The benefits of case competitions to students are well-documented — the ability to solve real-world business challenges, improved teamwork and presentation skills, networking opportunities with top professionals, and enhanced career outcomes, among others.
But what are the benefits and appeal to alumni who participate in case competitions?
For Jeremy Dewell (BS ’20), a finance analyst at Zimmer Biomet, it begins with connecting to current students. “Zimmer has sponsored and judged a competition each spring for the last several years,” he says. “It’s always energizing to be back on campus, and our team members consider the event a highlight.”
Purdue alumna Jill Lehman, founder of Evolve HR Services, also served as a judge for the Zimmer Biomet case competition, as well as the annual PowerShift competition hosted by the Daniels School’s Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business.
“Case competitions are great opportunities for students and alumni to work together to provide cross-functional immersive experiences that can make a difference in the world today,” she says. “Everyone who has ever judged one has had an ‘ah-ha’ moment that they wouldn’t have otherwise thought about. That's really important when we’re trying to solve problems with a diversity of thought.”
Dewell and his company also benefit from the recommendations put forth by student teams. “A couple years ago we focused on acquisition diversity, and most recently on talent development,” he says. “The quality of Daniels School students makes them a great source of ideas, and their proposed solutions carry real weight.”
In addition, case competitions open a pipeline of future talent. “We recruit heavily at Purdue, including the Daniels School,” Dewell says. “Our summer internship program is mainly for students between their junior and senior years, but the case competition gives them even earlier exposure to possible careers in the field.”
Joe McMurry (BS ’87), senior industry advisor of workforce partnerships at Purdue’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), has judged several competitions. “Some people have a negative perception of manufacturing, so we’re able to use case competitions to show them a different side,” he says. “Students who have real hands-on experience with an industry and work on real-life industry issues are much more prepared coming out of school to be successful in their careers,” he says.
Lehman says the events also serve as resume-building opportunities for students. “Case competitions take teamwork, collaboration, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills,” she says. “All of those things play into the richness of the learning opportunity.”
Doug Pruim is a clinical assistant professor and director of the Daniels School's Center for Business Communication, which helps organize case competitions and provides student support in preparing for them.
“Alumni participation in case competitions is an invaluable asset to our students and the Center for Business Communication,” he says. “Our alumni serve as judges, sponsors, mentors, workshop presenters, and donors for prizes and scholarships. For our students, it’s a tremendous networking and learning opportunity; for our alumni, it’s an opportunity to recruit rising stars for their respective companies, share life experiences, learn from students, but also give back to the school they love.”
