News Byte: Vancouver M.B.A. Students Win Prize in Global Competition

Allison Eichler| June 21, 2024

M.B.A. students Stella Luoou Li and Kumaran Ahilan put their business acumen to the test in February when they virtually presented solutions to corporate challenges at Southern Connecticut State University’s Global Business Students Competition. In May, they learned they were recipients of the runner-up prize.

Open to full-time students enrolled in a university’s undergraduate or graduate business program, the competition, which welcomed 134 students representing 19 colleges across 11 countries, tasked Li and Ahilan to work with South Florida Tissue Paper Co. of Miami Gardens, Fla. A virtual meeting with the company owner offered a valuable question-and-answer session to learn about the human resource challenges the company wanted to alleviate. 

The pair’s research uncovered that Miami’s labor market sees job tenure ranging from one month to eight years, with a predicted 50 percent likelihood of new hires staying in their role long term. These statistics, impacting South Florida Tissue Paper Co., prompted Li and Ahilan to devise a plan for the business to better retain its employees, including more engaging on-site training programs and a more balanced and innovative policy to manage employees’ cell phone use during work hours.

“I will definitely use many of your proposals in my company, and I can foresee a high level of employee engagement in the future,” the Florida-based company owner stated after Li and Ahilan concluded their presentation. “Let me thank you on behalf of my employees for your contributions.”

Li and Ahilan, who came to study on the Vancouver campus from their homes in China and India, respectively, say the competition was thrilling. 

“It was an exciting journey to apply human resource knowledge from my M.B.A. courses to diagnose this company’s intricacies,” Li says. “I strongly believe this experience will be a valuable asset for my future career in human resources.”

Ahilan adds that the competition was productive in prepping him for post-graduation life. “Case studies and real-life projects like this help develop students like myself into an accomplished graduate.”

More Features

People in front of laptops

Vancouver Campus Introduces New Master of Data Science

The new graduate program is suited for students in the specific subspecialties of data science, including data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Portrait of Krishna Jograna and Ritika Radadiya

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

M.B.A. students and roommates Krishna Jograna and Ritika Radadiya are inseparable and inspire each other to become better businesswomen.

Group of graduates wearing caps and gowns sitting in an auditorium

Vancouver Campus Celebrates Its 24th Commencement Ceremony

On October 25, family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at The University of British Columbia to celebrate New York Tech-Vancouver’s Class of 2024.

New York Tech student Ryan Ahmed sitting at a desk looking at a computer part

Riding the Brain Wave

When Ryan Ahmed’s father suffered a brain aneurysm, Ahmed sprang into action, developing earbuds that register brain activity. At New York Tech, he has taken his idea even further.

Monika Rohde speaking to a student

A New PATH for Student Success

New York Tech is one of just seven institutions in the country to receive a Postsecondary Student Success Grant from the Department of Education to support student success.

From Shy to Fearless

Looking at computer science and data science student Michael Aryeetey’s many extracurricular leadership roles, you would never guess that he was once the shy guy. He’s even been awarded multiple times.