【Honor】GHRM MBA And IBMBA Students Finishes 2nd At CSR Captain Program: Sam Lee Recalls Her Fond Memories
NSYSU GHRM MBA students have been winning competitions one after another this year, and they have done it once again. Sam Lee, GHRM MBA 2nd year student, finished 2nd at the prestigious CSR Captain Program along with her teammates Erica Liu and Rossie Lim, 1st-year IBMBA students, and Mashi Zhang, 2nd-year IBMBA student. Today, we share Sam's experience from the prestigious competition.
The competition offers students an opportunity to understand Taiwan's corporate culture while responding to global CSR movements. The competition involves the formulation of a team, including local and international students. The first prize winner of the "CTCI CSR Scholarship" receives NT$20,000, second prize winners receive NT$16,000, and the third prize winners receive NT$12,000.
Sam found out about the competition through GHRM Family and CTCIEF Facebook page's, and when she was asked by her friend Mashi to join her team, she gladly accepted. Sam's team was known as REMS, which not only stands for 'Responsibility and Enthusiasm Makes Sustainability' but is also an abbreviation of the first letter of each of the group members' names.
For their topic, Sam and her group members were assigned to help DiDi-a non-profit organization that aims to make the world a better place for the virtually impaired by assisting them in finding gainful employment. To help DiDi, Sam and her group did intensive research. She shares: "We used SWOT analysis to understand more about the company, then choose one problem – customer retention to solve. We come up with the idea – creating more products to attract customers (because if customers join their events, they never join the next time), our ideas include games in the darks that customers can play together and understand their partners, or dining/tea in the dark which focus on enterprise, organizations,… to solve the problems in business, or understand more their employees,…"
Through the competition, Sam got to befriend amazing people who understood each other and were willing to work together. In the near future, she hopes to join more competitions with her REMS group members. It wasn't always easy for Sam and her group members, but whenever they were indecisive, they would hold a vote or ask the organization for guidance. In the end, they persevered and came through. Sam notes that teamwork, friendship, and learning to be open-minded towards others' ideas were the most valuable things she learned from the competition.
When the results were announced, it was a moment of bliss for Sam and her team, but they were also a little disappointed that they didn't win first prize. Sam shares her thoughts about finding out the results: "That was so amazing because at that time I presented not well, but Rossie rocked it, she helped our team to finished our parts on time and delivered fulfilled messages to the judgement. We were really happy and a little disappointed because we were not lucky enough to win the first prize"
Sam is grateful for her team members and shares a short but meaningful message: "Thank you, my friends, 'cause you come to my life. I will always remember you guys. Save our days 28/11/2020"
We are beyond delighted that GHRM MBA and IBMBA students continuously bring prestige to the university by performing stupendously at competitions. Congratulations to Sam and her team, and we wish them only the best for their future endeavors.
【Honor】NSYSU team entered top 5 for Graduate League at the Grossman School of Businesses 8th Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition (SG-FECC)
The 8th annual Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition Finalist
It was 9 PM on January 9th and the motivated yet fatigued students from NSYSU were frantically rehearsing their hastily prepared speeches for the final round of the competition as their composed advisor-coach, observed from across the room. After 48 grueling hours of preparations, the competitors were about to present to a daunting panel of judges from all different backgrounds around the world, from distinguished professors to CEO of highly regarded family enterprises, for the final round of the competition. Although all three IBMBA students, Stan Tsai, Yen-Chu Lai, and Wen-Ru Hsu, along with their coach, Professor Shyh-Jer Chen, all hoped to make a dramatic entrance for NSYSU debut participation; alas, they were unable to grasp hold of the graduate title.
The 8th annual Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition was hosted by the University of Vermont and had more than 240 competitors from all across the world spanning 5 continents. The competition was held in three rounds. In each stage, teams were issued a case study, involving a family enterprise, and were tasked to identify the problems and provide recommendations to solve them. In the first round, teams were given one month. Second, one week. And in the finals, 48 hours.
