NobleReach is dedicated to bringing together academic innovation, private-sector expertise, and government resources to address our nation’s most pressing challenges. America has the tools to keep our nation safe and prosperous but needs to develop the talent infrastructure to properly connect and leverage these tools.

Case competitions provide students with a unique and powerful platform to share their valuable and refreshing insights and to obtain hands-on experience tackling real-world problems, maximizing both personal growth and public impact. Students are an extremely important part of the talent infrastructure we need to develop to enhance our nation’s security. Which is why NobleReach was proud to sponsor Howard University’s 19^th Annual National MBA Case Competition on February 7^th, 2025.

The Challenge

This year’s case topic directly responds to an issue that we have heard directly from our government partners and is of critical importance to our country: “Securing the Future: AI, Supply Chains, and Social Good in a Shifting Global Economy.”  Growing great power competition has highlighted the fragility of international supply chains and created a complex challenge for government and businesses operating in critical industries. This challenge is further compounded by AI’s rapid integration into every aspect of business, forcing corporations to adapt to ensure secure and efficient processes.

The Competition

This all-day competition challenged teams to develop a comprehensive business strategy that strengthens supply chains through the utilization of AI technology, while managing these competing priorities. The eleven impressive university teams made up of 33 students  represented nine states from across the country. Students were given only twelve days to develop their ideas and prepare their presentation. Teams had to strike a careful balance of making a profit with their strategy while advancing broader societal and national security goals.

A panel of NobleReach judges with extensive experience in government, industry, and academia evaluated presentations on the team’s creativity, clarity, cohesiveness, and quality of analysis with NobleReach providing $30,000 in prize money to the winning teams. First-place, the University of Alabama, was awarded $12,000, the first runner-up, Georgia State University, received $10,000, and the third-place winner, The Ohio State University, received $8,000.

The Takeaway

It was clear that the student participants and their university advisors have a great interest in pursuing mission-driven work. University faculty specifically outlined their desire to infuse their classrooms with more of NobleReach’s entrepreneurial spirit. This kind of symbiotic, mutually beneficial relationship we witnessed at the case competition is the exact kind of dynamic NobleReach broadly brings to Washington DC and across the country: the public sector, private sector, and world of academia all working hand in hand for the betterment of our nation.

It was an honor to experience in-person the hard work and ingenuity of these talented MBA students and learn from their insights. These passionate problem solvers are the key to unlocking America’s full potential. Congratulations to all the teams and we look forward to their success now and in the future.