FAQ

Innovation Olympics is an eight-week action learning program that IXL Center and the Global Innovation Management Institute offer every quarter. It is a unique and practical program that challenges business school students to integrate their business knowledge and encourges the development of soft skills to solve a real innovation & growth issue for a senior executive from a company.

Innovation Olympics is an eight-week action learning program that IXL Center and the Global Innovation Management Institute offer every quarter. It is a unique and practical program that challenges business school students to integrate their business knowledge and encourges the development of soft skills to solve a real innovation & growth issue for a senior executive from a company.

• Team must have 4 to 6 members • Need to sign up with a faculty mentor • Each member has a minimum of 2 years of work experience. (Consulting experience not mandatory but beneficial) • Each member has a Masters or PhD • Team members are students or alumni of the same university • At least 3 team members need to attend all client meetings • At least 2 members need to attend weekly mentor sessions • 1 team member needs to register the team • Multiple teams from same university can apply

• Team must have 4 to 6 members • Need to sign up with a faculty mentor • Each member has a minimum of 2 years of work experience. (Consulting experience not mandatory but beneficial) • Each member has a Masters or PhD • Team members are students or alumni of the same university • At least 3 team members need to attend all client meetings • At least 2 members need to attend weekly mentor sessions • 1 team member needs to register the team • Multiple teams from same university can apply

This program is designed for MBA and Ph.D. students, and therefore those teams are selected as a priority. Regardless, if you are incredibly interested and you have an outstanding resume, GPA, recommendation letter, faculty advisor and other team members that are from an MBA or Ph.D. program, please apply, and your application will be evaluated

This program is designed for MBA and Ph.D. students, and therefore those teams are selected as a priority. Regardless, if you are incredibly interested and you have an outstanding resume, GPA, recommendation letter, faculty advisor and other team members that are from an MBA or Ph.D. program, please apply, and your application will be evaluated

• VERIZON, telecommunications: identifying multi-billion dollar growth opportunities at the intersection of telecommunications and other industries • 3M, Industrial, safety & consumer technologies: identifying eCommerce business opportunities • SEPHORA, personal care and beauty: identifying growth around their haircare category • AIRBUS, aerospace: create a vision of what the future of passenger jets could be like in the next 20 years • ALIBABA, e-commerce: identifying future of logistics for small order global trading

• VERIZON, telecommunications: identifying multi-billion dollar growth opportunities at the intersection of telecommunications and other industries • 3M, Industrial, safety & consumer technologies: identifying eCommerce business opportunities • SEPHORA, personal care and beauty: identifying growth around their haircare category • AIRBUS, aerospace: create a vision of what the future of passenger jets could be like in the next 20 years • ALIBABA, e-commerce: identifying future of logistics for small order global trading

Work with Fortune 500 companies, such as: Verizon,CMI Food,Capital Area Food Bank,Emirates NBD,Sanofi, Airbus,etc.

Work with Fortune 500 companies, such as: Verizon,CMI Food,Capital Area Food Bank,Emirates NBD,Sanofi, Airbus,etc.

Depending on the project and time management skills of team members, you might have to allocate anything from 6 to 12 hours a week per person.

Depending on the project and time management skills of team members, you might have to allocate anything from 6 to 12 hours a week per person.

No, we encourage all academic backgrounds and experiences to form part of the program. You will learn in parallel the innovation methodology via our partner Global Innovation Management Institute that will provide you with the necessary tools and skills to participate in the program

No, we encourage all academic backgrounds and experiences to form part of the program. You will learn in parallel the innovation methodology via our partner Global Innovation Management Institute that will provide you with the necessary tools and skills to participate in the program

Sure! Sometimes your professional background is even more appreciated; it offers more insights into a helpful topic or profession.

Sure! Sometimes your professional background is even more appreciated; it offers more insights into a helpful topic or profession.

You can sign up: • Online at https://www.ixlcenter.io/for-students • Filling out the google form • You can stop by the IXL Center office in Cambridge and sign up in person

You can sign up: • Online at https://www.olympics.ixl-center.com/ • Filling out the google form • You can stop by the IXL Center office in Cambridge and sign up in person

You can find the dates updated on the ixlcenter.io website. We will be receiving applications for each cycle up to 2 weeks prior to the kick-off. Never the less, the sooner you sign up the higher the chances you will have for being selected.

