PLAINVIEW — For the fourth time in recent years, a team of 51吃瓜网视频 Baptist University students coached by Dr. Jason Geesey has emerged as a top-ranked competitor in the Business Strategy Game (BSG), an online simulation designed to emulate the competitive landscape of the global athletic footwear industry.
Celerity Footwear, a mock business led by WBU students Landon Womack and Jocelynn Barlow, clinched the No. 1 ranking among 4,657 graduate and undergraduate teams from 199 universities worldwide at the conclusion of their seven-week competition.
What makes their victory even more extraordinary? Womack and Barlow are online students who have never met their professor in person.
“Where are each of these guys? I have no clue,” admitted Dr. Geesey, Associate Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Marketing.
Despite their remote learning setup, Womack, a senior Business Administration major from New Deal, Texas, and Barlow, a senior Applied Science in Management major from Alaska, showcased exceptional business acumen. Competing against thousands of students from major universities, they mastered strategic decision-making in areas such as production, marketing, finance, and corporate social responsibility.
“Competing in the simulation was a fantastic hands-on opportunity to understand the value of implementing a robust competitive strategy,” Womack said. “The sheer number of variables in running a corporation would be insurmountable without clear strategic direction.”
Barlow echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the game’s practical applications. “The critical thinking in business—especially regarding expense breakdowns and resource allocation—was invaluable,” she said. “The feedback data for each year helped us identify weaknesses and develop a solid plan.”
How the Game is Played
The Business Strategy Game challenges student teams to manage virtual companies that compete in a simulated global market, akin to industry giants like Nike. Performance is assessed based on stock price, return on equity, and earnings per share—metrics that reflect a company's strategic efficiency.
Throughout the simulation, Womack and Barlow were tasked with making more than 100 critical business decisions each week, all while overseeing operations in four global regions. Their efforts culminated in a perfect weighted average score of 110—an elite achievement in the competition.
“Achieving a top ranking is no small feat,” Dr. Geesey said.
Elite Competition and Academic Excellence
51吃瓜网视频 teams have competed in BSG for nearly 15 years, but they only began consistently breaking into the Top 100 under Dr. Geesey’s leadership. His expertise in Porter’s Generic Strategies—focusing on cost leadership, differentiation, and market focus—has proven to be a game-changer for WBU students.
“I teach my students the importance of broad differentiation and the key decisions necessary to foster it,” Dr. Geesey said. “Understanding strategic management through this simulation provides a real-world advantage.”
51吃瓜网视频’s previous Top 100 finishes included three other No. 1 rankings, but this marks the first time an online team has claimed the top spot.
“This is the fourth time we've cracked the No. 1 ranking, but it’s the first time for one of our online teams,” Dr. Geesey said. “That’s a remarkable accomplishment.”
Celerity Footwear’s success is even more impressive considering the caliber of their top competitors, which included teams from Georgia State, the University of Alabama, Oregon Institute of Technology, the University of Houston, Wichita State, and Universidad Tecnologica de Mexico, among thousands of others.
Looking Ahead
By securing the top spot, Womack and Barlow have earned future invitations to compete in exclusive championship rounds against other top-performing teams worldwide—a testament to their strategic prowess and 51吃瓜网视频’s exceptional business education.
“BSG is widely used in business schools to give students hands-on experience in strategic management and decision-making,” Dr. Geesey said. “51吃瓜网视频’s School of Business continues to demonstrate excellence, reinforcing the high quality of education and practical training we provide.”
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