On January 24th, our International MBA class successfully concluded the Corporate Innovation Challenge. This year, we had the privilege of collaborating with Quadpack, a global leader in cosmetics packaging solutions for beauty brands and a certified B Corp.
The challenge commenced in November 2023 with a visit to Quadpack’s Barcelona headquarters, where our participants gained insights into the company’s mission, vision, and dedication to sustainability while being presented with the challenge.
Engaging with real companies on sustainability challenges was a cornerstone of my MBA experience. Witnessing Quadpack's unwavering commitment to clear targets for improved resource use and community engagement was truly inspiring.
Diego Ramos, MBA participants from Brazil
Following the visit, our MBA participants applied the skills acquired during the Design Thinking course led by Rob Adams, working collaboratively in teams to employ design thinking tools and develop the initial MVP solution for the client’s sustainability challenge.
Design Thinking is certainly not a linear process because there are eureka moments where you’ve come up with a great solution followed by frustrating moments when you realize that the idea doesn’t work, and the cycle repeats. This class was intriguing and unlike any that I’ve taken before because it requires you to think outside the box, but you have to figure out what the box is.
Jessica Che, MBA participant from USA
Reflecting on the challenge itself, Diego Ramos highlighted the simulated real-world role at a major company, where diverse and often ambiguous challenges became the norm. To navigate this uncertainty, the teams delved into company analysis, contextual understanding and user interviews to pinpoint the core problem.
At the conclusion of the Design Thinking course, our MBA teams presented their initial pitches to Professor Rob Adams, who represented Quadpack for this initial phase of the challenge. Fast forward to January, each team received valuable feedback from Quadpack to enhance their ideas for the final Corporate Innovation Challenge presentations.
The challenge reached its pinnacle on January 24th, as our participants showcased their talent and projects to Quadpack’s leadership team, comprising Alexandra Chauvigné – CEO, Bardo Bevelander – CFO, David Ackley – VP, People, and Hulya Gray – Sustainability Champion. Dean DR. Jordi Diaz, who taught the Disruptive Innovation course, also graced the event.
Quadpack’s CEO Alexandra Chauvigné expressed deep admiration for the quality of the presentations, commending the passion and dedication of this year’s MBA cohort.
Prabhu Sampath’s (MBA participant from India) main takeaway from the sustainability challenge is, “Plastics are not the problem—the way we use plastics in our society is the issue. We need to learn how to use and reuse plastics in a sustainable way while working towards meeting carbon neutrality. For this to happen, every participant in the cosmetics value chain has pivotal roles to play, including brands, packaging suppliers, retail stores, and consumers. Together, we can turn the seemingly impossible into reality.”
For Diego Ramos, presenting solutions to the company’s C-level executives was the culmination of this immersive experience. Summarizing complex information into an engaging, thought-provoking presentation that challenged their assumptions and proposed sustainable solutions – encompassing environmental, social, and financial aspects – was an incredibly rewarding capstone.
The Corporate Innovation Challenge provides a tangible real-world experience for our participants to interact with industry leaders, cultivating a dynamic learning environment that equips them for success in the ever-evolving global business landscape.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Quadpack for their invaluable support in facilitating this challenge and congratulations to our MBA participants, who demonstrated creativity and presented innovative sustainable ideas with great skill.