Bauer MBA Students Win Big
Bauer MBA Students Named 2026 Big XII Case Competition Champions
A group of four graduate students from the C. T. Bauer College of Business made history this spring as the college's first-ever winning team in the 2026 Big XII MBA Case Competition.
In a battle of competitive brainstorming, analytical thinking and creative problem-solving, MBA candidates Nnamdi Ogbogu, Shaan Muhammad, Subhecha Niraula and Dhruvisha Shah worked together to find a solution for a mock case that replicates a real challenge they could encounter in the business world.
Hosted by the TCU Neely School of Business, the annual Big XII Case Competition invites teams of MBA candidates from across the Big XII Conference to tour the TCU campus, connect with their peers and network with business leaders.
Bauer MBA candidates Ogbogu, Muhammad and Niraula came in with the experience of having competed last year. With the addition of Shah on their team, they worked together to bring home the win.
“Everyone knew what their strengths were and everyone was willing to put in equal amount of commitment,” Shah said. “We all brought our best selves to the team.”
We all brought our best selves to the team.
The students were asked to design a functional portfolio strategy for a food and beverage company that would maximize growth, profit and balance sustainability.
The feedback that they received from the judges was all positive, she added. They commended them for how thorough their presentation was, and they were told they excelled in the Q&A portion. However, what really helped set them apart was their introduction, Shah said.
Ogbogu said he set the stage by sharing an anecdote about his relationship with fitness. He showcased himself as a consumer who was overwhelmed by all the options presented to him at the store; what product offered the most protein, and what was the healthiest combination of low fat, low calorie and high collagen products he could take together?
The consumer persona he created carried them throughout the entirety of their presentation, he said, and was an element that helped connect them with the judges.
Nnamdi Ogbogu presenting at the Big XII Case Competition.
Nnamdi Ogbogu presenting at the Big XII Case Competition.
“My strength is the ability to articulate myself and tell compelling stories that reel people in,” Ogbogu said.
The case that they worked on involved analyzing eight different products and only selecting three to build their strategy on, Muhammad explained. Part of the challenge was thinking about how they would stand out among 11 other teams who had the same pool of products to choose from, he added.
“We tried to hone our solution, and part of that meant having a different target customer per product,” Muhammad said. “Everyone on our team had their own research, then we would come back and recalibrate every hour or two. We talked through what we were thinking and discussed in our own breakout groups. When we all came together, that’s when we really excelled.”
Shaan Muhammad (left) and Nnamdi Ogbogu (right) holding up the Big XII Case Competition trophy.
Shaan Muhammad (left) and Nnamdi Ogbogu (right) holding up the Big XII Case Competition trophy.
Subhecha Niraula shaking hands with Big XII Case Competition judge.
Subhecha Niraula shaking hands with Big XII Case Competition judge.
In addition to placing first, Niraula was recognized as the Best Presenter across all 12 teams.
“It just validated all the work I’ve done over the past year,” she said. “It was surprising because I felt like a nervous wreck. However, I think the confidence I had in myself and the knowledge on what I was presenting really shined through.”
Rockwell Career Center Graduate and Alumni Career Services Director Stacey Piefer, who helped coach them to victory, said this wouldn’t have been possible if not for the four outstanding students who dedicated their time and came in hungry for the win.
“There are a lot of things that have to happen to put you in alignment to win a championship,” Piefer said. “First and foremost, it comes from the students and their desire to put in the work. Last year we left with a bit of a chip on our shoulder, but I think it’s important for a team to feel that sense of loss to give them the drive to come back, buckle down and zero in on the prize. It takes a lot of courage to do something like this. It takes a lot of confidence in yourself, and a lot of willingness to learn and grow.”
“We walked away with the title of champion, and I think that is something every person at Bauer should celebrate."
This competition pushes students to their limits as they work together to develop a strategic plan that they will present to a panel of industry professionals and executives, Piefer said. It requires a lot of teamwork, communication and a willingness to compromise, she added.
With these four students now recent alumni, Piefer said she hopes to keep that competitive spirit alive with a new team of MBA students for the 2027 Big XII Case Competition.
“We walked away with the title of champion, and I think that is something every person at Bauer should celebrate,” Piefer said. “This isn’t only my win, or the team’s win, this is a win for Bauer.”
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