Showcase your leadership and innovation skills!
Every year, University of Findlay students have the opportunity to showcase their leadership and innovation skills in the business industry in the Innovative Leadership Challenge! The purpose of the Innovative Leadership Challenge is to promote leadership skills, problem-solving and creative thinking. The competition is open to ALL students to compete individually or in teams of two to five students.
$12,000 in prize money will be awarded!
Thank you to the Garner Entrepreneurial Endowment for making this possible!
Finalists compete in front of a panel of judges. The 2019 judges were:
Sherri Garner Brumbaugh - CEO and president of Garner Trucking, Inc.
Susan Treece - co-owner of Findlay Brewing Company
Carla Treadway - entrepreneur and owner of Tread’s Gym
Julie Williamson-Wright - Vice President of Organizational Chain Management at Information Services Group (ISG)
Innovative Leadership
1st – Active Campus Emergency Seminar (A.C.E.S.)
Nicole Bosserman proposed an on-campus seminar to increase awareness of active shooter emergency plans, provide knowledge and tools on active shooter situations, and allow individuals to get first aid and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certifications.
2nd – 4 Paws for Ability
This is a non-profit organization based in Xenia, Ohio, that places quality service dogs with children with disabilities and veterans who have lost use of limbs or hearing and educate the public regarding use of service dogs in public places. Rachael Quandt proposed an on-campus club that would foster 4 Paws puppies to enhance their socialization and obedience training.
3rd – Fearless Financial Club
Bonnie Vue presented her idea for a club that would educate students how to capitalize on financial freedom.
Innovative Business
1st – SudHub
Aaron Overhiser and Marissa Pellis presented their cellphone application that would provide a simpler and more secure laundry process for university students. The app would utilize all-in-one washer-dryer units with Wi-Fi capabilities to send notifications when loads are complete or when machines are available.
2nd – BLURRY
Sergio Palacio Martinez proposed an organization that would employ recovering addicts in a pottery and flower business. The employed individuals would use their story of recovery to inspire the pottery design and the act of gardening as a sort of rehabilitation.
3rd – Pathfinder
Nicole Bosserman presented her idea for a equine consulting company, where she would travel to various barns and business to train and provide equine business advice.
Organizational Case Study
1st – Circle K
2nd – Truck Club
3rd – Accounting Club
To view more photos of the 2019 Innovative Leadership Challenege, click here.
How It Works
Students choose one of three categories to compete in:
Innovative Leadership. This category will consist of individuals or teams of two to five students. Contestants will compose an event such as a new class, club or seminar. The goal is to promote leadership on campus. All logistics for the event need to be outlined in submission.
Innovative Business. This category is similar to The Innovation Competition from previous years with an additional element of leadership. It gives individuals or teams of two to five students a chance to learn more about innovation and entrepreneurship through the development of an idea, creation of a business model, and delivery of a final presentation. Ideas must be based on a sustainable business model that would benefit City of Findlay businesses and services.
Organizational Case Study. Student organizations or clubs will form a team of two to five students. Once signed up, students will receive a problem for the preliminary round through email and will submit their solution to the problem two weeks prior to the final round. Finalists will be selected for the final presentation by the selection committee one week prior to the final round. Finalists will be given the final case study 24 hours prior to the final round. They will have 24 hours to compile their response and prepare for their presentation.
Click here or the button below to view the rubrics for each category of the 2019 Innovative Leadership Challenge!
Contestants from each category go through a selection process before moving on to the final round. Each category in the final round will be judged by four local business leaders that showcase exceptional entrepreneurial and leadership qualities.