Info Session 4th Annual IYKYK Pitch Competition Sponsored by #ExperianBALLForLife | Nov 10, 2025

Okay, it looks like recording and transcription is going and now I'm going to share my screen. Um, Josephina, I can see you on my screen. Can you give me a

thumbs up that you can see uh my screen and that you um perfect.

Super.

All righty, everyone. Thank you for making time to join today's info session for our fourth annual if you know you know student pitch competition. We have

about an hour together. I have a good amount of content to get through. Uh I

typically have a survey that I use, but I couldn't get it up and running uh for this call. This call is intended for you

this call. This call is intended for you to get your questions answered to make sure that you feel well equipped either

to determine whether or not you want to compete um or to help your students compete. Uh, but I'm going to give a

compete. Uh, but I'm going to give a little more context on what the competition is, uh, who is eligible to participate, how you opt in to participate, some things that you need

to get done, um, what we're actually doing in the competition, and what's at stake outside of the

$40,000 grand prize for a team of four.

We're doing things a little differently this year. Um this is usually done well

this year. Um this is usually done well this has always been done in partnership with home for USA and their center for

financial advancement which is a network of 15 schools um that we've done business with that Experian has done business with and that my team has

managed for the last three years. I have

always had the ambition to create a larger uh competition pool and so this year what we have done um which is where

you all come in we've offered up the competition to all Experian inclusion and belonging partner schools that we've done business with over the last few

years.

In some cases, we go to schools through other partners such as the National Urban League, the Hispanic Alliance of Career Enhancement, uh Athlete Ally. Uh

in some cases, we've gone direct to the school. Uh Miss Snell, we were just at

school. Uh Miss Snell, we were just at Claflin a few weeks ago. Uh Dr. Clark, uh we've gone direct to you University

of Texas San Antonio. Um we've gone to other schools direct as well. And so

through this network of partnerships and connection with young people, uh I think the competition may nearly double in size than it has in

years past because the network is so much larger.

Again, I'll give you a little more guidance on who is eligible and how we're going to manage this in just a moment. If at any point anyone has any

moment. If at any point anyone has any question, uh something is unclear, uh put something in the chat and I see

some commentary in there now. Um

raise your virtual hand. I'm going to see your hand come up or simply come off mute. Again, we want to make sure that

mute. Again, we want to make sure that you all feel equipped. And I'm not going anywhere. My team is not going anywhere.

anywhere. My team is not going anywhere.

Uh but the competition has officially begun and we're marching towards a January 5th uh round one submission

deadline. That is a very key uh a very

deadline. That is a very key uh a very important date that any competitor should keep in mind.

All right, I see a ton of folks on here.

I see Claflin. Uh Sonia, good to see you again from Houston Community College.

Dillard, love it. Um, Morris College, love that you're here with us today. Uh,

South Carolina State. Okay, you all are showing up. Virginia State College,

showing up. Virginia State College, welcome, Isaac. Um,

welcome, Isaac. Um, Howard, it's been a while since we've been in touch with Howard. Love that

you're with us today. Um, what else do who else do I see on here?

UTSA out there. Yep. UTSA. Liz, welcome.

Um, all right. I'm not going to go through all the list, but there are 29 of us on this call. So, moving forward, I started assuming everybody knew who I

was. Um, let's go here. So, Rowdy Perez,

was. Um, let's go here. So, Rowdy Perez, I use he, him, el pronouns. I have the privilege of leading our partnership

work on in our inclusion and belonging team. I do not do this work alone. I'm

team. I do not do this work alone. I'm

going to have two of my teammates introduce themselves here shortly. And

there is an entire host of people, for lack of a better word, that are behind this program that are managing different aspects and some of our most senior

leaders at Experian that support the not only the partnership with Home for USA where all of this began, but the program and the competition itself. I've been

with Experian for 6 years. I work out of Austin, Texas. And as I mentioned, it's

Austin, Texas. And as I mentioned, it's not only a privilege, but I'm very very proud uh to do this financial empowerment work and once an educator

who taught math in a high school setting and also very competitive uh also a coach, sometimes an athlete. I think

those days are long gone. Uh but I love working with young people. I'm inspired

and the growth that happens on all sides, mine included, through this program is something that I look forward to every year.

