Clayton State’s College of Business Students Win First Place at Broadwell Consulting Case Competition

(December 15, 2025) - Clayton State University College of Business recently won the first-place prize in the Broadwell Consulting Case Competition. Students Hailey Long, Yulianny Matias Medina, Alana Fyne, and Calvin Smith participated in the Fintech & Insurtech Conference event hosted by Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  

A panel of six Deloitte executives judged the competition, highlighting the students' academic expertise and readiness to tackle real-world challenges in the professional landscape. Their victory, accompanied by a $3,000 prize, is a testament to their determination, preparation, and ability to overcome any challenge.  
 
The event featured seasoned competitors from North Carolina A&T, Fayetteville State University, Howard University, and Bowie State University. Many of whom already knew each other from years of competing. Clayton State, by contrast, arrived as completely unknown new faces, new energy, and no reputation to precede them. Yet against all odds, they claimed first place. 

The journey to attend the competition was almost as challenging as the case itself. Dr. Carin Lightner-Laws, Professor of Management and Supply Chain Management and the Director of the Center for Supply Chain Management in the College of Business, coordinated and prepared the business students for the event. The President’s Strategic Plan Innovation Grant, along with the support of President Georj Lewis and Dean Jacob Chacko, turned possibility into reality.

With funding and materials secured, Dr. Lightner-Laws finalized her team, handpicking the students she knew were the “best and brightest.” Dr. Lightner-Laws said, “Once the group was chosen, my mission was clear: remove every distraction and let them focus.” 
She eliminated every outside obstacle so they could concentrate entirely on the competition.  
 
The case was released on Monday night. It was a nearly 50-slide analysis of Disney’s emerging challenges. Teams had just two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, to prepare realistic, financially grounded solutions. For the Clayton State team, those days also included travel, airport delays, and the demands of full-time jobs for two team members. Study sessions unfolded in terminals, on flights, and in pockets of borrowed quiet time.  

“I think one thing that really made this competition different from others I’ve participated in was the time pressure combined with travel,” said Hailey Long, a College of Business Accounting Student at Clayton State. “We had to focus and truly lock in while at the airport, on flights, and attending conference events.” Long expressed that, despite the pressures, the group found its rhythm. They divided tasks, checked in frequently, and supported each other through fatigue and stress. 

Calvin Smith, a Business Administration Data Analytics student, shared how his classroom knowledge helped him tackle the case, emphasizing teamwork and communication as key skills. “From our business classes, I learned how to plan, cover everything necessary, and consider who we were presenting to, in this case, senior leaders from Deloitte and prominent industry CEOs. I studied ways to connect with them and address their concerns. That guidance was extremely helpful in approaching this case.” 
 
On the Friday morning of the presentation, the Clayton State team was randomly selected to present first.  Rather than being shaken, they embraced the chance to set the tone for the entire competition. Their delivery was strong, polished, and sharply researched. 
 
For Alana Fyne, a Business Administration Marketing student, who was new to case competitions entirely, the nerves were overwhelming. As a past performer, she found this challenge even more daunting than taking a stage. But once the presentation began, something changed. “I could tell Alana was nervous at first, but by the second slide, her nerves melted into confidence. It seemed like she had become a 'seasoned veteran' within seconds,” said Dr. Lightner-Laws, impressed by the sudden transformation. 
 
Dr. Lightner-Laws saw just how high her students had set the bar by watching the other presentations throughout the day. As each team presented, she took notes, evaluating strengths and weaknesses, but her confidence in Clayton State’s performance only grew. 
 
Business Administration student Yulianny Medina reflected on the intensity of the competition. “We had a lot of ideas and research, but limited time, so prioritizing was key. We had to make our points, provide evidence, and deliver a solid plan efficiently,” she said. “It was challenging but fun, and it taught us to manage time and listen to each other,” Yulianny explained. This approach allowed them to deliver a stronger, more diverse outcome for the case.  
 
Watching the team during the competition, Dr. Lightner-Laws said she wasn’t surprised by their cohesion and professionalism. Having worked with each student before, she was confident in their preparation and ability to perform under pressure. Presenting first, they set a high bar for the other teams, and throughout the day, she observed their skill, teamwork, and poise, leaving her assured that the team she had assembled had truly earned their victory. 

When the announcement came that Clayton State had won first place, the team was filled with excitement and pride. “It felt amazing. As Doctor Lightner-Laws mentioned in the beginning, we came in and not a single person knew who we were,” Yulianny said. “But we knew our potential. We worked together. We put a lot of effort into this presentation, and it felt great to have that effort rewarded.”

“I was thrilled because we had the opportunity, as the professor said, to set the bar high, and I think we did that,” Calvin said. “So, when we were announced first, I felt great. You know, we got on the stage, took our pictures, and it was an amazing experience. Happy we brought that home for Clayton State.”

Hailey said the first thing she did was text out the news. “It's one of the most exciting parts when you're winning awards or competitions, getting to tell everybody. I contacted my family; they're such a big support system for me. They're so proud of me, I'm definitely immediately on my phone, I'm sending them pictures and telling them that we won.”

Alana’s advice to future Clayton State College of Business teams preparing for a similar big competition is “Just be as confident as you can be in the material and understand that if you're always giving your best, that is all you can give.”