Meet the GBCC 2015 Student Leadership Team
2015 Endeavor Statement: We want to run the world’s best global business case competition for undergraduate business student competitors and UW organizers through active participation by the Foster Undergraduate Community, in order to create memorable experiences while promoting student leadership and cross-cultural interaction.
GBCC Co-Chair: Davis Brown is a senior at the Foster school studying Finance. He is globally minded and is always looking for any way to get involved in international business or culture. Last year he had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Germany for 5 months. While in Europe he had the chance to visit many different countries, but he loved the culture of Barcelona, Spain and the amazing city life of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Davis hopes to one day work internationally and have the opportunity to improve his foreign language skills. Outside of the classroom, Davis enjoys exploring new areas in and outside Seattle, going to concerts, and searching for the best desserts in Seattle. He is extremely excited to be co-leading GBCC this year and cannot wait for the competition week to begin.
GBCC Co-Chair: Marina Oldfin is a senior majoring in Information Systems, Operations & Supply Chain Management, and a Certificate in international Studies in Business (German Track). She recently studied abroad this last Spring quarter in Vienna, Austria. It was an absolutely amazing experience studying abroad – and she made many new connections! She would love to visit Vienna again, but also travel to other places I have yet to go to. Marina is very excited to be a Co-Chair for GBCC this year and hopes to make it a memorable experience for everyone.
GBCC Activities Manager: Carlie Anderson is a junior pursuing a degree in Business Administration at the Foster School, as well as a degree in Public Health. She hopes to apply these degrees in the future towards doing non-profit management abroad. She was lucky enough to study abroad in India, where she enjoyed riding elephants, seeing the Taj Mahal, doing laughter yoga and meeting inspiring individuals invested in social entrepreneurship. She has also traveled to Japan were she got to visit Hiroshima and try all kinds of exotic types of fish. In the Netherlands, she enjoyed biking at sunset along the canals. She is particularly interested in women in leadership and hopes to study women who are making change elsewhere in the world. Besides traveling, Carlie enjoys dancing, skiing and spending time with friends. She is super excited for the opportunity to be a part of GBCC this year!
GBCC Activities Manager: Bonnie Beam is a junior studying Marketing with a minor in Law, Societies and Justice. She loves people, being challenged and learning! One of her most recent endeavors was a four-month direct exchange in the small city of Pamplona in Northern Spain. A highlight of her time there was a trip to the Asturias region of Spain where she repelled waterfalls in the middle of a massive rain/thunder/lighting storm and wandered amongst the cattle in Los Picos de Europa. Not to mention becoming nearly fluent in Spanish while living with 3 Spaniards who were determined to make her a native speaker! With a desire to serve others, her passion comes alive at the intersection of business and healthcare. She hopes to find a career in the healthcare industry and leverage the skills she has developed both at UW and abroad. In her free time, she loves to cook, bake, explore the outdoors through running and kayaking and most importantly, dominate with board games. She is stoked to be one of the activities managers and is determined to make GBCC an unforgettable week!
GBCC Ambassador Manager: Rebecca Ruh is a senior studying Business Administration and International Business with a focus in Spanish, while also pursuing a Spanish minor. Having studied abroad in Santiago, Chile for a semester, and returning for a six-month internship this past fall, post graduation she is hoping to take the plunge and live and work in Latin America. Whether that be for a social enterprise, a consulting firm with a social impact sector, or Peace Corps, she is pumped for the path that lays ahead. Ready for winding through different cultures, new ideas, and a handful of challenges. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys spontaneous adventures, staying active through gyming/hiking/biking/all of the above, and appreciating the little things like dark chocolate on a rainy day…or every day. She is excited for her role as Ambassador Manager and is looking forward to the best week of spring quarter – GBCC!
GBCC Ambassador Manager: Sarah Zdancewicz is a senior majoring in Marketing and International Business and minoring in Spanish and Comparative Religion. She considers herself the female “Rick Steves” due to her many trips around Europe over the past six years. She studied abroad in both Spain and Eastern Europe, and loves learning about all aspects of culture. She hopes to return to Europe post-graduation and intern with a local company, but is open to other parts of the globe as well. Other than traveling, Sarah loves to run, hike, pet cute animals, check out local concerts, and go on spontaneous adventures around Seattle. She is beyond excited to meet all of the competitors and show them UW and Seattle!
GBCC Competition Manager: Kiersten Bakke is a senior in the studying Information Systems and International Business along with a Spanish minor. She is passionate about sustainability issues and how companies can use developing technology and innovations to help their businesses grow. She studied abroad in Santiago, Chile for a semester and loved being exposed to the Latin American culture. After graduation she will be going abroad again, most likely to Southeast Asia with an AIESEC internship. During her spare time, Kiersten likes being active by hiking with friends, running, or doing anything on/near the water. She also enjoys a good book, trying new restaurants, and a good cup of coffee. She cannot wait to meet all the competitors and share Seattle with them!
GBCC Competition Manager: Stephanie Velasco is a senior studying Finance, International Business, and Spanish. She loves meeting people with diverse backgrounds, learning about different cultures, and traveling to places she has never visited before whether it’s to another country or a new restaurant down the street! Last fall, she studied abroad in the south of Spain in the beautiful city of Granada. Her most memorable moments in Europe were visiting family in Germany and Barcelona, eating macaroons while watching the Eiffel Tower light up, and bungee jumping from a bridge! Her dream career is to work for a non-profit organization that allows her to travel internationally and use her Spanish-speaking skills. Stephanie is ecstatic to be one of the competition managers this year!
GBCC Social Media & PR Manager: Emily Su is a sophomore at the studying Marketing and International Business. She was bitten by the travel bug when she toured Europe and Asia this past summer. Some highlights of her trip included riding a Segway in Croatia, wine tasting in Greece, going to the opera in Italy, eating the best dim sum in Hong Kong, and parasailing in Taiwan. Her weeks of traveling abroad sparked her passion for all things international. She plans to study abroad in Shanghai this summer and is looking forward to immersing herself in a new culture where she hopes to do business in the future. Emily is always up for painting, dancing, boating, sitting in the sun, and learning new languages.
