As I approach the end of my second and final year in the MBA program, I’ve been able to reflect on the incredible journey of leading the Applied Learning Project. This course is a staple of the RMI curriculum, providing a unique opportunity to apply our academic knowledge and past professional experience in a real-world consulting project. This year, our team had the privilege of consulting with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to assess and make recommendations to enhance the property insurance program. Collaborating with undergraduate students, we also sharpened our management skills while learning how to be successful consultants and critical thinkers.
Our project focused on several key areas: suggesting optimal deductibles, evaluating the accuracy of insurance limits in relation to property exposures, and improving claims handling procedures and risk management education. Throughout the semester, we evaluated claims data, met with Office of Risk Management (RM) staff, researched market trends, and collaborated on ideas to craft and tailor our recommendations. As the student leader of the project, I enjoyed seeing how each team member worked, and combining their insights into a holistic view of how our findings should be presented.
When the day finally came to share our recommendations with staff from the Office of RM, which included Jeff Karsher, Sue Statz, Josh Pulver, and MBA program alumna Gwen Ezell, I felt extremely proud of the group following the presentation. The contributions from everyone on the team were evident, and it felt empowering when each presenter handled questions with confidence and accuracy. Not only did this project improve our consulting and management skills, but we’ve learned so much since the beginning of the project and I’m grateful for the growth it has fostered. The decision-making and analytical skills I have gained will undoubtedly serve me well in my future career, and helping lead classes like this makes me feel even prouder to be a Badger.
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