In today’s business education, experiential learning plays a crucial role in preparing future leaders to navigate complexity, uncertainty, and real-world constraints. Our International MBA participants recently experienced this first-hand through the Corporate Challenge — a consulting-style project developed in collaboration with a real company. This year, the challenge was carried out with MANGO, one of the leading international fashion brands.
During the project, students worked in teams to analyse a concrete business problem, explore innovative solutions, and balance strategic thinking with operational feasibility — just as they would in a professional environment. Beyond delivering proposals, the Corporate Challenge offers a powerful learning journey. It exposes students to industry dynamics, strengthens collaboration and decision-making skills, and encourages them to rethink how innovation happens under real constraints.
Zaosh Irani, an International MBA participant, shares his personal insights and reflections from the MANGO Corporate Challenge.
What did the MANGO challenge teach you?
The MANGO challenge fundamentally changed how I approach problem-solving. It taught me that innovation is not about simply identifying problems, but about recognizing underlying challenges and continuously looking for ways to optimize efficiency within real-world constraints. Through this project, I learned how to analyze complex systems, break them down into actionable components, and prioritize solutions that balance operational feasibility with human impact. The challenge also mirrored real professional environments, where tasks come with fixed timelines and require focused, efficient execution. Working under time pressure reinforced the importance of structure, decision-making, and clarity when navigating ambiguity.
What will you take from this experience going forward?
This project introduced me to the fashion retail industry in a way I had never explored before. Working with MANGO allowed me to see the complexity behind a global fashion brand — from in-store experience to back-room operations — and helped me appreciate how operational decisions directly influence customer satisfaction and brand perception. Beyond industry exposure, the challenge strengthened my ability to collaborate in a team under pressure. We faced differences in ideologies, working styles, and time management approaches, which taught me how to better understand team dynamics. I learned the value of recognizing individual strengths and weaknesses, respecting different perspectives, and maintaining momentum even when energy levels fluctuate. These are lessons I will carry into any future team-based work.
What would you do differently next time?
If given the opportunity to approach a similar challenge again, I would be more vocal and assertive in sharing my opinions. I tend to be someone who adapts easily and goes along with group decisions to avoid friction, but this experience highlighted the importance of contributing perspectives confidently and early. I’ve learned that constructive disagreement and active participation strengthen outcomes rather than disrupt them. Moving forward, I aim to communicate my ideas more clearly and advocate for them when I believe they add value, while still remaining collaborative and open to feedback.
What made this experience more than just an academic exercise?
What truly elevated this experience beyond a classroom exercise was the opportunity to work with a global organization like MANGO — a leader and innovator in the fashion industry. Gaining insights into both in-store and back-of-house logistics made the challenge tangible and realistic, transforming theoretical concepts into applied learning. Additionally, the collective enthusiasm across the class made this project especially meaningful. It was evident from the quality and depth of all the presentations that everyone was deeply invested. Seeing the diverse approaches, creativity, and effort from my peers reinforced how engaging and impactful the challenge was. Overall, this experience felt authentic, collaborative, and professionally relevant — offering a rare opportunity to simulate real industry problem-solving while learning from both the brand and the people around me.
Closing Reflection
The MANGO challenge strengthened my confidence in tackling unfamiliar industries, working through ambiguity, and collaborating under pressure. It reaffirmed that learning is not only about outcomes, but about the process — understanding systems, people, and oneself along the way. This experience has left a lasting impression and will shape how I approach future professional challenges.
Author
Gábor Buday
Participant - International MBA 2025-2026