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2018-1 Winners

The Best Team Selection Process

A total of 5,126 MBA students, undergraduate business students, and non-student contestants from 154 universities in 40 countries on all 6 continents enrolled in the 2018-1 round of the X-Culture competition. Of those, 4,867 passed the Readiness Test and successfully completed the project.

A total of 1,037 reports were submitted in the 2018-1 round of the X-Culture competition.

The reports were sent out for evaluation to a large group of International Business experts, mainly International Business professors and coaches from around the world (184 people from 40 countries). Each report was independently evaluated by 4 to 7 experts along multiple dimensions, such as report creativity, clarity, viability of the ideas, style, as well as evaluation of each report section. The experts also provided qualitative feedback.

Based on the expert evaluations, 40 teams received nearly perfect evaluations. It was impossible to objectively select one best team. Each excelled in at least one or several areas and deserved to be a winner.

Accordingly, this semester 40 teams  are listed as BEST TEAMS (out of 1,037 teams that took part in the competition).

Additionally, a best team in each client category was selected.

The complete list is provided below.

Members of all Finalist Teams will received Best Team certificates. All members of the finalist teams will also be invited to the upcoming 2018 X-Culture Symposium and X-Culture Coaching Program.

We are also working on interviewing the members of the finalist teams to produce an educational film based on their tips and insights into how to write a winning international business report.

The finalist reports can be download here  icon-download 

THE BEST TEAMS OF THE 2018-1 X-CULTURE COMPETITION

EARLY TRACK

Team 37 – Best Report for the Nashville Chamber of Commerce

  • Jennifer Houston, Florida Atlantic University, USA, Professor: Daniel Rottig
  • Stefanie Rehberg, Ivey Business School, Canada, Professor: Martha Maznevski (with Kanina Blanchard)
  • Marleen Cherop Bett, USA International University, Kenya, Professor: Fred Omondi Newa
  • Siyovush Norov, I. Kant Baltic Federal University , Russia, Professor: Olga Kovbasyuk

Team 9 

  • Ali-Razah S. Fathullahzadeh, East Carolina University, USA, Professor: Shirley Mai
  • Brianna Brianna, Nazareth College, USA, Professor: Jennifer S.A. Leigh
  • Zaira Ziglady Garcia Huerta , University of Washington, Bothell , USA, Professor: David S. Shaw
  • Lena Pollini, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Canada, Professor: Adam H. Cave
  • Andrea Vazquez, Dominican University, USA, Professor: Al Rosenbloom

Team 67 

  • Doris Wanjiku Muhia, USA International University, Kenya, Professor: Fred Omondi Newa
  • Cephas Arun Livingston Basker, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK, Professor: Stephan Gerschewski
  • Miguel A. Aguiar, ESPAE Graduate School of Management – ESPOL, Ecuador, Professor: Xavier Ordenana
  • Hasega Kenji, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Canada, Professor: Adam H. Cave
  • Liam Corrigan, Ivey Business School, Canada, Professor: Martha Maznevski (with Kanina Blanchard)

Team 73 

  • Henry Kiprop Bett, USA International University, Kenya, Professor: Fred Omondi Newa
  • Wanjie Wang, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK, Professor: Stephan Gerschewski
  • Shawn Prettyman, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, USA, Professor: Michelle Reina
  • James Bondy, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Canada, Professor: Adam H. Cave
  • Minh Nguyen, Ivey Business School, Canada, Professor: Martha Maznevski (with Kanina Blanchard)

Team 87 

  • Senenge Samuel Weor, USA International University, Kenya, Professor: Fred Omondi Newa
  • Sarah Herrmann, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK, Professor: Stephan Gerschewski
  • Luca Chierici, Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Professor: Elena Cedrola
  • Eduardo A. Otero, ESPAE Graduate School of Management – ESPOL, Ecuador, Professor: Xavier Ordenana
  • Guilherme Teixeira, Ivey Business School, Canada, Professor: Martha Maznevski (with Kanina Blanchard)

