An Instagram photo found on @BusinessISU and dated 101 weeks ago shows a room filled with a fresh crop of Business Week (BW) Mentor Program participants. The 612-pixel square barely contains the nervous, excited, and maybe even a little intimidated BW mentees. Two of the mentees pictured, Ellen Marr and Kyle Zulz, had no idea that this induction ceremony was the first of many BW events that would prepare them for their current roles as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) coordinators.
A room filled with a fresh crop of Business Week (BW) Mentor Program participants.
Zulz and Marr attested to their personal and professional growths as a result of their various BW roles since 2014. But BW participants are not the only ones evolving. According to Zulz, previous CSR events found students passively burrowed in seats while professionals discussed the importance of CSR. While the information provided was imperative for business students soon entering the workplace, the current BW Team fancied a more interactive, real-life presentation.
Marr and Zulz came up with a two-fold remedy: a competition where teams of three students are assigned a real-life business situation to solve. Co-sponsored by GROWMARK, 12 teams will develop and present their solutions within 90 minutes. Once all teams are scored, the top two teams will present again to determine which will receive the first-place prize of $600 or the second place prize of $150. Zulz and Marr said all participants will walk away with critical-thinking and presentation skills. “This is also a great opportunity for students to network with GROWMARK representatives,” Zulz added.
If the concept of corporate social responsibility still seems foreign, have no fear. Marr said the CSR Case Competition is “completely doable with any experience.” There is an introductory event on Thursday, February 18, at the State Farm Hall of Business Caterpillar Auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m. for all that are interested in participating.
Registration for the CSR Case Competition closes on Friday, February 12. For more information and to register online, visit the CSR Day page. Questions regarding CSR Day can be submitted to BusinessWeek@IllinoisState.edu.
Exciting and replicable!