We talked with the undergraduate team from the University of Maryland to debrief after their presentation. One of the big areas in businesses now is the role of social responsibility. We asked the team how they felt about this. They felt that as companies are globalizing, it is more important to have a social focus. Especially for the younger generation, this is more of a concern than when Friedman wrote his initial book.

Some of their key takeaways from the presentation: No matter what, a brand is a brand. Just because they’re changing doesn’t mean that the core values change. It was great that the company was open to change and looking for innovative solutions. Having the chance to talk to executives and get feedback from people who’ve been there was a great experience.

In terms of breaking through the barrier during the 36 hour marathon, the team had the following advice: It helps being around people you like. It keeps you energized. Having a team of “troublemakers” helps to keep things going. When things get tough, it’s important to slow down and analyze the situation from a different perspective.

–Greg, Xiaoxiao, & Ran

Teams mentioned: University of Maryland.   Click a team to learn more about them.