The competition itself was a learning experience for all the students. It was the first time each of the students had done a case competition. And it was an experience that can take them to the outside world. Not only were they given real-world scenarios and tasked to provide reasonable solutions, they also experienced the world of family enterprises of all different cultures from Goldiee, Indian spice company, to Aldi, the German discounter giant. Yen-Chu mentioned, “I think the coolest part is being able to interact with expertise.”
Prior to the competition and between rounds, Professor Chen provided other sample case studies and requested assistance from other professors to help train Stan, Yen-Chu, and Wen-Ru on how to analyze family enterprises. And it worked, no one expected the students to reach the final round of the competition. Lessons learned had paid off!
If NSYSU has the opportunity to participate in the competition next year, the team has some advice. Wen-Ru suggested, “I think time management is important, especially on the final run. Participants should pay attention to this. And, to read more family business cases is beneficial for analyzing.” Stan recommended, “Be consultants. Your job is to analyze the problems and provide reasonable solutions. Pretend that the judges are your clients.
With NSYSU performance being such a great success, it is no doubt that Professor Chen is looking forward to next year’s competition and enthusiastic student competitors, interested in family enterprises, and is planning to make the school a prominent name in the family enterprise competition circle.
【Honor】GHRM MBA Students Score 3rd Prize At The 7th CSR Captain Program
At the recently concluded 7th CSR Captain Program, GHRM MBA and IBMBA students performed stupendously. Team "REMS" and "We Can Help" bagged the 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively. Today, we share the experience of 3rd prize winners Mandy Chen, Michal Polacek, Cindy Ho, and Reianthong Vongsangkam, all 1st-year GHRM MBA students.
The 7th CSR Captain Program espouses students to promote the CSR program. Three companies that are currently investing in CSR were a core part of the competition. Each company got four teams to help solve their problem and provide recommendations and suggestions relating to CSR. This year, the goals were also in tune with the SDG's set in by the UN.
All the group members are currently taking Prof. Ryan Brading's Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Course. It was because of Prof. Ryan's encouragement that they decided to take part in the competition. Their group name was "We Can Help," which drew inspiration from "Taiwan Can help." True to their name, "We Can Help" stood out from the rest because they didn't merely come up with proposals and recommendations but emphasized the implementation.
We Can Help had to work with Domi-a company that strives to make the world more environmentally friendly. For their presentation, We Can Help focused on "Energy Poverty." Unlike other teams, the group members had to hold numerous rounds of interviews with the company to derive precise data and information. After collecting all the data and executing intensive research, the team members recommended marketing strategies to Domi.
Even though it was a whole month of intense competition, our students also made some invaluable memories. For Mandy, it was the first workshop in Taipei as they had to take the earliest HSR to Taipei, which was at 6 AM. Mandy recalls fond memories after the workshop when they went to a bar and shared each other's stories. According to Cindy, working as a team and learning to compromise and communicate was the most memorable moment. Reianthong shares that through the case studies of CSR presented at the competition, he gained invaluable knowledge.
It wasn't all easy for the We Can Help group members as they had to encounter various hurdles, but they persevered and eventually came through. As for the biggest challenge, Michal Shares:
"For me, it was getting the data from the company because in the competition, in the end, there were three companies. From the presentation, the two companies provided probably way more data than our company provided us. So, getting the data from our company was the biggest challenge. We had to call them many times, send emails, and have online meetings".
Despite all the hard work, We Can Help didn't expect to score a podium finish, so they were pleasantly surprised at the result. The group members particularly noted that it was their comprehensive report that impressed the judges. Mandy shares: "I think our presentation was great, but the other teams were stronger. I think it was our report that made us stand out. "
It wasn't all about the prize, but our students gained valuable knowledge from the competition, which will guide them in their future endeavors. For Mandy and Michal, discovering that one can make a living and do business and, at the same time, make the world a better place was the biggest lesson. For Reianthong, it was his first time participating in a competition, so the whole process was a great learning process. Cindy also notes that she's an introvert and is nervous with presentations, but she learned to overcome it through the competition.