Team 92 

  • Ana Karen Moreno Sanchez, Universidad de las Americas Puebla, Mexico, Professor: Beverly Barrett
  • Lalitphan Jutavarakul, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK, Professor: Stephan Gerschewski
  • Alessia Faella, Catholic University of Milan, Italy, Professor: Elena Cedrola
  • Zhanar Iskakova, KIMEP , Kazakhstan, Professor: Carolyn Buie Erdener
  • Gabriel Carriel, ESPAE Graduate School of Management – ESPOL, Ecuador, Professor: Ecuador
  • Hanan Irani, Ivey Business School, Canada, Professor: Martha Maznevski (with Kanina Blanchard)

Team 115

  • Jose G. Hernandez, Eastern Washington University, USA, Professor: Abrahim Soleimani
  • Honglyu Liu, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK, Professor: Stephan Gerschewski
  • SUSAna Armenta Cesar, Tecnologico de Monterrey Santa Fe Campus, Mexico, Professor: Julio C Martinez Suarez
  • Mary Popps , Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Canada, Professor: Adam H. Cave
  • David Chuang, Ivey Business School, Canada, Professor: Martha Maznevski (with Kanina Blanchard)

 

LATE TRACK

Team 106 – Best Report for CaptiVoice

  • Brian Short, University of Alabama, USA, Professor: Peter Magnusson
  • Arsalan Mushtaq, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, Pakistan, Pakistan, Professor: Ashar Saleem
  • Wanjun Jia , Loughborough University, UK, Professor: Angelika Zimmermann
  • Oumar Cole, Virginia International University, USA, Professor: Yun Lee

Team 112  – Best Report for Vertical Journey

  • Annie Smith, University of Alabama, USA, Professor: Peter Magnusson
  • Johnny Sandoval, Farmingdale State College, USA, Professor: Maria Randazzo-Davis
  • Hareem Fatima Zafar, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, Pakistan, Pakistan, Professor: Ashar Saleem
  • Rafael Akira Tamashiro, State University of Campinas, Brazil, Professor: Eric David Cohen
  • Edwards Alice, Johnson & Wales University, USA, Professor: Leilani Baumanis

Team 3  – Best Report for Innospark 

  • Lisnytskyi Oleksandr, X-Culture Academy, Ukraine, Professor: Sergii Tymoshchuk
  • Anna Akhalmosulishvili, X-Culture Academy, Ukraine, Professor: Oleh Leskiv
  • Advay Jain, X-Culture Academy, India, Professor: Neha Pathak
  • Maxym Taras, X-Culture Academy, USA, Professor: Vas Taras

Team 5  – Best Report for Finnish Schools International

  • Harshvardhan Ghodeswar, X-Culture Academy, India, Professor: Richa Awasti
  • Aelita Tykhonruk, X-Culture Academy, Ukraine, Professor: Kateryna Vasylenko
  • Gemma Loczi-Nagy, X-Culture Academy, Hungary, Professor: Lajos Loczi
  • Sofia Taras, X-Culture Academy, USA, Professor: Vas Taras
  • Danielle Nikmehr, X-Culture Academy, USA, Professor: Nataliya Acc-Nikmehr

Team 22  – Best report for UniCheck

  • Wajahat Mahmood, Marywood University, USA, Professor: Christoher Speicher
  • Brandon Nguyen, George Fox University, College of Business, USA, Professor: Allie Duncan (with Annette M. Nemetz)
  • Achilli Alessio, Politecnico di Milano , Italy, Professor: Stefano Elia
  • Raschi Alessandro, Politecnico di Milano , Italy, Professor: Stefano Elia
  • Osei-Asibey Winifred, KNUST, Ghana, Professor: Sam Akomea

Team 27  – Best Report for S-Cape

  • Michael A. Magistro, Marywood University, USA, Professor: Christoher Speicher
  • Jenna Von Bradsky, University of Delaware, USA, Professor: Amanda Bullough
  • Airoldi Julien, Politecnico di Milano , Italy, Professor: Stefano Elia
  • Nuzzo Camilla, Politecnico di Milano , Italy, Professor: Stefano Elia

