Zvi Selevan

What makes the GFE special?

You get to help a company drive forward and make a real difference to them. You get to use your learnings and skills from the MBA and have something cool to talk about with family, friends, and potential employers.

How did the GFE contribute to your development as a future business leader?

The GFE really showcases how many of the skills we learn in the program are interrelated and how “snoozing” in one class may hurt you later. I really had to brush up my marketing skills, which is not a core area for me, as I have a finance background.

What surprised you most about the GFE?

Working with small business owners gave me insight into the challenges they face daily. I was impressed by their resourcefulness and determination to succeed, often accomplishing great things through bootstrapping and perseverance. Though some owners were still clarifying their goals, our team was able to provide valuable guidance. Identifying and articulating their objectives proved extremely worthwhile for many businesses. Supporting small companies as they refine their vision is such a rewarding experience.

How did your perspective on international business change?

International businesses may struggle simply because there aren't enough people in their target market. My client was based in Chile, which is Spanish-speaking, but after doing a market analysis for them we realized that they needed to target Brazil, which is a Portuguese speaking country, as their home market was too small.

What did you learn about yourself throughout the GFE?

It was really cool to take a startup from needing help with approaching their market to having a full go-to-market strategy. We got a chance to dive into many different areas of the business world, including competitive analysis, branding, social media marketing, as well as project and KPI development. Great bonding experience with teammates as well. 

I grew so much as a leader. During the GFE, you need to step up to the plate and do things while remaining calm in front of the client, even if you’re still figuring out what to do. I also learned I like marketing more than I thought, as I've always been more interested in data analysis than psychology. But I really enjoyed the process and learned more about how to connect to people's emotions, which is always an important skill.