Undergrads Launch Competition to Build Confidence Without Attitude

More than 100 undergraduates have signed up to compete in a new cohort finance case competition launched by the Haas Business School Association as part of its year-long effort to foster the school’s four Defining Principles and culture.

The case competition, which attracted 27 teams of four members each, requires each team to include at least two students without any previous case competition experience. It’s designed to give more students Confidence Without Attitude, one of the school’s defining principles.

“With so many students participating, this is an amazing learning experience,” says HBSA President Tyler Wishnoff, BS 13. “We get to help develop our students professionally and give them the self confidence to go after more cases.”

Each month, HBSA is planning to host an activity or event related to one of the school’s four Defining Principles. In addition to the case competition in September designed to build Confidence Without Attitude, the events this fall will include :

  • October, Question the Status Quo: Working with the university’s Operational Excellence team to look at change within institutions.
  • November, Students Always: A fun trivia night with questions about business and Haas.
  • December, Beyond Yourself: A food drive.

The case competition will include an information session on the case and mixer with alumni Sept. 14, when students will be able to ask alumni for guidance and coaching. Cases will be due Sept. 16. The best team from each of the six undergraduate cohorts will be chosen to compete in a final round Sept. 19.

“The structure is designed for students without case competition experience to learn from students who have experience, which also gives those with experience the opportunity to apply leadership skills,” says Wishnoff. “And the competition will provide students with a chance to build relationships with alumni.”

Alumni involved in the competition include Tara Kramlich, BS 03, of Imprint Investments; Sam Snyder, MBA 11, who just left Goldman Sachs to join alumnus and lecturer Steve Etter, BS 83, MBA 89, at Greyrock Capital; and Aaron Schwartz, MBA 10, CEO of Modify Watches.

Etter, who teaches Corporate Finance to undergrads, helped develop the case and is organizing the grand prize: a dinner with Dean Rich Lyons and three alumni. The HBSA also will award smaller prizes along with $500 to be split amongst the top two teams.

 

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