The projects start without a clear roadmap, challenging students to overcome their fear of ambiguity and to make difficult decisions to develop a clear and concise conclusion for the company. Each member of the team is based on their unique field of study and academic history to sail effectively in the project.
“I love taking the initiative and understanding things as you go, which is crucial to fighting for Uncharted projects like this,” explains Herzog. “My commercial history and communications have helped me contribute to the objective of the project to market a revolutionary technology.”
Soderlund noted that his work experience in team projects had helped global communication. “Having been in previous team projects in previous classes helped with global collaboration with my colleagues,” she says.
Hanson noted that his scientific history provided valuable information on the project. “My biochemistry diploma has definitively helped. We learned the sound waves in the physics class, so I was able to easily understand technology, ”he says. “The biggest help in my education has been to learn how to search and find reliable sources. Not only online sources, but also how to seek experts. ” He has acquired a deeper appreciation for the importance of building a professional network, especially at Bethel.
Despite certain challenges encountered by the team, they were able to navigate them by asking the right questions, keeping their final goal in the home and maintaining open communication. For Herzog, the project pushed him as well as his team to navigate in an unknown territory. The team had to determine where to start, understand how NASA works differently from other for -profit companies and how they conceded their patents to other companies. “It took time to adjust our approach, to recommend the manufacture of the device looking for the right partner to market it,” explains Herzog.
Soderlund underlines the invaluable support they received throughout the project. “We were lucky to have incredible mentors that guided us along the way,” she said. With Paradis, the student MBA Conner Simms from the University of Augsburg was the leader of the team, helping to shape the project management. Herzog highlights the value of collaboration to overcome obstacles. “More importantly, we have relied on the expertise of those who had already faced similar obstacles, ensuring that we have made informed and strategic decisions,” he said.
Preparing for the presentation was both difficult and rewarding. Since the team had to work with wandering instructions, a large part of the preparation involved refining their brainstorming in a clear business plan. “We had to be selective on what to include in our presentation of 30 minutes, ensuring that we effectively communicate the value of technology,” explains Hanson.