Marketplace exercise puts new MBA students on path toward creativity, innovation

Even before classes began, Poole College’s new Jenkins MBA students were applying creative energy and knowledge from their first seminar – on innovation and marketing – at the MBA Marketplace held at HQ Raleigh on August 12. 

Following an introduction to marketing, branding, innovation and entrepreneurship by Melissa Kennedy (Jenkins MBA ’06) and a few basic instructions, the 12 teams of new full time MBA students got to work researching, creating, marketing and selling their products. Their target audience – members of HQ Raleigh – were represented by Poole College faculty, staff and fellow students, who also were clients for their products.

Winning first place was team Condensation Inspiration, whose product meets a very basic need of HQ members: coasters to keep their work stations condensation-free when setting down their beverage containers. The team developed and sold their custom hand-made, environmentally friendly coasters engraved with inspirational messages to Marketplace attendees – and sold the judges on their concept and delivery.

Members of the winning team – with their Marketplace company titles – are CEO Megan Goodfellow, Vice President of Marketing Bharathi Nuthakki, Vice President of Sales Joseph Wilcox; Vice President of Operations David Garcia, and Vice President of Communications Larry Watkins.

The Marketplace exercise was held on the last day of orientation for the incoming full-time Jenkins MBA students. Each team received $100 and was charged with creating a new product or service to sell at the MBA Marketplace. Guests attending the event each received $50 MBA Marketplace Bucks to spend at the market. Winning teams were selected by a judging panel of faculty and industry professionals. This was the second annual Jenkins MBA Marketplace.

Second place honors went to the SnackUp! team, and third place, to the Puzzle n' Prize team.

Following is the full list of concepts developed and sold at the 2016 MBA Marketplace. View team photos on the Jenkins MBA Facebook page.

• Coasters, Coasters, Coasters
• Empower Bar (snack)
• Puzzle n' Prize (networking-teambuilding activity)
• Energy(2) (snack)
• Jenkins Jell-O Shots (snack)
• SnackUp! (snack)
• MBA Unicorns (themed mugs)
• Raleigh Balls (cake snack)
• Triangle Tranquility (chocolate fountain and stress-popping balloons)
• Wipe & Swipe (mobile device cleaner)
• Wolfpack Wedges (fruit snack)
• Zero G Smoothies (snack)