Beyond the Classroom: Lessons from Clean Tech Competition

8 April 2015

Four BBS students have participated in the Cleantech Competition,  a business idea competition about green innovation.

After passing the first stages of selection and evaluation, a group of students of the MBA in Global Green Energy and Sustainable Businesses participated in the semi-final event in Milan. Clean Tech Competition is a unique business idea competition that wants to encourage the integration of STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in order to find new responsible solutions in energy consumption.

Here is the testimony of our four students, Ebenezer Kumi, Michelle Olivier, Omoruyi Omwanghe and N’kauh Nathan Bodje:

“As MBA students, most of us have one business idea or another. Yet, many times we do not get the opportunity to test these ideas. That is exactly what the Cleantech competition offered us. It tested the practical length and breadth of our idea, especially the economic viability and its uniqueness, which has tremendously improved our business concept. In essence, the competition provides an upcoming entrepreneur the medium to structure their idea and communicate it in practical terms.

We also received a great interest in and focus on our business concept from mentors, competition peers and organizers alike who were equally passionate about green innovations. Even for non-aspiring entrepreneurs, the many challenges the competition offer serves as an opportunity to test concepts learned in the classroom and how they are applied in real world scenarios.

After our experience, we certainly recommend future students to join. Participating in this event was truly an experience and we will always take these “beyond the classroom” lessons with us throughout our professional and personal lives.”