I do this work alongside uh two teammates, Josephina, let's have you introduce yourself and then Tiana, you can go next.

>> Hi, hello everyone. Nice to have you all here. Congratulations for being part of

here. Congratulations for being part of this amazing program.

I'm based in Chile. I work with Rowdy since three years.

So I'm really happy for being here. I'm

well being inclusion and belonging specialist. Uh that is all I I hope you

specialist. Uh that is all I I hope you have an amazing experience.

Let's go.

[laughter] >> Awesome. Hi everybody. My name is Tiana

>> Awesome. Hi everybody. My name is Tiana Gilbo. originally from Los Angeles,

Gilbo. originally from Los Angeles, California, but living in Atlanta, Georgia. Now, I am the inclusion and

Georgia. Now, I am the inclusion and belonging program and events manager on the team. I am the newest member on the

the team. I am the newest member on the team. I've been here about two months,

team. I've been here about two months, but I got to meet some of you at Claflin. So, good to see y'all again and

Claflin. So, good to see y'all again and excited to get this started and um see what you all will do in this competition. I'll pass it back to Rody.

competition. I'll pass it back to Rody.

>> Thank you, Husapina and Tiana. I have a few other responsibilities to my role that don't really pertain uh to the conversation and the context of this call, but Josephina and I do work uh in

another country with inclusion and belonging and she also manages well-being for our Chilean site out of Santiago, Chile for our North America

business. Um there are three other faces

business. Um there are three other faces that I want everyone uh to see and names

to hear. Irene, Dr. Hermine, and Tamara

to hear. Irene, Dr. Hermine, and Tamara are three other key individuals that are working behind the scenes alongside, as I mentioned prior, uh, many, many other

people, creative folks, credit experts, judges, mentors, hosts. There's so many people that, uh, have gotten behind the program and that are really, really

excited to support in every part of the journey.

All right. So, let's talk about um let's talk about ball for life in general and what it is and then the

signature event if you know you know.

So, ball for life be a legacy leader for life stands for normalizing and modernizing

the conversation about money and credit amongst young people in America. and and

we've expanded the brand to uh Chile.

Josephina just uh ended an entrepreneurship pitch competition with high school students in Santiago, Chile.

And we're looking to do the same in Costa Rica. Um, and so we're we're

Costa Rica. Um, and so we're we're trying to make talking about money and credit and building a financial legacy normal such that young people are

talking about it more openly, more freely, and earlier in life. If you

know, you know, is one of our signature programs, folks. I'm going to take one

programs, folks. I'm going to take one pause. I have a text from a student and

pause. I have a text from a student and I'm trying to get them in um the call.

Tiana, what I'm going to do, I'm going to text their email to you.

If you can please email them the meeting information. He said the link doesn't

information. He said the link doesn't work, so I don't I'm not quite sure what that means.

>> Not a problem.

>> Um, one moment.

Okay. Um, otherwise, tell him, "Hey, you're going to get a recording." Uh and you can always ask us questions via email if needed or you can text

if you know you know. Um began with the center for financial advancement a signature home for USA program again an experient partner and it was in response

to an ask from them to build credit literacy for their students. And so, uh, a colleague of mine by the name of Christina Roman,

we created a credit academy and the credit academy still exists today. And

in addition to the credit academy, we created the if you know, you know, pitch competition. And in year one, the

competition. And in year one, the problem statement was such that we were asking young people to help us find better ways to educate young folks to

achieve the mission of ball for life.

