Modern Workplace, Modern Solutions

Students from the C. T. Bauer College of Business created and pitched solutions on a work-life balance issue during the third annual Phillips66 Pitch Competition.  

By assessing a case study given to competitors on Amex Flex, a work-life balance plan implemented for an American Express office in Spain, students worked together to pitch how a similar plan could benefit Phillips66. 

The Bauer Bunch team, consisting of Bauer Honors students Rohan Gupta, Simon Henry, William Massaras, David Torres and Jade Tsang, banded together on short notice to take home first place and $3,500 in prize money. Their final team’s makeup consisted of two separate groups that lost members shortly before the competition, giving them the opportunity of working against a unique adversity. 

“They were very curious about what we had completed already and were asking really great questions to understand what we had put together,” Massaras said. “We started practicing our roles and if someone finished early, they would help someone else. We really came together and made it happen in such a short amount of time.” 

Massara and Tsang were the lone members left from their original team before joining the Bauer Bunch and had already completed their research and presentation. The other three members of the team worked to add their input to create a polished product. 

With this case study being so modern, the students provided their own experiences working with various kinds of work-life balance methods such as a hybrid schedule which benefited their research and presentation. 

“Usually, the case studies in competitions like these are based or modeled after real life, but there is still a separation because a lot is left up to interpretation,” Simon said. “This one was unique because it is a topic that we as students are experiencing in real time so we can contribute firsthand.” 

The competition was directed by Bauer’s Assistant Director of Special Projects Natalia Lara and Director of Admissions and Recruitment Joyce Williams. They enjoy being able to hear the different perspectives of students ranging from freshman and seniors to understand how diverse groups of students try and problem-solve, Lara said.  

“These competitions really help with presentation skills so they are prepared for more in the future,” Williams said. “Sometimes the students look at these studies and present how they believe things should be done. They may not seem realistic at the time but things such as hybrid working and artificial intelligence were not realistic, so you have to acknowledge that things are constantly changing.” 

Associate Dean for Executive Development Cheryl Baldwin and Department of Management & Leadership Professor of Practice John Williams provided their expertise as judges with Associate Professor Enrica Ruggs assisting in the selection process. Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives Roger Barascout spoke with the students after each award had been distributed. 

“Competitions like this are a great experience for every student because this is how challenges may be presented,” Barascout said. “You never know when you will work with a new team on short notice or have to put together a project while collaborating new and different information. This kind of experience will take you very far after graduation.”