A group of 22 Farmer School of Business students participated in the 8th Annual Isaac & Oxley Center for Business Leadership (CBL) Shade Family Emerging Leaders Consulting Experience in Chicago during the winter term. The experience was led by EY Professor and CBL Co-founder Brian Ballou and CBL Co-director Megan Gerhardt. The following stories, told by three accountancy students at various stages of their Miami journey, showcase the workshop’s impact and students’ favorite moments.
Mitchell Talbott ‘26 (Master of Accountancy)
During the Emerging Leaders Consulting Experience in Chicago, our team navigated the challenges of AI implementation within the workforce. Partnering with leaders from Willis Towers Watson and Earnst & Young, we developed an interactive framework to help guide leadership teams as they pursue AI-enhanced business operations.
Throughout the course, we explored the world of consulting with hands-on experience solving real-world business challenges. While the project was challenging, we had ample opportunity to explore the “Windy City” and see what Chicago had to offer. Team dinners, scavenger hunts, cultural outings, and alumni networking were also incorporated into the experience to provide a balance of work and fun. The experience allowed for a connection between course materials and real-world implementations.
Tom Fisher ‘28 (Sophomore)
Through the 12-day Emerging Leaders Consulting Experience in Chicago, my team explored both the Windy City and the state of AI innovation. Our team of eight worked with Willis Towers Watson to develop a framework for balancing financial constraints and the “AI FOMO” currently shaping corporate strategies. It was challenging to approach such a widespread problem, but through the coaching of our professors, EY professionals, and client contacts, we delivered a final presentation and executive report with a thought-provoking decision tree.
The experience strengthened my knowledge of AI and the professional services industry, as well as my consulting skills, including solving unstructured problems, mediating team conflict, and delivering interactive client presentations. In addition to the professional development, the experience was made even more memorable by the opportunity to immerse myself in Chicago cultural staples like the Art Institute, Giordano’s pizza, and, as the locals call it, “The Bean.”
Emerson Wieland ‘29 (First Year)
As a freshman, I didn’t know what I could offer to a group of upperclassmen who were all very knowledgeable and competent. This fear was quickly resolved after we got into our groups, and I found my role very quickly. My group didn’t try to embarrass me with very technical questions; they allowed me to use my logic and reasoning to develop a narrative for the problem at hand. They worked with me to create a narrative around our solution that solidified our slide deck.
My experience with this team is one I will never forget, as the people on this trip are truly remarkable. We have maintained our relationships beyond the trip, which has opened doors that were previously closed. I have developed friendships, interpersonal skills, a network, and a willingness to learn from the great people who surrounded me. I often hear the phrase, “You are a combination of your five closest friends”; the people I was surrounded with on this trip made me a person I want to be for the rest of my life.