They already have their hands full. For the entire December, they are going to work on marketing strategies for Domi. Not just that, they are also formulating marketing strategies for a Pharmacy who contacted Domi for assistance. As a note of thanks, We Can Help team members extend their gratitude to the International Programs Office, particularly Cindy and Scarlett, Prof. Ryan Brading, and their classmates for encouraging and helping them out throughout the entire competition.
Congratulations to Reianthong, Michal, Cindy, and Many for exceeding their expectations and performing brilliantly at the 7th CSR captain Program. This is just the start of many good things to come, and we are confident you will continue to bring laurels to the university.
【Upcycle Contest】Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: Student Association Organizes ‘Upcycle Contest’ To Encourage Creative Sustainability
In the world that we live in today, the importance of sustainable development goals (SDGs) cannot be stressed further. To instill the value of the SDGs set forth by the UN and to encourage sustainable living, the Student Association of International Programs organized the ‘Upcycle Contest’; participants had to reuse everyday materials and come up with the most creative item/artwork they can think of.
Judges for the competition included former Program Director Chien-Yuan Sher and Deputy Director Thijs Velema. The artwork/item was judged on creativity, originality, innovation, and effective use of reused materials. A 'popularity award' was also presented to the participant that received the highest amount of Facebook likes and shares for their creation. The winners weren't just handed a certificate but were awarded cash prizes of 2000, 1500, and 1000 NTD for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes, respectively. The popularity award was also offered 1000 NTD in cash.
The contest drew a huge response from NSYSU students. A total of nine teams competed in the contest: Team #1: Mashi
After intense deliberation, the third prize went to Bui Thi Nhan (team: LILAS) from IBMBA. Showing off her creativity, she completely transformed an old jean pant into stunning home décor items. The second place was adjusted to team YCP consisting of Elsa from GHRM MBA and Tiara from ICAPS. Out of cardboard, newspapers, and other old household materials, they came up with a quirky candy dispenser.
Finally, and deservingly, the first place went to Ysanne Chen (team: Ophiotaurus) from IBMBA for her meticulously designed orca (killer whale) artwork. Seeing numerous bottle caps lying around, Ysanne was well aware that they can be an environmental hazard, and she decided to put them to good use and come up with a stunning piece of art. The popularity award was given to Tran Khanh Chi and Dang Phoung Thao (team: HiHA) from CLC and GHRM MBA, respectively.
GHRM MBA congratulates all the participants and winners for showcasing their talent and creativity and displaying their passion for creating a more sustainable world. In the future, GHRM MBA will continue to organize contests and events that not only encourages creativity and innovation but also addresses real-life problems.
Aaron Kuo, an experienced Business Intelligence Manager at Shopee, was invited to the English Corner held by International Relations, under the Dean's Office, in order to explain the technique and mindset of interviewing in English for students in the College of Management. Following an introduction by the Deputy Director, Huei-Fang Yang, Kuo passed on his experiences to help the students conquer their interviews using both soft and hard skills.
Kuo explained the six-second principle at the start of the speech. "There are only six seconds to decide whether your resume is worth reading!" Thus, interviewees should simplify resumes to allow interviewers to glean the critical points at first glance; moreover, this is also a standard way to review a prospective employee’s organizational ability. A "CAKE rule" was also provided by Kuo: if the students followed the rule, their resumes would be more convincing, they would brighten their soft and hard skills, and they would be one step closer to their dream jobs.
C for Chronological: Arrange work experiences and excellent performance in chronological order, including competitions and projects. Feature the skills respectively to make the resume straightforward and on point.
A for Action verbs: Use action verbs to lead the sentence. For example, terms such as "team leader" are too general; turn them into sentences like "leading a team to win a marketing and planning champion." This will sound much more specific and personalized, and also more impressive.
K for Key phrases: Read the requirements in the hiring information thoroughly. Furthermore, use the key phrases mentioned in the hiring requirements to describe the interviewee's skills, character, and suitability to perform the role.