Team 365 (UG) – Best Report for Ultraspecialisti

  • Estevan J. Griego, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA, Professor: Chrissann R. Ruehle
  • Sarah E. HoUSAnd, Clemson University, USA, Professor: Marissa Shuffler
  • Maria Fernanda Mora Herreno, Universidad EAN, Colombia, Professor: Juan Manuel Gil Barragán
  • Lim Leh Ching, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia, Professor: Razleena Bt Razali

Team 678  – Best Report for Custom Photo Props 

  • Michael Odom , Northeastern State University, USA, Professor: Kevin Y. Litz
  • William Camilo Tarazona Moncada, Universidad EAN, Colombia, Professor: Andres Aguilera
  • Delphine Rossier , School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR), Switzerland, Professors: Jean-Marie Ayer / Andrea Rohrer / Rico Baldegger

Team 1 

  • Aayushi Arora, X-Culture Academy, India, Professor: Soma Arora
  • Tanya Cugunova, X-Culture Academy, Russia, Professor: Anna Svirina
  • Tetiana Pidlypska, X-Culture Academy, Ukraine, Professor: Oleh Leskiv
  • Mark Khazan, X-Culture Academy, Ukraine, Professor: Oleh Leskiv
  • Samuel Clemens Gruber, X-Culture Academy, Austria, Professor: Austria
  • Sara Ogris, X-Culture Academy, Austria, Professor: Austria

Team 2 

  • Hladun Illia, X-Culture Academy, Ukraine, Professor: Sergii Tymoshchuk
  • Daryna Parshchyk , X-Culture Academy, Ukraine, Professor: Oleh Leskiv
  • Fernando Bena­tez , X-Culture Academy, Ecuador, Professor: Juan Fernando Benatez
  • Swapnil Chaurasiya, X-Culture Academy, India, Professor: Swati Dhir

Team 4 

  • Sierpilov Yevhenii, X-Culture Academy, Ukraine, Professor: Sergii Tymoshchuk
  • Ojasvinn Raj, X-Culture Academy, India, Professor: Richa Awasti
  • Christus Lourduraj, X-Culture Academy, USA, Professor: Babu John Mariadoss
  • Michelle Nikmehr, X-Culture Academy, USA, Professor: Nataliya Acc-Nikmehr

Team 23 

  • Vincent E. Rebar, Marywood University, USA, Professor: Christoher Speicher
  • Justin Hooker, George Fox University, College of Business, USA, Professor: Allie Duncan (with Annette M. Nemetz)
  • Dima Gabriele, Politecnico di Milano , Italy, Professor: Stefano Elia
  • Bianchini Giulia, Politecnico di Milano , Italy, Professor: Stefano Elia

Team 29 

  • Zhengui Tan, Hawaii Pacific University, USA, Professor: Tolga Ulusemre
  • Kiera George, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA, Professor: David S. Baker
  • Hanxhari Suela, Politecnico di Milano , Italy, Professor: Stefano Elia
  • Polizzi Cristina, Politecnico di Milano , Italy, Professor: Stefano Elia
  • Ampah Godwin, KNUST, Ghana, Professor: Sam Akomea

Team 62 

  • Zijun Ding, Rider University, USA, Professor: Joy Schneer
  • Megan Mahetta, University of Delaware, USA, Professor: Amanda Bullough
  • Surya Sjukri, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, Switzerland, Professor: Lynn Leng Khim Lim
  • Chitchanok Prajerdla, Assumption University, Thailand, Professor: Wendy Farrell
  • Millicent Adusei, KNUST, Ghana, Professor: Sam Akomea

Team 70 

  • Steve Marven Kratz, Hawaii Pacific University, USA, Professor: Tolga Ulusemre
  • Samuel Rinko, University of Delaware, USA, Professor: Amanda Bullough
  • Patricia Dede Teye, University of Macerata, Italy, Professor: Ernesto Tavoletti
  • Xiaomeng Wang, Loughborough University, UK, Professor: Angelika Zimmermann

