From Penn State to Presentation: Case Competition Students Reflect on Their Success
For this week's news post, we have the pleasure of interviewing Brett Duffey, Joe Pagano, Jason Chen, and Justin Heckler! This group of incredible guys recently competed in the DeSales Hayden Films Case Competition, with Justin Heckler winning an award for “best presenter.” Today, we will be learning more about their experiences and aspirations.
Can you briefly describe your experience participating in the Hayden Films business case competition at DeSales University?
Above, Left to Right: Jason, Joe, Justin, and Brett
Can you briefly describe your experience participating in the Hayden Films business case competition at DeSales University?
Joe: The Hayden Films case competition at DeSales University was a phenomenal experience. Working with like-minded students Justin, Jason, and Brett, we created a well-put-together presentation prior to the competition. On the competition day, the four of us got to give our pitch, sit in on the other presentations, talk to business professionals, and even network with the judges.
Brett: The DeSales Case Competition was a great experience, both from a professional and personal standpoint. Justin, Joe, Jason, and I were able to network with many business executives and higher education administrators, many of whom remain valuable connections to this day. In just three hours of presenting and listening to the work of our competitors, we learned a massive amount of practical business knowledge and presenting skills, including how to best sell our ideas. Personally, I learned how to best prepare for a formal presentation, how to work efficiently under pressure, and how to answer in-depth questions without preparation. Overall, the case competition taught all of us very valuable lessons and skills that only an experience of this nature could. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
How did you prepare for the competition, and what strategies did your team implement to deliver an excellent presentation?
Joe: To prepare for the competition, we practiced our pitch many times to perfect the timing, delivery, and overall feel of the presentation as we intended it. In order to deliver an excellent presentation, we incorporated well-known metrics such as SWOT analysis, Gantt charts, and financial statements, all of which we customized for Cemboo.
How did you collaborate as a team to ensure a cohesive and impactful presentation?
Brett: As a team, Justin, Joe, Jason, and I worked diligently to create and present the best possible presentation that addressed how to innovate Hayden Films' Cemboo to maximize profits, while also exceeding the scope of the given topic. We proposed multiple ideas for how Hayden Films could enhance its operational efficiency, coupled with detailed financial projections in support of these suggestions. None of this would have been achievable without our united approach as a team. We dedicated numerous hours over several weeks to crafting and refining our presentation. Moreover, the extensive finance knowledge possessed by my fellow team members rendered the more intricate aspects of this project very manageable. To conclude, we conducted several practice sessions with our slides on the day of the presentation to ensure we delivered the utmost quality. In summary, this endeavor exemplified a true team effort in every sense of the word.
Considering you are all studying different subjects at Penn State, were there any specific skills or knowledge areas that you had to acquire or enhance to excel in the competition?
Joe: Not necessarily; while we each had our individual interests, we leveraged those effectively. When there were financial projections to be developed, we brought in one of the finance majors. For sections involving marketing, management, or overall business, a different team member took the lead. Additionally, if any of us were assigned to generate information outside of our expertise, we received assistance from others in the team throughout the process.
What are your future academic and professional pursuits?
Joe: My plan is to complete my Finance degree while actively participating in extracurricular activities on campus. During this time, I aim to secure several additional internships. As for post-grad, I would love to start my professional career in Valuation, M&A consulting, or any sector of Investment Banking.
Brett: Penn State University, Abington Business Leaders, and the numerous incredible students and staff I've had the privilege to collaborate with during my college years have equipped me well for my future endeavors. With this foundation, I intend to pursue a career in government service, seeking opportunities in both contracting and administration. Furthermore, I plan to persist in my part-time journalism career, aspiring to expand it into a profitable venture down the line. Alongside these pursuits, I hold a keen interest in entrepreneurship and investing. When the opportune moment arises, I hope to explore this realm more deeply, once I've had the chance to thoroughly learn about it. I recognize that regardless of the path I choose, it will entail many years of dedicated effort. I am fully committed to investing the time and energy required to achieve success. Such experiences as the DeSales Case Competition are particularly invaluable, as they provide practical hands-on learning that is rare to find. I believe that this experience, among others, has furnished me and my teammates with a robust foundation upon which to construct our post-college careers.
Jason: Within the next two years I plan on landing an investment banking internship with a focus on real estate while graduating from Penn State University with a bachelor's in Finance. In terms of my professional pursuits, I plan on gaining work experience post-graduation for a few years and then attending a top MBA program to continue my business education.
Thank you for your time! To finish, what advice would you give to future Penn State students?
Brett: After going through the DeSales Case Competition and other collegiate experiences, I would advise future Penn State students to take risks, get involved, and make connections. Personally, when I first came to Penn State, I had little intention of getting involved in extracurricular activities, especially when outside work would be required. But after seeing the inherent long-lasting benefits of doing so, I decided the time was right for me to dive in and take a few risks along the way. I think I speak for the entire team when I say none of us envisioned doing all that we did when we first walked into Penn State. But at the end of the day, we made at least a small contribution to improving the business ecosystem at our campus and furthering the notion that anyone can do anything as long as they put their mind to it. Getting involved is the first step, and staying involved is the second step. The rest will come with time, and I have confidence that any future Penn State students who make a legitimate effort to do this will be richly rewarded.
Joe: The amount of people who get handed opportunities, yet don't show up, is higher than you think. My advice to future Penn State students is to pick a major you love, get involved in its related extracurriculars, and network with alumni who graduated with your intended major. Doing this frequently will set you up with opportunities. Act on these and you will be successful.