A Hub of Innovative Ideas – E-MBA ELITE Project Presentation 

Korea University Business School’s Executive MBA (E-MBA) held the ELITE (Executive Learning & Interactive Team Exercise) Project Presentation on Saturday, August 9, at SUPEX Hall, LG-POSCO Building. 

A hallmark of the E-MBA curriculum, the ELITE Project is a field-oriented educational program that applies management theories and methodologies learned in class to the resolution of real-world business challenges. The project culminates in presentations that showcase the outcomes of multiple rounds of research and development, guided and advised by faculty members. 

A total of 46 students from the 22nd E-MBA cohort participated in the event, forming five teams. They proposed a variety of business models reflecting the latest market trends, including healthcare and wellness services, new online platform-based ventures, and O2O commerce models tailored to the senior demographic. Each team demonstrated a thorough and practical approach, covering everything from problem definition and expert interviews to market and profitability analysis and execution planning. Presentations were evaluated on multiple criteria, including business feasibility, innovation, feasibility of implementation, quality of materials, and presentation skills. 

The judging panel included Professor Joonghyuk Kim (Academic Director of the 22nd cohort), Professor Daeki Kim (Academic Director of the 23rd cohort), Kwangsun Kim (President of the E-MBA Alumni Association), Deokcheon Kim (Senior Vice President of the E-MBA Alumni Association), and Jongil Hwang (Executive Vice President of the E-MBA Alumni Association). Faculty advisors included Professors Weon Sang Yoo, Byung Cho Kim, Jaiho Chung, Kyung Sam Park, and Seung-Weon Yoo. Contributing to the vibrant atmosphere, 27 members of the 23rd E-MBA cohort also attended the event. 

During the Q&A session following the presentations, an active exchange of in-depth feedback took place between the judges and the audience. The judges highly praised the participants, stating, “The innovative ideas and solid market analysis were impressive, and the proposals were concrete enough to be immediately applicable in real-world business settings.” They also noted the participants’ passion and practical capabilities. 

Professor Joonghyuk Kim, Academic Director of the 22nd cohort, commented, “The ELITE Project is more than just a presentation assignment—it is a hands-on training ground for solving real business problems. The passion and creativity each team demonstrated will surely translate into tangible achievements in their professional careers.” Kwangsun Kim, President of the Alumni Association, added, “I am proud of the students who, despite balancing work and studies, have achieved such remarkable outcomes in such a short time.” He also commended their dedication. The final awards ceremony is scheduled for Friday, September 5, the first day of the second E-MBA semester. 

Meanwhile, the E-MBA program operates the ELITE Project to enable students to examine organizational challenges and directions for change through a managerial and theoretical lens, while actively engaging in real-world problem-solving. The program aims to nurture global decision-makers with independent thinking and emphasizes the sharing of practical knowledge, analysis, and solutions among peers. 

Moving forward, the E-MBA will continue to advance its educational programs to strengthen practical leadership and cultivate next-generation leaders capable of driving change across society and industry.