On May 15 and 16, over 50 Driehaus students gathered in the Chicago offices of KPMG, one of the “Big Four” audit, tax, and advisory services firms.
Their mission: provide real-world business solutions harnessing their data analytics skills for the inaugural DePaul x KPMG Case Competition and Hackathon.
Through the competition, students from across the college got the chance to network with KPMG professionals, gaining direct insights into the industry.
DePaul is one of just 16 schools nationwide that participates in KPMG’s MADA, or master of accouting with data analytics, program.
Read on for key insights from students who participated.
Adriana Olaguez
Olaguez and her team pose with industry collaborators and Driehaus faculty.Olaguez is a sophomore in the Finance Honors Program at Driehaus. She’s also majoring in human resources with a minor in accounting.
Tip 1: Choose a topic relevant to current companies.
We wanted our work to be relevant. When we were choosing a company to analyze, we considered the fact that KPMG is heavily invested in AI. The associates and analysts we talked to said that they were using AI on a daily basis. They have a lot of new tools, and a lot of new training. So we felt that focusing on AI would be a good choice.
Tip 2: Embrace the time crunch.
Forty-eight hours is a time crunch. But it also mimics how the real world operates! Sometimes, there are time pressures and expectations to meet. You just have to be flexible, make use of your resources, tap into your peers, and come up with a solution.
Tip 3: Know your audience.
Doing a case competition is almost like role play. You have to really understand who your audience is. In this case, we were asked to present as if we were talking to the company’s board of directors. You have to understand that they have limited time. You can’t go super in-depth. You have to keep things clear.
Tip 4: Stay open to opportunities.
I’d advise future students to take advantage of every opportunity to work with a team and analyze a problem. I’ve done a number of case competitions during my time at DePaul. Each one has taught me something different and was an opportunity to grow.
Karan Chadda
Chadda and his team at KPMG's offices.Chadda is a student in the Master’s in Audit and Advisory Services Program.
Tip 1: Consider timely topics.
We chose to focus on the automotive industry. We wanted to look at the effects of tariffs and supply chain disruptions. And we wanted to understand how macroeconomic factors impact people in the U.S. and globally.
Tip 2: Take your time brainstorming.
It helped that our team really took our time brainstorming. In my experience, when someone jumps to a conclusion too quickly while brainstorming, that hampers the initial thought process. Instead of independently brainstorming, people start to evaluate one specific idea. Keeping the initial thought process open-ended is crucial.
Tip 3: Pair data analysis with a compelling narrative.
So many of the courses I’m taking — whether in audit, data analytics, or strategy — helped me structure this analysis. Our professors really stress the importance of thinking holistically — of not just doing analytics, but of having a narrative for any analysis you’re doing.
Tip 4: Connect the classroom to the real world.
This experience was incredibly validating for me. It gave me confidence that the skills I’m building here at DePaul are applicable to real-world business challenges. This was a proud moment to represent the college of business to industry leaders.