/MA candidates from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management won The Executive Leadership Council’s 2016 Business Case Competition on Friday.
The annual competition, sponsored and hosted by ExxonMobil, invites students from the nation’s top business schools to form teams, led by black team leaders, to analyze a compelling business issue that demonstrates the students’ critical thinking, analytical and communications skills.
“These teams developed a premier workforce strategy designed to withstand changes in the economy,” said Ronald C. Parker, president and CEO of The Executive Leadership Council, the preeminent membership organization for the development of global black leaders. “Global enterprises recognize the need to engage diverse talents in order to anticipate and fulfill future workforce and customer needs.”
The teams were challenged to research, develop and present an innovative and comprehensive case based on the following parameters:
- Plan and design a comprehensive talent management strategy with a focus on developing a “premier workforce” in the 21st century.
- Create a strategic approach that considers the development and growth of the company’s talent vital to its overall productivity, ongoing success, and ability to innovate in the 21st century.
- Form an end-to-end strategy to bring talent onboard and develop them in an inclusive environment.
- Create a development strategy and tactics with strong financial analysis and metrics.
The first place team from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management included Alicia Luchetti, the team captain and MBA candidate; Anthony Gonzalez, a first year MBA candidate concentrating in Strategy and Economics; Jason McCoy, an MBA candidate; and, Adjatay Nyadjroh, a first year MBA candidate. They were presented with a cash award of $35,000. A $20,000 cash award went to the second place team from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management and $15,000 was presented to the third place team from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
In addition to the cash award, the first place team from Northwestern’s Kellogg School will be introduced at The Executive Leadership Council’s Annual Recognition Gala on November 3, 2016, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC, which will be attended by more than 2,200 leaders in business, public affairs, education and the arts.
“Developing a diverse workforce is critical to the success of any company,” said Jeffrey Webster, global manager, learning and professional development at ExxonMobil. “ExxonMobil is proud to recognize these future business leaders for their great work and creativity.”
This year’s case, “Workforce Development for the 21st Century,” was written by Journel Joseph, research manager at The Executive Leadership Council Institute for Leadership Development & Research.
For the past seven years, ExxonMobil has sponsored the Business Case Competition on topics such as innovative science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives and devising energy plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Michael Dutton, The Executive Leadership Council, (703) 706-5203 or mdutton@elcinfo.com
About The Executive Leadership Council
The Executive Leadership Council, an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1986, is the pre-eminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of global black executives in C-Suites, on corporate boards and in global enterprises. Comprised of more than 600 current and former black CEOs, thought leaders, board members and senior executives at Fortune 1000 companies and equivalents, and entrepreneurs at top-tier firms, its members work to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline that empowers global black leaders to make impactful contributions to the marketplace and the global communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.elcinfo.com.