E for Edible length: Adopt short sentences to illustrate achievements, the way they were carried out, and the final results. Additionally, emphasize the role that the applicant played in the project or accomplishment.
However, how should an applicant prepare for an interview after the resume is sent? Some might prepare based on their resume, and some might search on the internet for interview experience and advice. In addition to these methods, Kuo reminded the students that grasping the three elements of job researching ("FAN+N" – Financial Reports, Articles, News, and Network) is essential. News is the most approachable element, followed by articles in magazines and newspapers, then finally financial reports from the companies. Furthermore, if an applicant has connections to the company, they should use this resource actively and adequately.
Next, Kuo unveiled three important tips for preparing for interviews.
“What are your weaknesses?” is usually the most challenging question to answer. When describing a shortcoming, always remember to explain how the interviewee improved on it through hard work and prove this with examples.
Interviewees should build a link between their own experience and the company's vision. Moreover, it demonstrates even more enthusiasm if the interviewee can show that they modified their personal plan due to the role's requirement.
Do homework before the interview in order to learn more about the company and the role. This helps to answer the questions more firmly and confidently, and moreover shows ambition.
Compared to a traditional lecture, a lot of time needed to be dedicated to a Q&A section because the topic applies differently from person to person within the overall concept. It needs to be discussed based on different experiences. Therefore, Kuo invited the students to ask questions about their personal resumes and interviews. This "micro-personalized" Q&A section allowed for more interaction and communication among the participants, and they all commented positively on it. International Relations, which is under the Dean's Office at the College of Management, actively arranges connections and provides resources for students in the College of Management. All are welcome to participate in these high-quality lectures. It is hoped that students will gain much experience from the lectures and be able to apply it in the future.
Hult Prize at NSYSU workshop:Business Journey from Zero to One
On 2nd February 2021, Hult Prize National Sun Yat-sen University held an online experience sharing workshop: Business Journey from Zero to One. The workshop was divided into two sessions. The first one was a speech delivered by the keynote speaker Jessi Fu. The second session was a period for competing teams from National Sun-yat Sen University to pitch to her.
Jessi Fu is currently the COO of IMPCT Coffee Taiwan. She co-founded this company with her colleagues at National Chengchi University when they were pursuing their MBA degrees. Her team won the 2015 Hult Prize Global Champion startup prize. In the workshop, she repeatedly emphasized: why you want to start a social enterprise? You will be able to tackle social problems with your business, and eventually, you will receive more than you give. Apart from that, she shared with us the challenges she faced when running her business. Finding the right business partners is hard. However, breaking up with your business partners is even more challenging. If you have a hard time getting along with the founding partners, you should break up as soon as possible. It matters for restructuring the company.
After Jessi shared her experience, three teams from NSYSU pitched their business models. The first team to pitch was Alpha Bettas, the winning team from the campus program. They presented the idea of using aquaculture operations offshore to reduce the usage of land and food shortage. The second team, Mengi Kenya, proposed to solve the problem of food insecurity in Kenya with their program “US, Farmers, and SBO.” The last team to pitch was Basic Chillies. They came up with the idea of using a mobile application to change people’s diet and save the planet. Overall, Jessi encouraged all groups to engage their audience by distinguishing their products.
Jessi provided concrete feedback to all the teams. Regarding Alpha Bettas, the team working on innovative aquaculture practices, she asked them to specify why they want to focus on the aquaculture industry. What expertise do they have in their team to achieve their goals? Moreover, Taiwan and Thailand’s combined market size is too small for a Hult Prize startup, which asks for a market of 30 million people.
As for the team Mengi Kenya, Jessi said the audience wouldn’t be able to understand their service. Their business idea is too broad and lacks focus. They need to spell out how they are going to train the farmers. Furthermore, how they will engage their project with Kenya is another problem as they do not have anyone from Africa on their team.
Regarding Basic Chillies, they should demonstrate how their application works. Details such as the user experience should be presented.
In general, Jessi finds all their ideas attractive, but they should tell investors what they will gain if they invest in their startup.