You can find the dates updated on the ixlcenter.io website. We will be receiving applications for each cycle up to 2 weeks prior to the kick-off. Never the less, the sooner you sign up the higher the chances you will have for being selected.

No registration or participation fee required.

No registration or participation fee required.

Participation can be done in-person here in Boston, or virtually.

Participation can be done in-person here in Boston, or virtually.

We will help you make your team. We can provide you with marketing materials as well as give you tips like contacting the consulting club to help make it happen. If all fails you can still fill out a different application as an individual: ixlcenter.io/for-students. We will do our best to help you join a team.

We will help you make your team. We can provide you with marketing materials as well as give you tips like contacting the consulting club to help make it happen. If all fails you can still fill out a different application as an individual: ixlcenter.io/for-students. We will do our best to help you join a team.

Teams from the same university will compete on different challenges

Teams from the same university will compete on different challenges

Yes, this is possible but strongly discouraged. This creates inconvenient delays for both the client and internal recruiting team. It is mandatory that if a student needs to leave the competition, he or she must provide a replacement. Every individual will be signing a participation agreement at the begining of the program.

Yes, this is possible but strongly discouraged. This creates inconvenient delays for both the client and internal recruiting team. It is mandatory that if a student needs to leave the competition, he or she must provide a replacement. Every individual will be signing a participation agreement at the begining of the program.

You have access to all the templates through the LMS. Depending on the section of the process you are in.

You have access to all the templates through the LMS. Depending on the section of the process you are in.

Your team will be scored across three main criteria-- Insights, Actionability, and Presentation (slides + delivery).

Your team will be scored across three main criteria-- Insights, Actionability, and Presentation (slides + delivery).

Presentations take place online via webinars unless the client requests physical presence for any local teams if available.

Presentations take place online via webinars unless the client requests physical presence for any local teams if available.

LMS ( Learning Management System): http://academy.ixl-center.com/course/index.php?categoryid=2T • This platform is designed for you to access your challenge throughout the program. In this platform, you will be able to download documents, get updates on upcoming calendar events, submit your presentations, access webinar recordings, take GIMI quizzes, obtain certification and get access to EUREKA. Eureka: https://eureka.ixl-center.com/campaign/list2 • This software is used in the program to generate ideas and concepts and more.

LMS ( Learning Management System): http://academy.ixl-center.com/course/index.php?categoryid=2T • This platform is designed for you to access your challenge throughout the program. In this platform, you will be able to download documents, get updates on upcoming calendar events, submit your presentations, access webinar recordings, take GIMI quizzes, obtain certification and get access to EUREKA. Eureka: https://eureka.ixl-center.com/campaign/list2 • This software is used in the program to generate ideas and concepts and more.

Fields of Play are strategic spaces and not individual ideas. Therefore they need to broad enough to hold multiple idea fragments that can be potentially converted into business concepts. The FOPs are your growth or opportunity platforms that would help you to close the identified growth gap and create innovation breakthroughs. Also, make sure that your FOPs are very well described so that people can easily visualize them and relate to them. Finally, all the potential idea fragments in your broad FOP will help you create an innovation pipeline of concepts that can be then presented to your management committee.

Fields of Play are strategic spaces and not individual ideas. Therefore they need to broad enough to hold multiple idea fragments that can be potentially converted into business concepts. The FOPs are your growth or opportunity platforms that would help you to close the identified growth gap and create innovation breakthroughs. Also, make sure that your FOPs are very well described so that people can easily visualize them and relate to them. Finally, all the potential idea fragments in your broad FOP will help you create an innovation pipeline of concepts that can be then presented to your management committee.

LMS: • Maria Pullin: maria.pullin@ixl-center.ent • Edwin Bernal: edwin.bernal@ixl-center.net Eureka: • Ana Lucía Fernández: alfmenegazzo@gmail.com

LMS: • Maria Pullin: maria.pullin@ixl-center.ent • Edwin Bernal: edwin.bernal@ixl-center.net Eureka: • Ana Lucía Fernández: alfmenegazzo@gmail.com

Teams are selected depending on the client needs and student experience. We encourage diversity among chosen teams. Diversity includes: • Different academic backgrounds • Work experience • Nationality • Location

Teams are selected depending on the client needs and student experience. We encourage diversity among chosen teams. Diversity includes: • Different academic backgrounds • Work experience • Nationality • Location

We will announce the selection 1 week before the cycle starts. Shortlisted teams will be contacted by the program management team.

