Several seniors in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business traveled to Prague in April to share a market assessment with top executives for a global waste management company looking to expand into the United States.
Story by Riley Corvin ‘23
A group of Business Fellows on the cusp of graduation completed a consulting capstone course this spring with a visit to the Czech Republic for an in-person presentation to leaders of a global waste management firm eyeing U.S. markets.
Fellows conducted an assessment to identify the best industry and location in the United States for Cyrkl to grow operations. Cyrkl is a Prague-based company that helps corporations buy and sell industrial waste products and secondary raw materials.
The students collaborated with the consulting company GIOBA for what business school faculty and administrators say is the first instance of Business Fellows consulting for an international firm in the history of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.
“Traveling to Prague to meet our international consulting client and work on waste recycling was not just a thrilling adventure, but a valuable opportunity to make a real impact,” said Hailey Crawford ’23, an economic consulting major from New Jersey. “Our important work in sustainable waste management felt even more significant against the backdrop of the city’s stunning architecture and rich history, reminding us that our efforts were not just for the present, but for the future.”
During their time in the Czech Republic, the students engaged in cultural and business activities to bolster their learning experience. The group also visited Visa and learned from one of the firm’s top consultants, Artem Fedorov, about work as a consultant for global corporations.
And the Business Fellows immersed themselves in the cultural history of Prague through guided tours, traditional dinners, and city exploration. Catherine Parsons, director of undergraduate programs in the Love School of Business, accompanied Fellows to Europe.
“I am proud of the students for their hard work and their effective presentation to their client,” said Raghu Tadepalli, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the professor who led the Business Fellows course.
Student Reflections
- “Our experience working with Cyrkl was amazing. Not only did we gain valuable professional consulting knowledge, but being in the beautiful city of Prague was an unforgettable experience and I am so thankful for the opportunity.” – Justin Connolly ’23
- “Being able to present our analyses and strategies for Cyrkl was an invaluable experience. Discussing our ideas alongside the CEO and CMO, and hearing their feedback, was a tremendous opportunity that the Love School of Business afforded us.” – Chris Tobias ’23
- “This was an experience that I will remember forever. While I went into it nervous about my abilities, I left Prague feeling more confident and ready than ever to enter the workforce after graduation.” – Ashley Brown ’23
- “Traveling to Prague with the Business Fellows gave me the opportunity to apply classroom lessons to the global business world in Central Europe. Through industry analyses, financial statement projections, and other research, our team delivered a detailed and succinct presentation to members of our clients executive board.” – Andrew Nimerofsky ’23
Capstone Participants from the Class of 2023
- Patrick Andrews
- Ashley Brown
- Justin Connolly
- Riley Corvin
- Hailey Crawford
- Colby Ehrhart
- Luke Heitman
- Julianne Jarek
- Savannah Josey
- Andrew Nimerofsky
- Chris Tobias