How Do Westcliff MBA Students Gain Real Consulting Experience Before Graduation?

Industry collaboration took center stage at Westcliff University’s Irvine campus on February 24, as students enrolled in the SMART™ MBA Consulting Capstone presented strategic recommendations to leadership from the Project Management Institute California Central Valley Chapter (PMI).

The hybrid event marked the culmination of an eight-week consulting engagement in which graduate business students worked directly with PMI representatives to address organizational growth and member engagement challenges. While students delivered their final presentations in person, more than a dozen PMI board members joined virtually, evaluating proposals developed through weeks of research, client meetings and strategic planning.

The presentation reflected a defining feature of the SMART MBA Consulting Capstone: students do not simulate business problems. They work alongside industry partners tasked with solving real ones.

“This was a special event,” said Dr. Marko Nino, global engagement program chair and professor of practice at Westcliff. “Our students worked for eight weeks to develop strategic recommendations for our client, PMI, and they did a tremendous job. I’m very proud of them.” 

What is it Like for MBA Students to Present to Industry Professionals?

Preparation for the PMI presentation extended well beyond traditional coursework expectations. Student teams met regularly with organizational leadership, analyzed operational challenges and refined recommendations based on professional feedback, mirroring the consulting environments graduates encounter after entering the workforce.

For many participants, the experience represented a shift from academic learning to professional accountability.

“This is really a great opportunity for us to get real work experience before we graduate,” said Dipa Pandit, an MBA student concentrating in IT project management. “They were expecting professional, formal meetings from us, so we approached this as consultants presenting recommendations for chapter growth and member retention.”

Student teams focused on strategies designed to strengthen PMI membership engagement while supporting long-term organizational expansion. Weekly collaboration required students to align research insights, analytics and presentation strategy under real deadlines.

“We discussed our project every week and worked together to decide what we needed to present next,” said Anmol Singh Mehta, an MBA student specializing in data-driven decision-making. “I will definitely use this experience when I go into the real world.”

The final presentations delivered implementation-ready recommendations rather than academic conclusions.

“We worked with them as a team for eight weeks to develop a business improvement plan,” said Jasmeen Kaur Matta, a master’s student in digital and strategic marketing. “The ideas and plans we presented are going to be executed in the following months based on their priorities.”

How Do MBA Students Gain Consulting Experience Through Westcliff’s SMART Capstone?

This collaboration with PMI demonstrates how Westcliff University integrates experiential learning into its MBA curriculum through direct industry engagement.

Each SMART MBA Consulting Capstone project connects graduate students with external organizations seeking strategic insight. Over the course of the term, students operate as consulting teams responsible for research, analysis and executive-level presentations.

Since its launch, the SMART MBA Consulting Capstone has partnered with 109 companies, engaged more than 500 graduate students and achieved 99% company satisfaction. These outcomes reflect the scale and consistency of a consulting model designed to extend beyond a single partnership or event.

Students participating in the program typically:

• Partner with industry clients addressing active organizational challenges
• Participate in weekly working sessions with executives and stakeholders
• Develop strategic, research-based recommendations aligned with business goals
• Respond to real-world project variables, including changing scope and timelines
• Deliver professional presentations supported by implementation-ready solutions

Those workplace realities were intentionally introduced during the PMI engagement, according to PMI chapter President Mohamad Annan.

“In the workplace, scope changes all the time. Budgets change. Schedules slip,” Annan said. “I think they are much more aware now of how to control scope, stay on schedule and manage expectations. It’s a great experience for the students.”

Industry collaboration also plays a critical role in preparing future project management professionals.

“A lot more project managers are needed, and students are the new generation that will be taking over,” Annan said.

PMI leadership confirmed that student recommendations are expected to extend beyond the classroom setting.

“We will be implementing and executing lots of their work, if not all,” Annan added.

How Does Westcliff’s MBA Program Prepare Students for Real Business Experience?

Experiential learning initiatives such as the SMART MBA Consulting Capstone reflect a broader approach within the College of Business at Westcliff University, where applied business education is integrated throughout graduate programs.

MBA students gain opportunities to:

• Work directly with industry organizations before graduation
• Develop consulting and strategic planning experience through real client projects
• Strengthen professional communication through executive-level presentations
• Navigate evolving business challenges involving scope, timelines and stakeholder expectations
• Apply classroom knowledge to measurable organizational outcomes

The February 24 presentation represented more than a final academic requirement. It placed graduate students in direct dialogue with industry decision-makers evaluating solutions designed for real implementation.

As industry partnerships continue to expand, including upcoming collaborations with global organizations, the SMART MBA Consulting Capstone demonstrates how applied business education connects academic learning with measurable professional impact.

The College of Business at Westcliff University integrates consulting-based experiential learning throughout its MBA curriculum to prepare graduates for leadership roles across industries.

Explore Westcliff’s MBA and experiential learning opportunities to learn how students gain industry-connected experience before graduation.