Over the summer, Beta Alpha Psi and accounting and finance senior Wendy Zheng participated in the Project Run With It Competition. Project Run With It (PRWI) is a case competition hosted by Beta Alpha Psi and sponsored by Moss Adams. The case is based on a real-life challenge faced by the selected non-profit. Under the current situation, PRWI is in its second virtual year. Students from around the world are selected and teamed up as a consultant to the non-profit and present a solution meeting the needs of the non-profit. This year, The Volunteer Center in Chicago, Illinois was the chosen non-profit and they had two challenges teams needed to address.
Hear what Wendy had to say about her experience participating in PRWI.
My experience with Project Run With It is definitely a positive, inspirational one. As a team, we drilled down into the details that our client provided and discussed multiple possible solutions. The recommendations that we came up with are tailor-made to match our client’s needs. From brainstorming, assembling, and polishing our presentation, I am impressed by the level of creativity and efficiency that each of my teammates portrayed. For example, one of my teammates had an internship with a firm at a time, but she showed up to each zoom meeting and actively engaged in each discussion. All and all, I really enjoyed PRWI that we not only worked as a team but also demonstrated a willingness to help others.
This is my first time participating in Project Run With It, and I definitely had many takeaways. For instance, I learned how to communicate
my idea effectively but still keeping in mind to respect others’ opinions. Because in the end, we are trying to recommend our clients with a solution that will eventually enhance their business. Even though I might think some ideas are brilliant, we must determine what the best for our client in the current condition is. Factors like budget and staffing must be considered. The team discussion is like a ping pong game where there was much back and forth. Keep in mind to act professionally and respect each other’s ideas.
For future participants, I definitely think PRWI is a great opportunity to meet other dedicated students in the world of accounting and finance. Even though my experience was solely virtual, I still enjoyed the process and how convenient it was to meet anywhere we wanted. In future PRWI or similar competitions, whether in person or virtual, I highly encourage everyone to participate and meet students from all over the country. For more information regarding Project Run With It: https://www.bap.org/project-run-with-it