Team 125 

  • Julieth G. Angel, Virginia International University, USA, Professor: Yun Lee
  • Tianyu Zhao, University of Delaware, USA, Professor: Amanda Bullough
  • Olivia Faerninger, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, Switzerland, Professor: Lynn Leng Khim Lim
  • Beverley Jeremiah, St George’s University, Grenada, Professor: Reccia Charles

Team 131 

  • Cody Dotter, Rider University, USA, Professor: Joy Schneer
  • Zhenhan Cheng, University of Delaware, USA, Professor: Amanda Bullough
  • Da-Costa Agyekum, University of Macerata, Italy, Professor: Ernesto Tavoletti
  • Danilo Canavese, University of Trieste, Italy, Professor: Donata Vianelli
  • Lazarus A. Atiah, KNUST, Ghana, Professor: Sam Akomea

Team 148 

  • Paul Hanohano, Hawaii Pacific University, USA, Professor: Tolga Ulusemre
  • Cathryn Schenk, University of Delaware, USA, Professor: Amanda Bullough
  • Corinne Quinto-Farjallah, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, Switzerland, Professor: Lynn Leng Khim Lim
  • ZhiCheng Miao, Estonian Business School, Estonia, Professor: Tiit Elenurm
  • Kendrick Wong, St. John’s University, New York, USA, Professor: Charles Wankel

Team 175 

  • Joni L. Host , Marywood University, USA, Professor: Christoher Speicher
  • Hank Abell, Florida Institute of Technology, USA, Professor: Tim Muth
  • Maria Jose Ramirez Largo, Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia, Professor: Anne Marie Zwerg
  • Julia Skrementova, The University Of Tyumen, Russia., Russia, Professor: Elena Iarkova

Team 214 

  • Kimberly Toledo Garcia, University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA, Professor: Karen Lynden
  • Samuel Edward Payson, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, USA, Professor: Amit Arora
  • Laura Natalia Niño Diaz, Universidad EAN, Colombia, Professor: Julio Pinedo Lara
  • Phonphimon A/P I Chai, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia, Professor: Bibi Noraini Mohd Yusuf
  • Juslin Jean Baptiste, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA, Professor: Daniel Rottig

Team 237 

  • Jay Ramadurai, University of Oklahoma, USA, Professor: Brandi McManus
  • Alaina Patterson , University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA, Professor: Karen Lynden
  • Zara Valentina Sepulveda Suarez, Universidad EAN, Colombia, Professor: Andres Aguilera
  • Nur Adilah Binti Mail, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia, Professor: Bibi Noraini Mohd Yusuf
  • Laure Fourthon, University of Oklahoma, USA, Professor: Brandi McManus

Team 352 

  • Philip J. Tomeo, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA, Professor: Chrissann R. Ruehle
  • Arianna Craver, Texas State University, USA, Professor: Maggie Wan
  • Catherine Daniela Gutierrez Corchuelo, Universidad EAN, Colombia, Professor: Juan Manuel Gil Barragán
  • Ummu Adibah Binti Damri, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia, Professor: Razleena Bt Razali

Team 354 

  • Braden M. Harsy, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA, Professor: Chrissann R. Ruehle
  • Jeremy Dorgan, Texas State University, USA, Professor: Maggie Wan
  • Ana Maria Gomez Ramirez, Universidad EAN, Colombia, Professor: Juan Manuel Gil Barragán
  • Nurul Noor Farahim Binti Rosli, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia, Professor: Razleena Bt Razali

Team 478 

  • Colette Langley, Texas A&M, USA, Professor: Daria Panina
  • Chance Mento, Shippensburg University, USA, Professor: Robert Stephens
  • Maria Camila Carvajal Londono, Universidad EAFIT, Colombia, Professor: Ana Maria Velasquez
  • Adnan Haider Syed, Rochester institute of Technology, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Professor: Rizwan Tahir
  • Mariola Agnieszka Pališ, University of Rijeka, Croatia, Professor: Luka Samarzija

