All-Female Team of Future Entrepreneurs Wins SuitUp “Battle of the Boroughs” Competition Last Week

An All-Female Team of Future Entrepreneurs from St. Jean Baptiste High School (Manhattan) Wins SuitUp “Battle of the Boroughs” Competition

A focus on improving NYC communities through a business concept that included events and initiatives across nine industry sectors dominated the field of ideas proposed

Our previous article describes the competition, and can be found here

New York, NY— On December 11, 2023, hundreds of NYC high school students, from across the boroughs, descended upon Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus. They participated in the SuitUp “Battle of the Boroughs” competition, which focused on diversifying the talent pipeline in the financial services sector by engaging students in an exercise that introduced them to the world of finance by creating a product or service that celebrates and builds a sense of community in New York City.

Schools that competed included: St. Jean Baptiste High School (Manhattan), Murray Hill Academy (Manhattan), Fordham University Liberty Partnerships (Bronx), Williamsburg Charter High School (Brooklyn), South Brooklyn Community High School (Brooklyn), KIPP NYC (Bronx), Integration Charter School Network (Staten Island), and John Adams High School (Queens).

SuitUp, a nonprofit entity that strives to increase career readiness for all students through innovative business plan competitions, has partnered with the Fordham Foundry, Fordham University’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship within the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, a thought leader in business education for the future and in the areas of social and corporate responsibility, to encourage more students—especially those from underrepresented communities—to consider careers in financial services.

The winning team, whose proposed business was called Spectrum NYC, presented their detailed business plan in front of more than 250 other high school students, and project coaches and judges from prominent business firms across the City. Here they pose with their awards and the judges. Image Credit – Bruce Gilbert

Executives from Allspring Global Investments, Apollo Global Management, Ares Management, Brown Brothers Harriman, Goldman Sachs, HAP Capital, Insight Partners, Santander Bank, and Global Atlantic Financial Group, coached the students who developed ideas for start-ups that would provide products or services designed to bring New Yorkers together and/or improve their quality of life.

Valerie Vazquez, first deputy commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, attended the semi-final rounds of the competition and acknowledged the importance it plays by making the following statement:

“SuitUp and Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business ‘Battle of the Boroughs’ competition provides NYC students with an opportunity to delve into the world of finance, but also challenges them to create innovative solutions to build a stronger New York City. Collaborations like these play a pivotal role in preparing our youth for the future. Congratulations to all participants!”

The winning team from St. Jean Baptiste High School, in Manhattan, was an all-female group that provided a comprehensive business plan for a company called Spectrum NYC that would focus on events and initiatives across nine main business sectors, which would serve to bring NYC-based communities and businesses together. Their presentation included detailed financials and strong examples of the ways in which they would execute their plan.

Gabelli School of Business Dean Lerzan Aksoy addresses students from across NYC high schools prior to the start of the SuitUp competition. Image Credit – Bruce Gilbert

Suit Up Competition, Dec. 12, 2023 Image Credit – Bruce Gilbert

Suit Up Competition, Dec. 12, 2023 Image Credit – Bruce Gilbert

Suit Up Competition, Dec. 12, 2023 Image Credit – Bruce Gilbert

Suit Up Competition, Dec. 12, 2023 Image Credit – Bruce Gilbert

(left to right) Bill Colona, assistant vice president, government relations, federal and urban affairs, Fordham University; Valerie Vazquez, first deputy commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit; and Lauren Reilly, executive director and co-founder of SuitUp, chat with a student team preparing for the competition. Image Credit – Bruce Gilbert

The event marked the second collaboration between SuitUp and Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, and aligns closely with the School’s mission and vision of utilizing business as a catalyst for impactful change across New York City and around the world.

Banner Image: Gabelli School of Business Dean Lerzan Aksoy addresses students from across NYC high schools prior to the start of the SuitUp competition. (contrast adjusted) Image Credit – Bruce Gilbert