Um, reaching young people where they are, teaching them about money and credit, and doing so in culturally relevant ways. Every year thereafter,

relevant ways. Every year thereafter, the pitch statement has changed, which is no different this year. I'm going to show you uh and explain to you what it is and where you can find more about it,

but it has become a signature experience for Ball for Life. Uh it's growing this year. We've awarded um $60,000 in prize

year. We've awarded um $60,000 in prize money for the last two years, uh of which we are prepared to do again this year. And so if you're one of the top

year. And so if you're one of the top three teams that makes it to California, you know, you have already won yourself $10,000. It then becomes a matter of who

$10,000. It then becomes a matter of who will be the grand prize winner of the $40,000 prize. Uh otherwise, all three

$40,000 prize. Uh otherwise, all three of them will have won $10,000. And I'm

going to share a little bit more about that in just a moment.

There are some key dates. Don't worry

too much about memorizing any of these or taking a screenshot. I have an entire website uh that I have updated up until this morning. A few more edits to go.

this morning. A few more edits to go.

All of these dates and more are on the website. What I do need everyone who is

website. What I do need everyone who is interested in staying in touch and keeping up to date with deadlines is for

everyone um that has that interest to scan this QR code and to opt in for

an SMS uh from Ref Rowdy, my alter ego.

And I call myself Ref Rowdy one. We have

a traveling game show and I play the the role of RF rowdy.

But I don't want people to confuse two different numbers that I text from. One

of uh the numbers is the 512 number which is on my cell phone. Ref. Rowdy's

number is in a customer relationship management uh platform where I text people via my laptop. Um you can get a

hold of me via LinkedIn, email, and the 512 number. If you respond to Ref Rowdy,

512 number. If you respond to Ref Rowdy, he might see them, but he doesn't get alerts on his cell phone. Um, but you do want to opt in for these SMS uh updates

because I'm going to remind you of deadlines. Uh, we may have an impromptu

deadlines. Uh, we may have an impromptu meeting where we talk to people about the pitch brief. Um, you're going to get

updates on who won round one. you might

get the link to to the meeting invite right before the meeting goes live.

Please, please, please opt in if you haven't already done so um to stay in touch with this competition. [snorts]

competition. [snorts] Okay, let let's go to

um the competition website.

The vanity URL that you want to bookmark is experian.com/cfa.

is experian.com/cfa.

There's a longer URL behind that vanity.

This short one is going to get you there quicker.

Uh you can also scan that QR code and that is the competition website.

I am going to pull up the website now and I am going to explain a few things about what you're going to find on this website.

There is a buyin, if you will, uh that does not cost any money that gets you into the competition. There is something you must complete, students must

complete to be eligible to to participate.

So, when I go to exper.com/cfa,

it's going to get you to the if you know, you know, competition website, right up here is the button to opt into

those SMS updates from Ref Rowy. It's on

both of the dynamic headers. And then

here in this navigation bar, when you click on if you know, you know, I'm going to make this a little larger. If

you know, you know, pitch competition, it anchors to the four steps to get into the competition. I just updated this

the competition. I just updated this this morning. I haven't reviewed it, so

this morning. I haven't reviewed it, so if there are any typos, I I'll go in and edit. Step number one,

edit. Step number one, you must complete your credit academy module. So when I

click on this, it's going to take you to that self-paced module.

At the end of the module, uh there will be a pre-EST that you will take on your own that is going to prepare you for step number

two, the postmodule quiz.

When you click on that, it gets you to the quiz. It's going to ask a lot of

the quiz. It's going to ask a lot of demographic information that's preparing us for um the competition. If you opt in, it's preparing us to learn a little bit more about who you are and where

you're coming from. And then I believe there are 20 to 25 questions in the quiz. uh it'll get you a score and then

quiz. uh it'll get you a score and then my teammate Josephina gets notified when you completed the module and she's going

to produce a certificate that then she will email to the address that you include in that quiz form. She does that weekly. She does that multiple times a

weekly. She does that multiple times a week. So within about a week of having

week. So within about a week of having completed the quiz, you should receive this certificate in PDF form to the

email that you submit in that quiz. So

make sure that you submit an email um that you actually check an address that you check your inbox so that you have this and then we will double check on

our end if Sydney Wade is a part of a team from North Carolina ENT. We'll

double check that she's completed the module and received a certificate to mark her eligible.

