FBLA Nationals Triumph for Jindal School Students

by Eric Butterman - July 13th, 2023 - Academics, Business Communications Program, Students

Atlanta was the site of a recent triumph by students from the Naveen Jindal School of Management. 

Jindal School students placed in eight events at the Future Business Leaders of America Nationals Leadership Conference June 22-25, including a first-time entrant who won first place in both categories in which he competed. 

“It was an unbelievable experience for our students to compete against hundreds of other students and they also had a chance to hear keynotes, go to career-related workshops, and network,” said Dr. Kathryn Lookadoo, an Associate Professor of Instruction of Business Communication at the Jindal School. 

Lookadoo said that financial support from Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean, allowed students to have a chance to enjoy the experience. 

Competitive events consisted of either tests or performances (e.g., case study presentations and public speaking events).  In his first Nationals, Noel Frias, a finance and economics senior, won eighth place in Microeconomics. 

“The conference was a transformative experience and I found my class really helpful,” Frias said. He had taken Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 2302), taught by Dr. Daniel Arce, Ashbel Smith Professor of Economics in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. 

“Reviewing my notes from that class came in handy,’ he said. “The competition pushed me to dig deep and think critically. 60 minutes and 100 questions — it was really a challenge.” 

Frias also took away a great deal from the workshops, attending one on how to answer questions at a job interview and another on analyzing a job offer. 

“I felt like the first one answered many questions I had and it gave a clear picture on the due diligence that can be helpful,” he said. “For the other, negotiation can be critical when it comes to pay and even other components and I had a chance to connect with a recruiter with many years of experience on how to negotiate the right way. I also had my résumé reviewed by several career consultants at the conference from across the nation. They taught me interesting ways to improve it and I couldn’t wait to use the feedback. I just felt in so many ways that I came away from this conference with a great deal of knowledge.” 

Patricio Gonzalez Ramos, a finance senior, found out about the FBLA state-level competition by taking one of Lookadoo’s classes. He needed a top three finish at state to qualify for the national conference competition. At nationals, he took first place in Management Concepts, and Sports Management and Marketing, and found the moment unforgettable. 

“It was such a surreal experience,” he said. “They kept counting down where everyone placed. I was thinking, ‘Oh, maybe I got sixth.’ I feel fortunate to have finished first twice. It was a great feeling.” 

Still, it wasn’t just the conference but the city of Atlanta that provided rewards. Finance and Information Technology and Systems (ITSS) junior Sidharth Sridharan, who finished third in Information Management and is president of the FBLA chapter at The University of Texas at Dallas, found his way to many of the city’s offerings, including the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the High Museum of Art and the World of Coca-Cola museum.

 “Getting to expand my horizons in getting to see these sights, it was an amazing opportunity,” said Sridharan, who has been selected as the state president of Texas FBLA for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Sridharan cited two courses — Database Fundamentals (ITS 4300), taught by Dr. Dawn Owens, dean of undergraduate programs and clinical associate professor in the Information Systems Area; and Network and Information Security (ITSS 4360), taught by Nate Howe, Chief Information Security Officer and an adjunct professor at UT Dallas — as vital to his third-place finish. 

Other placings included a seventh-place finish in the Job Interview category for Joshua Kalakoti, an ITSS junior; an eighth-place finish in Project Management for Rohit Vatti, an ITSS senior; a ninth-place finish in Emerging Business Issues for sisters Daisy Villagrana and Evelyn Villagrana, a business administration senior and marketing senior, respectively; and a ninth-place finish in Retail Management for Rania Adnan, a marketing junior. 

Lookadoo hopes these results and the positive experiences will encourage even more participation in the future. 

“I see what it does for them in terms of taking on a challenge and getting out and seeing a different part of the country,” she said. “We’re also introducing many more people to the Jindal School’s student talent through this type of event.”