Team 487  

  • Hannah Garrit, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA, Professor: David S. Baker
  • Jeffrey Stellwagon, Shippensburg University, USA, Professor: Robert Stephens
  • Maria Daniela Sanchez Franco, Universidad EAN, Colombia, Professor: Andres Aguilera
  • Egemen Onat Atam, MEF University, Turkey, Professor: Nilufer Yapici Hermann

Team 541 

  • Nichole Orlov, University of Delaware, USA, Professor: Amanda Bullough
  • Lillian Berlinski, UNCG, USA, Professor: Vas Taras
  • Hooi Hui Khor , National Chung-Cheng University, Taiwan, Professor: Ding-Yu Jiang
  • Dinar Sabitov, Kazan National Research Technical University, Russia, Professor: Anna Svirina
  • Santiago Parra, Universidad de La Salle, Colombia, Professor: Julio Botero

Team 587 

  • Jordan McDaniel , University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA, Professor: Karen Lynden
  • Claudia Watkins, The University of Alabama, USA, Professor: Diana P. Gomez
  • Chanikan Deesittivech, Assumption University, Thailand, Professor: Wendy Farrell
  • Rebecca Bassi, University of Trieste, Italy, Professor: Donata Vianelli
  • Johnny Paez, Universidad de La Salle, Colombia, Professor: Julio Botero

Team 596 

  • Tressy Luyindula , University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA, Professor: Karen Lynden
  • Kristin Britt, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA, Professor: Daniel Rottig 1
  • Suchanya Intrachit, Assumption University, Thailand, Professor: Wendy Farrell
  • Matteo Di Terlizzi, University of Trieste, Italy, Professor: Donata Vianelli

Team 626 

  • Maxwell Ettinger , University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA, Professor: Karen Lynden
  • Jessica Richardson, Northeastern State University, USA, Professor: Kevin Y. Litz
  • Edna Pomor, University of Rijeka, Croatia, Professor: Luka Samarzija
  • Ilaria Parecchini, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Italy, Professor: Loretta Battagia

Team 627 

  • Cameron Beverly, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, USA, Professor: Karen Lynden
  • Jordan Duran, University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire, USA, Professor: Longzhu Dong
  • Dino Pavlic, University of Rijeka, Croatia, Professor: Luka Samarzija
  • Anna Manenti, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Italy, Professor: Loretta Battagia
  • Kwabena Nyarko, KNUST, Ghana, Professor: Sam Akomea

Team 695 

  • Jeremy Keser , St. John’s University, New York, USA, Professor: Charles Wankel (MGT 601)
  • Charrisse Jones , University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA, Professor: Karen Lynden
  • Nasra Mohamed, X-Culture Academy, Kenya, Professor: Professional
  • Carlo Alberto Calchera, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Italy, Professor: Loretta Battagia

Team 697 

  • Marc W. Erickson, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), USA, Professor: Andrew Clark
  • Marea Credit, Northeastern State University, USA, Professor: Kevin Y. Litz
  • Michael Almadi, X-Culture Academy, Kenya, Professor: Professional
  • Jajeetha A/P Ravisantiran, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia, Professor: Razleena Bt Razali – 22B
  • Wilbart Mugheri, UNCG, USA, Professor: Vas Taras

Team 700 

  • Julie Ann Barone, Western Connecticut State University, USA, Professor: Donna R Coelho Class1
  • Eric L. Freeman, Youngstown State University, USA, Professor: Omer F. Genc
  • Beatriz Adriana Gomez Flores, Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico, Professor: Humberto Garcia
  • Leila Bersier , School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR), Switzerland, Professor: Jean-Marie Ayer / Andrea Rohrer / Rico Baldegger
  • Meisen Li, University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA, Professor: Karen Lynden