So that is step number um what did I say here? Step number two.

Step number three is coming soon. It's

going to be an official rules document that every student on every team must commit. It's the legal component. Uh, a

commit. It's the legal component. Uh, a

big part there to note, uh, there will be some language about how we're going to break ties. If at any point there is a tie, we'll talk to you about how you're going to get scored in just a

minute. And it also mentions that all of

minute. And it also mentions that all of the ideas that your student leaders are preparing and pitching do become

Experian property and cannot be taken action on by any one of the teams. And then there's a lot of other legal language in there that talks about the competition, uh, key dates, how it's

going to be managed, so on and so forth.

I need to update the official roles document for 2026. I hope to have it done by next week. And when you click on this tile, it'll download the PDF.

You'll sign it, and then you're going to send it to wherever it needs to be emailed.

Step number four is brand new. I just

finished that this morning. A good

majority of that was completed by our summer intern uh Nina Collymore from Norfick State University who was in the first annual pitch competition back in

2023.

Um she's created this year's pitch brief and um I have updated the blueprint and I'm going to tell you what the blueprint is in just a moment. When you click on

that, you're going to get everything you need to know.

I already see an error here. It's

missing page one. I don't know how that happened. But if ever you've done a case

happened. But if ever you've done a case study in uh at your university, at your college, or maybe even outside, we've set it up as such. We're giving you

context about the problem statement that we're looking to solve. Um what it is.

We're giving you context about a marketing campaign because the problem statement is to build a marketing campaign. Um

campaign. Um we're giving you information about experience BFF campaign. This year you

are generating um the next iteration of our BFF campaign. And then after the brief ends, you're getting all of the key dates. You're getting a ton of URLs

key dates. You're getting a ton of URLs that are also on the pitch website.

You're getting an overview of what's due for the different parts of the competition. There are three parts. Uh

competition. There are three parts. Uh

and then you're getting commentary on each of the parts. What is the quarterfinals? What is due? And then um

quarterfinals? What is due? And then um what is being judged and at what weight.

So in this case for the quarterfinals, clarity and communication, impact and potential, creativity and originality, so on and so forth will be the pieces

that we're judging.

Let me go back to the website. Um, here

yet again is another button to receive updates from refrarowy. And for those of you on this call, if you haven't already done so, I do need you to confirm your

team by the end of November. and we're

going to talk about the teen makeup in just a moment.

If you don't see the key dates on the pitch brief, then you can find them here as well. If um you want to take a look

as well. If um you want to take a look at the kickoff slides that I presented in on October 20th, which are the same slides I'm reviewing now, you can see

them here. Um I'm going to put a link to

them here. Um I'm going to put a link to the recording of this call on this page as well.

And again, here are all of the key dates that I would have just you would have just reviewed on that pitch on the pitch brief.

What we're also working on are not only celebrating the winners of the last three years, Alabama State, Buoie State, and Fisk University. We are going to

show you their presentations that were recorded in the room so that a you get a feel for how are these presentations set up and you also get a feel for what does

the stage look like? Um,

I've been kind enough, if I may say so myself, to give you the actual presentation of the winning teams and then you'll see uh some schools in the news and you can read a little bit more

about what we do to amplify uh your winning the program um and things of that nature.

There is a lot more on this page that talks about why Experian is a great place to work. Um, but I did want to call your attention to the if you know

you know pitch competition piece because you will need that and we will be updating it as the competition goes along.

I still need to tell you more about the the problem statement. I need to tell you more about the teams. I need to tell you more about the four days of competition. Uh, so that is on the

competition. Uh, so that is on the horizon. I'm going to take a a breath.

horizon. I'm going to take a a breath.

What questions do folks have so far? Um,

come off mute, raise your virtual hand, put it in the chat. I want to see where your mind is at before I go on to the next slide.

