The inaugural Miami Leadership Challenge went off with a bang on Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20. Students developed their leadership skills by participating in a high-pressure, high stakes, real-life scenario. Five students per team, each competed by immersing themselves in a corporate crisis at AguaClara, a global beverage company.
This was a crisis simulation case designed by the University of Michigan. The students took on the persona of one of the top executives tasked with responding to the crisis as it unfolds. Realistic elements were interjected through numerous phone calls, emails, demonstrations, and social media messages. The students tested their ability to strategize through extreme turbulence, thinking on their feet.
On Saturday morning, the teams demonstrated poise under pressure as they presented their plans to the Board of Directors. The Corporate Boards were made up of savvy alumni, professors, and corporate executives who also took on roles. Communication coaches and the board members gave students personalized feedback regarding their crisis plan, communication skills, and their 'executive presence.'
The War Room was the behind-the-scenes communication hub where everything was hopping. From student volunteers who play-acted the parents of a critically ill infant, to employee volunteers play-acting an elderly woman, to children protestors, the students were kept under pressure to strategize a realistic plan, as if it were live. Run by the Warlord, and manned by warriors, the War Room was a lively hub of excitement. The MBS IT Department synchronized a complicated and effective network precisely for this event, allowing for smooth communications.
The event culminated in a grueling fight to the finish by the top three teams as they faced the media and journalists for a live press conference. We were most fortunate to have media professionals from the Society of Professional Journalists volunteer their time to badger the teams with tough questions.
The event concluded with a reception, where all were able to mingle amongst many raves about the experience from our students, board members, and volunteers. Many thanks to the many volunteers who helped make this program a roaring success!
We greatly appreciate our sponsors:
- The Miami Business School Graduate Programs
- The Johnson A. Edosomwan Leadership Institute
- The Center for International Business, Education, and Research
To view photos from the event and the celebrations that followed, click here.
To read the article on the event by the Society of Professional Journalists, click here.
Congratulations to our winners:
First Place – Team Delta
- Brandon Burroway
- Kevin Crosby
- Patrick Johnson
- Ryan Nolan
- Tiera Loren McKinney
Second Place – Team Beta
- Dipeeka Bastola
- Alexander Gentil
- Jacqueline Holmes
- Samira Patel
- Liza Perry
Third Place – Team Iota
- Kai-Jen Hsiao
- Eddie Kropf
- Ethan Pastel
- Yasamin Rahmanparast
- Chris Williams
Warlord’s Choice Award – Team Alpha
- Hassan Alzalzalah
- Lauren Behar
- Michael Bezjian
- John Gale
Executive Presence Awards
- Samira Patel
- Christopher Williams
- Kevin Crosby
- Ivette Acevedo
Cool Under Pressure Awards
- Liza Perry
- Ivette Acevedo
- Kevin Crosby
