North Team Wins Competition at UW Foster School of Business
For the seventh time in the past eight years, a team from North Seattle College took first place in the community college group of the Russell Investments International Case Competition at the University of Washington Foster School of Business Nov. 16.
Matias Saenz, who is president of North’s Finance Society Club, which he started last year, led a team of second year associate in business students to victory in the Northwest Regional track of the competition. Despite barely knowing each other, the four teammates came together for three days to build a business solution in an intense, competitive environment. Others on the team included Vincent Orato, Sarah Greenberg and Zora Rose Mtunga.
“Being part of this competition was tough, but super rewarding,” Saenz said. “I didn’t just learn a lot about the company we focused on, but also what it takes to work together under pressure. It really showed me what’s possible when motivated people join forces.”
The annual competition challenges students to put their studies and knowledge into practice by proposing solutions to current real-world business problems. North also had a team from its international business bachelor’s program that competed in the event, including Debby Orellana, Winter Barker and Troy Piscioneri.
According to Dr. Honorio Todino, lead faculty of North’s international business bachelor’s program, one of the judges said the two best teams at the event were from North Seattle College.
“North business students compete in more case study competitions than any community college in the country and even more than many universities,” Dr. Todino said. “Moreover, we also ask permission from organizers if we can use the case study utilized in the competitions for our regular classes in the international business bachelor’s program to benefit those who were not able to compete. Our students tackle 20 to 30 cases in their two years in the program. They learn how to analyze complex information for decision-making, presentation skills and teamwork.”
Orato, also on the winning team, said the case study competitions are a wonderful way to get experience in business outside the classroom.
“Analyzing a complex business case under tight time constraints really challenged us to be dedicated and led to our victory,” he said. “I would encourage other students to sign up next year and compete to win and just go out and dedicate the time necessary and you will have good results.”
Greenberg, his teammate, agreed.
“I attribute the team’s success to three factors: the time we invested, our ability to navigate well under pressure and our meticulously crafted presentation,” she said. “From the time we got the case to the day we presented, we spent around 10 hours a day diligently working in conference rooms.”
In addition to earning a $500 prize, the winning team has been invited to tour Russell Investments and share a celebratory lunch with company executives in January.
Nausica Zorzi, interim dean of Business and Accounting programs at North summed up the experience: “It was an exciting day for North with both teams presenting great solutions. All these remarkable students successfully represented their instructors and the college, and we are proud of them!”