21 Things You Need to Know About the 2015 Youth Business Summit

Students Worked in Multinational Teams

Students who participate in the Global Business Challenge only have two hours to collaborate with students from different schools, states, and countries to identify the challenges, opportunities and risks involved in a global business by examining a business case study, then presenting their findings and recommendations to a panel of judges. This year’s Global Business Challenge, hosted at Baruch College, featured 30 multinational teams sharing creative and strategic visions, debating best courses of action, contributing complementary talents, and providing diverse perspectives, all while becoming friends in the process.

High School Students Worked on a Business School Case Study

This year, students were challenged to serve as consultants for Victorinox Swiss Army’s head of marketing. The teams presented their best recommendations regarding whether or not Victorinox should expand into the fragrance market.

Each of the 30 teams created and delivered presentations featuring a SWOT analysis, Marketing Mix, Pros and Cons, and a concluding argument.

290 Students Participated in the Global Business Challenge

Everyone Was a Winner, But Three Teams Get Bragging Rights

First Place Co-Champion (Team 12)

• Lucas Bahia, Escola de Formação Gerencial Sebrae EFG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• Craig Hilson, Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy, Chicago, Illinois
• Katharina Karcher, HLA Gernsbach, Gernsbach, Germany
• Zahid Reddy, Academy of Finance and Enterprise, Long Island City, New York
• Alexis Reyes, Santa Monica HS, Santa Monica, California
• Carlos Santana, Lakewood HS, Lakewood, California
• Ying Ying Shi, Fort Hamilton HS, New York, New York
• Adriana Tobar, Crenshaw HS, Los Angeles, California

First Place Co-Champion (Team 3)

• Christina Bradshaw, River Bluff HS, Lexington, South Carolina
• Christian Branch, South Granville HS, Creedmoor, North Carolina
• Bryan De Jesus, Business and Tourism, Los Angeles, California
• Hope Grimes, Murrieta Valley HS, Murrieta, California
• Astrid Hirschfeld, International Business College Hetzendorf, Vienna, Austria
• Sean Lewis, First Colonial HS, Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Scott Nicolosi, Longwood HS, Long Island, New York
• Daniel Messing, BSZ Waldkirch, Waldkirch, Germany
• Ashlyn Murphy, Byron Nelson HS, Trophy Club, Texas
• Niccolo Parisi, St. James HS, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Second Place (Team 2)

• Andre Bandi, International Business College Hetzendorf, Vienna, Austria
• Florencio Flores, Palm Springs HS, Palm Springs, California
• Shyan Johnson, Homestead Senior High, Homestead, Florida
• Caitlyn Leong, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Kenmore, New York
• Mentari Nudia Burhan Ali Mansyur, Sekolah High/Scope Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
• Aree McMannen, Granville Central HS, Stem, North Carolina
• Haramritpal Singh, John Adams HS, New York, New York
• Benjamin Streibich, BSZ Waldkirch, Waldkirch, Germany
• Blanca Thomas, J.F. Webb HS, Oxford, North Carolina
• Marco Valdivia Jr., San Marcos HS, Santa Barbara, California

Vicky Free, CMO of BET Networks, Shared Her Best Advice for Business Success

Vicky Free, EVP of Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer of BET Networks, was the keynote speaker for this year’s Global Business Challenge. Her advice: we learned everything we need to succeed in business while in kindergarten.

It was special to hear how this successful business leader and brand marketing and media mogul used lessons learned in kindergarten to thrive in her professional life and help others do the same.

Diverse Judges Interacted with Diverse Students

Judges from a diverse range of industries graciously donated their time and expertise to interact with and evaluate the work of VEI students.

Global Business Challenge Judges

Francisco Alba, Truven Health
Charlotte Beyer, Wealth Management Unwrapped
Nicola Blue, American Express
Lizzette Butkiewicz, HSBC
Debby Carrington, HSBC
Peter Freyer, HSBC
Michael Goldman, SCORE
Matt Gordon, Wealthstream Advisors
Myshell Gresham, Chartis Insurance
Seth Harris, Consultant
Slav Kuzmin, HSBC
Steven Malin, Queens College
Scott Mitchell, PEN International
Lynn Najman, LRN Associates

Donna Newman, Donna Newman Law, LLC
Fukiko Ogisu, Viacom
Nelly Palmon, Project Management Institute
Paul Stanley, HSBC
Martha Stark, Baruch College
Leslie Stubin, Green Chairs
Sandra Tamayo, HSBC
Betsy Waters, HSBC
Alexander Woie, HSBC
Sam Wong, MTA
Jian Xiao, Fordham University
Vincent Young, SIFMA Foundation for Investor Education

24 Teams Qualified for the National Business Plan Competition

Writing and presenting business plans is a core component of the VEI experience. Teams from around the country presented at local and state levels throughout the school year for a chance to compete with peers from around the country during the 2015 National Business Plan Competition, sponsored by HSBC and hosted at Microsoft.

Top 24 Finalists Teams
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After two rounds of presentations on the morning of April 14, the group of 24 was reduced to the final six.

Top 6 Finalist Teams
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National Business Plan Competition Judges Were Impressed by Students’ Presentations

Thirty-four entrepreneurs, C-level executives, industry professionals, and leaders from business and education served as judges for the event. Joshua Siegel, General Partner of Rubicon Venture Capital, commented, “VEI participants in the National Business Plan Competition are well-prepared, portray a mature business attitude and clearly understand the businesses that they have developed over the school year. I was impressed by their poise, presentations and professionalism.”