We will announce the selection 1 week before the cycle starts. Shortlisted teams will be contacted by the program management team.

Yes! We will reach out to you if you are not selected and encourage you to re-apply for the next cycle

Yes! We will reach out to you if you are not selected and encourage you to re-apply for the next cycle

Yes you can! There is no limit, you can apply to participate multiple times. However, you aren’t guaranteed the slot every time.

Yes you can! There is no limit, you can apply to participate multiple times. However, you aren’t guaranteed the slot every time.

You will interact with clients during: • Kick-off, where you will be able to ask questions • Presentations every 2 weeks and ask for feedback during those sessions • Q&A sessions with clients. All other communication is done through the IXL Center mentor

You will interact with clients during: • Kick-off, where you will be able to ask questions • Presentations every 2 weeks and ask for feedback during those sessions • Q&A sessions with clients. All other communication is done through the IXL Center mentor

Unfortunately no, client/sponsor assignments are done based on client needs.

Unfortunately no, client/sponsor assignments are done based on client needs.

Discuss with your mentor who the potential client is and your mentor will provide guidance on how to move forward. Ask to be connected with the internal sales team.

Discuss with your mentor who the potential client is and your mentor will provide guidance on how to move forward. Ask to be connected with the internal sales team.

A faculty mentor will act as a second set of eyes and ears to help you along the way. It would be ideal to set meetings every 1 or 2 weeks in order to receive feedback, run some ideas by them, do dry-runs, and get introduced to their network of subject matter experts to help in any particular field

A faculty mentor will act as a second set of eyes and ears to help you along the way. It would be ideal to set meetings every 1 or 2 weeks in order to receive feedback, run some ideas by them, do dry-runs, and get introduced to their network of subject matter experts to help in any particular field

The Innovation Olympics team decides the mentor allocation internally, and you will be contacted by your mentor to get a formal introduction.

The Innovation Olympics team decides the mentor allocation internally, and you will be contacted by your mentor to get a formal introduction.

There is no mandatory time to be allocated, simply recommended meeting for 1 hour every 1 to 2 weeks would be ideal

There is no mandatory time to be allocated, simply recommended meeting for 1 hour every 1 to 2 weeks would be ideal

The client selected winners are chosen based on a forced ranking system as well as who they think had the best idea.

The client selected winners are chosen based on a forced ranking system as well as who they think had the best idea.

Students can choose from two Options to collect the prize and must assign ONE team member to receive and liaise with IXL Center.They can choose from either: • An Amazon Gift Card to each team member • Direct deposit into a single bank account

Students can choose from two Options to collect the prize and must assign ONE team member to receive and liaise with IXL Center.They can choose from either: • An Amazon Gift Card to each team member • Direct deposit into a single bank account

Prize money recipients are responsible for their tax liabilities and reporting income to the appropriate tax authorities

Prize money recipients are responsible for their tax liabilities and reporting income to the appropriate tax authorities

Speak to your mentor, who will try to accommodate your request with the client in case you or at least three of your teammates indefinitely aren’t able to present.

Speak to your mentor, who will try to accommodate your request with the client in case you or at least three of your teammates indefinitely aren’t able to present.

Apply online via https://www.ixlcenter.io/for-students, or email our Ambassador Program coordinator maria.pullin@ixl-center.net

Apply online via https://www.ixlcenter.io/for-students, or email our Ambassador Program coordinator maria.pullin@ixl-center.net

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• Work and meet with senior executives to crack the business challenge • Add this as work experience on your resume • Learn a world-class methodology to develop a business case • Receive a professional certification from the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) • Be included in GIMI's globally distributed resume book • Development of soft skills and hands-on skills • Have fun and get bragging rights for being the winner • Win $4,000 for 1st, or $2,000 for 2nd place

• Work and meet with senior executives to crack the business challenge • Add this as work experience on your resume • Learn a world-class methodology to develop a business case • Receive a professional certification from the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) • Be included in GIMI's globally distributed resume book • Development of soft skills and hands-on skills • Have fun and get bragging rights for being the winner • Win $4,000 for 1st, or $2,000 for 2nd place