Wildcats recognized for exceptional effort in international business challenge

Out of more than 1,000 teams at the X-Culture Competition, two K-State students were among the 18 teams honored with Best Team awards.

By Ruthie Gergeni

College of Business Administration

Two Kansas State University students recently took home awards from an international business competition where they collaborated with team members from across the globe to solve real-world business challenges.

Maecyn Gunn

Management seniors Maecyn Gunn, Blue Rapids, and An Lam, Kansas City, Missouri, participated in the prestigious X-Culture Competition, where thousands of students from across the globe tackle real-life business challenges in international virtual teams, as part of the International Management course taught by Associate Professor Marne Arthaud-Day.

"The X-Culture program provides a unique approach to experiential learning," said Arthaud-Day. "I tell the students that in an ideal world, we could travel and do an international consulting project together to learn how international business works. Unfortunately, travel expenses for 40-plus students are cost-prohibitive, so X-Culture is the next best thing as it brings international business directly into our classroom."

An Lam

After passing a readiness assessment, participants are placed on teams of students from at least three different countries — collaborating across time zones, cultures, and languages to develop innovative business solutions. Gunn's team included students from the Philippines, Colombia, the Netherlands and Pakistan. Lam's team collaborated with peers from the Philippines, Switzerland, Pakistan and Colombia.

"The students provide solutions to real business clients looking to expand their international footprint; this semester, the client list included an ed-tech firm from Ukraine, a veterinary laser device company based in Italy and a Brazilian maker of eco-footwear," Arthaud-Day said.

More than 5,800 students from 161 universities in 141 countries of origin took part in the competition. Of more than 1,000 teams participating in the competition, just 18 were given the honor of being awarded as Best Teams. Both Gunn and Lam were on teams recognized with this award.

"They had to figure out how to manage differences in time zones, technologies, languages, cultures and communication styles while delivering a quality report through a highly competitive process. To achieve top team status given these circumstances, not to mention the sheer number of participants, is truly a remarkable accomplishment," Arthaud-Day said.

As members of the award-winning teams, both Gunn and Lam will receive official recognition and are invited to participate in the upcoming X-Culture Symposia in Finland and the X-Culture Coaching Program.

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