National Business Plan Competition Judges

• Steve Alper, Managing Director, Barclays Bank
• Beverly Beaudoin, Chief Strategy Officer, BoomBox, Inc.
• Michael Beck, Chief Financial Officer, Choice Logistics
• Calgary Branagan, Marketing & Client Services Manager, Epson Fuller Group
• Mark Chmiel, School of Business, Mercy College
• Dr. Kimberly Cline, President, Long Island University
• Felicia Demos, CFO, Demos Restaurants
• Desai Mehul, Operational Support, HSBC
• Janis Elfing, Calypso
• George Fina, Chief Strategy Officer, Michael C. Fina
• Rochelle Foster, Certified Financial Planner, AXA Advisors
• Michael Goldman, SCORE
• Susan Hirshman, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
• Marla Isackson, Founder, Like a Boss Girls
• Patrick Lewis, Design Lead, Button Inc.
• John Lucas, Chief Risk and Administration Officer, HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
• Joseph Marotta, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
• Ayesha Mathews, Founder, viiv.tv
• Roberta Mittman, Founder, Park Ave Center for Wellbeing
• Nelly Palmon, Project Management Institute
• Peter Rosenberger, Founder, ClusterFest Events
• Andrew Rosman, Dean of Business, Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Cherie Serota, Founder, Belly Basics
• Josh Siegel, General Partner, Rubicon Venture Capital
• Manish Somaiya, Managing Director, Citi
• Janet Squitieri, Global Head of Compliance, Van Eck Associates
• Ethne Swartz, Associate Dean, Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Laura Wang, Vice President of Digital Strategy, JP Morgan Chase
• Ed Weis, Dean of Business, Mercy College
• Alim Williams, Founder and CEO, SocialEffort
• Jason T. Williams, Senior Director of Business Operations, Viacom
• Sam Wong, New York City Transit Authority
• Doug Young, Council for Economic Education
• Albert J. Zdenek, President & CEO, Traust Sollus Wealth Management

A First Year VEI Firm Finished in 1st Place

Life’s PURiTEA of Byron Nelson HS–a school in Trophy Club, Texas that is brand new to the VEI network–made a big statement by finishing in 1st Place. The accomplishment shows all new VEI firms that success can happen faster than expected when you create a great product and have a great team.

A B-Corporation Finished in 2nd Place

In the 2013 National Business Plan Competition 1st Place team Ripple, Inc. from Centennial HS in Bakersfield, California introduced themselves as a Benefit (B) corporation as a for-profit organization that considered their company’s impact on society and the environment along with any profit-minded decisions. Ripple used a “triple bottom line” focusing on people, the planet, and profits. As a result of this company’s business model, VEI added B-corps as a standard option for all VEI firms.

This year, the 2nd Place team Helios from Westhampton Beach HS in Westhampton Beach, New York is B-corp whose mission is to promote eco-friendly renewable energy while maintainng a commitment to a greener tomorrow.

Jim Donald, CEO of Extended Stay America and Former CEO of Starbucks, Inspired Students To Find Their “Fish Story”

When Jim Donald, current CEO of Extended Stay America and former CEO of Starbucks and Haggen Food & Pharmacy, walked into Microsoft, he brought along an 11-pound salmon. This seasoned executive with a specialty in rehabilitating ailing companies captivated the crowd by using the salmon to demonstrate how businesses need to differentiate themselves and make a mark. He also managed to personally address each of the 24 finalist teams.

It was a speech that everyone in attendance will continue talking about for years to come.

Sold-Out International Trade Show–160 Student Businesses, 4000 People

With so many businesses and guests gathered at the 69th Regiment Armory, it was a booming day for simulated trading and real-life learning.

View the list of Trade Show Exhibitors

Innovative Trade Show Booths On Display

Innovative marketing strategies that captured the attention of the crowd included 3D-Printing, Living Instagram, and the Interactive Photobooth.

Echoing Jim Donald’s emphasis on the need to differentiate one’s business, VEI students did just that with their unique booth designs, roaming salespeople, and giveaways.

Check out the 3D printer in action!

Polyglot Translation’s “Living Instagram.”

Versorna’s interactive photo booth.

Sales, Sales, Sales

Students Promoted Their Trade Show Booths with Giveaways

Middle Schoolers Experienced Their First Trade Show

With support from the New York Life Foundation, VEI is piloting the Virtual Enterprises Junior Ventures Career Academy, a two-year program for 7th and 8th graders, in a select number of cities between 2015 and 2019. Students from two of these pilot schools dressed in their best professional attire and got the chance to participate in the International Trade Show.

Teacher-Coordinators Met to Discuss the Year and Events

The Youth Business Summit offered educators the opportunity meet one another and discuss best practices, noteworthy details, and feedback on their VEI experiences.

U.S. Network Bank Credit Cards Used for the First Time

Throughout the 2014-15 school year, trade shows across the United States distributed credit cards to visitors who were able to make purchases from student businesses. Using actual credit cards took students’ financial skills to a new level. 

Teams Celebrated Gold, Silver, and Bronze-Level Awards from Trade Show Competitions

Top Firm Catalogs

Top Firm Websites (Basic)

Top Firm Websites (Advanced)

Best Booths

Top Sales Pitches 

https://twitter.com/sscvei/status/588776938778537984

https://twitter.com/jeny_alexandraa/status/588415611748880384

Alumni Returned for More Youth Business Summit Action

Alumni served as judges for the Global Business Challenge, National Business Plan Competition, and International Trade Show competitions as well as played crucial roles behind-the-scenes to help run these events.

If you’re an alumni and want to get involved again, please let us know.

Students, Teachers, and Judges Buzzed About #2015YBS on Social Media

Jefferson Business Academy/VEI lands in the Big Apple – New York City. @tampajhs @MrAyresJHS@HCPSCTE #2015YBS pic.twitter.com/XBevWbG5KR

— Gwendolyn Henderson (@henderg1) April 13, 2015