Wednesday - July 1, 2009

Yesterday Nicole represented our group in the drawing for the order in which groups would present. She drew the first position, presenting at 9:30am! We had worked hard, were prepared and rested, looked smart in our business attire (I wore the new suit I purchased in Paris and shoes bought the day before in Barcelona). It was time!

The presentation went well, then the hard part…. 20 minutes of oral defense through questions from the two judges on the jury. Now that was grueling! Dr. Overby was present in the room as well as Armel Esnol, Program Director, and several other students. We were asked specific and very challenging questions regarding the positioning of our product, why our product could outperform its competitors, our packaging, viability of the partnership we proposed for Saranac with Anheuser Busch InBev, the “circumstances of consumption”, strategy, etc. We were “on the spot” for sure, but we made it through! I stayed around to watch three other groups’ presentations, then put it all behind me. The work was done, our best effort was given, it was time to enjoy the final days of this amazing trip.

After some lunch I intended to take a quick nap and recharge for the afternoon, but that turned into my crashing for two hours. I guess the finality of completing a task we had been focused on for almost a month had exhausted me. I needed the break, rest from all that built up to the morning’s “showcase”. We would not find out until tomorrow morning what two groups would be in the final consideration for the “best project” award, but the hardest part was now over. What a relief.

With eight groups to present, the presentations were not over until 7pm. Most of the group met down on the beach at 8pm for some dinner and relaxation. The shoreline is so tourist friendly, many restaurants and wide walkways for bicycles, joggers, etc. The beach is open 24/7, so even after dark, it is full of groups sitting in conversation, playing frisbees, sand sculptors, musicians, etc. The breeze was nice, the temperature perfect. We all had such relief to be done with presentations and enjoying the downhill slide with only a few more days remaining in the program.