Babson Students Reflect on Finding Diverse Solutions to Business Problems
It’s often said, for something to go right, it takes two. For a team of Babson students who recently participated in the Indiana University Kelley School of Business National Diversity Case Competition (NDCC), the idea that progress doesn’t happen in a vacuum rang even more true.
Each year during Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, NDCC brings undergraduate teams from business schools across the United States to present case studies and proposals on diversity and equity topics. The theme for the 2025 conference centered on bolstering interest in the field of accounting for first-generation college and under-represented high school students. Over 20 colleges and universities, including Babson, participated, as well as companies such as Altria, Bank of America, Delta, EY, GE HealthCare, and KPMG. It’s both a learning and networking opportunity for students.
As the Babson team—comprised of Michelle Alcocer ’25, Vinny Crosskill ’26, Halima Konteh ’27, and Arshia Tadipatri ’26—returns from Bloomington, Indiana, and reflects on the conference experience, one idea shines throughout: collaboration. The idea that to find sustainable, productive solutions to real business problems, you need to come together.
“Working with a diverse team allowed us to bring unique perspectives to the table and create a strategy that reflected the needs of the students we aimed to help,” Alcocer says. “Many participants, including those on our team, were first-generation and from diverse backgrounds. It showcases the importance of representation in these discussions.”
Real Business Problems, Real Solutions
According to a 2024 report from the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, one in 10 accounting professionals leave the field because of insufficient diversity and inclusion. They also report that only 23% of accounting professional staff and 18% of partners are non-white.
Finding thoughtful actions to address pressing business questions such as employee turnover is a hallmark of entrepreneurial leadership. With a business curriculum that values problem-solving and hands-on opportunities, Babson students are equipped for opportunities of this sort.
“Having gone through Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship my first year and worked in many teams since, I leaned on those experiences when navigating these new team dynamics and fostering psychological safety,” Tadipatri says. “We went back to the fundamentals of Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® and used the iterative approach and build-test-repeat mindset to refine our ideas and solutions.”
“Many participants, including those on our team, were first-generation and from diverse backgrounds. It showcases the importance of representation in these discussions.” Michelle Alcocer ’25
The Babson team’s case study presentation included student testimonial videos; a proposal for an interactive, specialized AI bot to help with accessibility and a mentorship program; data about the importance of programs such as a professional attire fund; and a campaign highlighting the accessibility and relevance of accounting careers. Their findings and proposals focused on accounting but included ideas that can help all industries expand their applicant pool.
“If students from underrepresented communities are not seeing others like them in certain roles, it may halt them from going after these roles,” Konteh says. “To address this, businesses need to invest in outreach and mentorship programs, as well as implement sponsorship initiatives to support career advancement for diverse talent.”
Inspiration All Around
To prepare, the team leaned on resources from the Office of Experiential Learning and faculty mentorship from Associate Professor of Practice Michele Brown Kerrigan to help make their presentation compelling and actionable. Konteh cites clubs such as the Babson Consulting Association for helping refine her problem-solving and presentation skills.
The weekend provided the team with an opportunity to flex those public speaking and collaboration skills. It also provided a sense of urgency and inspiration as they return to Babson for the spring semester. They can now lean on this experience as they continue their educations and start their careers.
“It was inspiring to see companies actively prioritizing inclusive initiatives and encouraging discussions about representation in accounting,” Alcocer says.
Ultimately, businesses may have more to gain from taking diversity and inclusion seriously, especially when hiring. “The competition was a powerful reminder that fostering diversity in business is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage,” she says. “Engaging underrepresented groups in fields like accounting can drive innovation and better reflect the communities businesses serve.”
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