MAC Magazine 2019

B
P
B U S I N E S S
C H A L L E N G E
The BP Business Challenge was an incredible experience
that was really eye-opening for the eighty students in Year
11 that participated in the three day event. Wednesday
22 nd May was the first day - we were introduced to our
facilitators for the next three days, Paul and Erica, both
with plenty of experience with all things business,
architecture and thinking outside of the box. On this day,
we didn’t just think out of the box, some of us also got out
of our comfort zones.
Day 1 was all about introducing and getting used to
things. We competed in the North Block as groups in lots
of challenges, one of them including re-designing the
traditional ‘shopping trolley’ and then pitching our ideas to
everybody else. All of us developed a deeper understanding
for the concept of pitching and what to do as well as what not
to do. It built up our confidence and got us all comfortable
with speaking in front of others.
Day 2 was not just another day in a row that we got to
wear mufti. Rather, it was a day of getting our heads
down and turning our passions into a business. At the
end of Day 1, we all wrote on sticky notes, huge issues
and problems we see in the world, some including plastic
pollution, education, mental health, etc and if there is
one thing we learnt from Erica and Paul, it was that you
can’t have a solution without a problem. There must be
a reason behind the drive of creating a business, so we
all chose the problem we felt resonated with us the most
and started to create our business from there. We were
in groups of around six, but it differentiated. It was really
important that we were in groups with the topic that we
were passionate about, it gave us an inner drive to fight
for a solution to the problem. We got into our groups,
brainstormed and all tried to put our weight in to make
the best business of them all.
We started Day 3 with our minds full of ideas. Some of us
had done the hard work on their pitches the night before. It
was a mad rush to the end but Paul’s kind words and Erica’s
enthusiasm helped us to the finish line. One crazy kahoot
later determining which space in the North Block we got
to use to present our business, all of our pitch locations
were set up and ready for the five local community judges
to come and experience our blood, sweat and tears of the
last 48 hours. After five intense eight-minute pitches the
challenge was done.
Every team left it out on the table, with amazing ideas
that left the judges with a hard decision ahead of them.
During the time we all filled out a survey to say how
amazing Erica and Paul were, then they were back with
the rankings. Everyone did amazingly well, Paul said that
we were "up there" in all the many schools he has visited.
A huge congratulations to third place - CEO Georgia
Robertson with their idea of SEA 2 SEE (blue light glasses).
Second place was awarded to Nico Richter’s group, who
designed CO2 absorbing tiles. Winners, Meg Thomas’
team, deskYOUcation, created a tabletop that wowed the
judges. Her amazing team consisted of Isla Gellatly, Nicole
Meyer, Whitney Bennett, Alexa McKay, Tess Treadwell-
Burke, Dylan Rimmer, Luca Harrington and Nevada
Wolfgramm. Congratulations!
If you are considering participating in the BP Business
Challenge, we would wholeheartedly tell you… do it!
The business skills and confidence you gain is priceless.
Take these opportunities, it is well worth it. Many of us
definitely consider the memories and challenge of it to
be a highlight of Year 11.
NICOLE MEYER AND MEG THOMAS
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