MBA students tackle real-world challenges in 21st Annual Internal Case Competition

2025 MBA Internal Case Competition

The Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University recently hosted its 21st annual Internal Case Competition (ICC), an experiential learning opportunity for second-year MBA students that challenges them to apply classroom knowledge to complex, real-world business problems within a 24-hour time period. The competition continues to prepare students for the working world by strengthening their critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills.

The MBA ICC was launched in 2005 thanks to the generous support of Bill Kalm (’73 industrial administration; ’77 interdisciplinary industrial administration sciences), a former senior partner with Accenture. Kalm, along with his wife Raedene, continues to fund the awards and scholarships associated with the competition, ensuring its lasting impact on Ivy MBA students.

Kalm’s commitment to the competition is deeply personal. “We have two reasons for supporting the Ivy MBA and the ICC,” he shared. “First, to honor Dr. Charles Handy, who was instrumental in admitting me to the master’s program, without which I would not have been positioned for my career successes. Second, to invest in students who will hopefully go on to long, successful careers.”

Inspired by Emeritus Professor Charles B. Handy (1924–2016), who served as the first dean of the College of Business from 1984–1989, the competition reflects Handy’s belief in developing students both personally and professionally. Today, the ICC stands as one of the most impactful learning experiences in the Ivy MBA program.

This year’s case, Gross-Wen Technologies: From Waste to Wealth, was written by Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship Michael Howard and centered on an Iowa-based company with roots at Iowa State. Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT) was founded around technology developed by Martin Gross while earning his PhD at Iowa State, and focuses on transforming wastewater into valuable, algae-based soil amendments.

The case challenged students to wrestle with three core strategic questions:

1. What is the appropriate pace of commercialization and investment?
2. What is the optimal business model structure?
3. How do you allocate limited resources across multiple growth opportunities?

At the heart of the case, students were asked to determine how aggressively GWT should pursue a promising but uncertain opportunity in a rapidly growing soil amendment market.

Howard intentionally designed the case to mirror the ambiguity leaders face every day. “The case doesn’t have an obvious right answer, which is intentional,” he explained. “Students had to make real tradeoffs — should the company move fast and take on more risk, or be patient and preserve flexibility? These are the kinds of judgment calls business leaders face constantly.”

“The teamwork that emerges through such a high-pressure event reveals how important working with others really is. A strong, collaborative team is a really important component of a successful solution.”

— Sarah Wilson

Adding to the realism, GWT is a live company actively making these decisions. Gross served as a final-round judge, meaning students knew their recommendations would be evaluated by someone with the ability to act on them. “That raises the stakes in a good way,” Howard noted, while also highlighting the challenge of balancing complexity with accessibility for all teams.

For Kalm, the value of the ICC lies in how closely it mirrors professional life.

“The ICC represents real-world scenarios that will help prepare the students for their careers,” Kalm said. “The case, the teamwork, the preparation, the interaction with the judges — all represent what can happen in business environments.” He also emphasized the enduring importance of human judgment, noting that while tools like artificial intelligence are valuable, “the most successful leaders will always search out and rely on critical thinking. This capability cannot be replaced.”

Sarah Wilson, director of professional masters student services, echoed that sentiment and praised this year’s partnership with GWT. “It was an incredibly valuable experience for our students to see and learn about an active, current company,” she said. Wilson finds the growth students demonstrate during the competition especially rewarding. “The teamwork that emerges through such a high-pressure event reveals how important working with others really is. A strong, collaborative team is a really important component of a successful solution.”

Wilson also highlighted the confidence students gain by presenting to expert judges under pressure. “Working through a case that intentionally presents ambiguity, conflicting priorities, and limited data isn’t easy,” she explained. “Students rely on their knowledge, judgment, and perseverance to deliver a compelling solution. Experiences like the ICC are a critical component of the MBA’s experiential focus, preparing students for their future as leaders.”

The Ivy College of Business congratulates all students who participated in the 21st annual ICC and recognizes the outstanding achievements of this year’s award recipients:

As one of the Ivy MBA program’s most anticipated events, the Internal Case Competition reflects the college’s emphasis on hands-on learning, innovation, and industry partnerships to help set students up for success in their post-graduate careers.

December 31, 2025