Anybody at all?

Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna put that another way. I am not going to go on

another way. I am not going to go on until I answer a question because I know you're thinking something and I want to make sure that we answer that.

No questions.

Miss Snell, nothing on your mind.

>> You're muted.

>> I think my questions are going to come from the later portion when we get into how to come up with the teams are my main questions. We kind of met up and

main questions. We kind of met up and talked through the program a bit. So,

>> okay.

>> So far so good.

Okay. All right. Let's keep it going.

Good to hear from you, Tiara. Uh, Tiara.

Tiara. I hope one of those is the correct pronunciation.

>> Very good.

>> Okay. So,

you're beginning to to feel get a feel for the competition. You're going to get some really nice photos. You're going to have a the top a a top-of-the-line experience. If you've never been to

experience. If you've never been to Southern California, if you've never been to California, if you've never been to Los Angeles, we're going to have a great time. And we are taking six teams

great time. And we are taking six teams to the finale. Three of you are going to compete for the $40,000. The other three of you are going to have a $100,000

experience, if not greater. Uh we're

going to have fun.

We're going to provide professional development. You're

going to create a bigger network. Some

of you are going to get hired for summer internships if the cards stack up correctly. Uh we hired a few folks, two

correctly. Uh we hired a few folks, two or three folks from our runner-up teams last year from them participating as a

runner-up team. There is a ton of value,

runner-up team. There is a ton of value, some of which we have not even realized yet. This experience is going to be what

yet. This experience is going to be what you make of it. Now, I do want to um be very realistic and say you're

going to be away from your home uh and from instruction for maybe 3 days. Um we

do fly you in on Friday. So, that's one day of instruction that you may be away from or school or extracurricular activities. Tiana is working on an

activities. Tiana is working on an amazing day in Southern California. Uh

it's going to be really, really fun.

It's going to be different from last year, uh, somewhat the same. Our own

people at Experience say things like, "I wish I would have been able to do that.

It's going to be fantastic."

Sunday is a rehearsal day and a media day and a professional development day.

Um Monday March 2nd, is competition day. Your families

back at home can watch. It doesn't

matter where they are so long as they have an internet connection.

Your teams, your professors, your classmates, your teammates uh can watch from back at home. We are investing in a live stream that is going to be

topnotch. It's going to look really,

topnotch. It's going to look really, really, really good. Um, and we're going to learn a lot. So, even if you're not a top three team, the three teams who

joined us last year, they were a little skeptical at this is weird. I'm not

competing.

I don't know that I want to go. And they

they were really really glad that they did. So, six teams of four and a a

did. So, six teams of four and a a liaison, a faculty member, staff member, uh will have all expenses paid to make it to California on Friday, February

27th.

All right. I'm going to play a video here that gives you a little more color uh and a little more context. There are

subtitles here. If any of you need me to get you the direct link to the video for whatever reason after, I will send it as a followup. Uh, assuming I can't get to

a followup. Uh, assuming I can't get to the link quick enough to put it in the chat for you to watch it on your own.

I'm going to play this just to get you uh a feel for last year's competition.

>> Y'all ready?

>> Do it.

>> We're going to go.

>> How we feeling?

Y'all ready?

>> Do it.

>> We're going to go.

>> Are we feeling great?

>> This is your moment.

>> Start working on the quality one.

>> Time when you're walking in.

>> Making [music] it to the finale was like a shocker to me. But is this so exciting and thrilling just you know to be [music] in this space and coming up with ideas and you know that can actually make an impact on people's lives.

>> Try this competition we have really pushed ourselves [music] and every time we feel like we're at a limit we just go beyond it and do even more things.

>> This is a [music] full circle moment like I can't believe like after this we're going to be done. I don't know what we're going to do with [music] all the extra free time we just lost.

>> The experience [music] if you know you know pitch competition is done in partnership with home for USA. This is

the third annual competition [music] and we've seen it grow from seven teams in year 1 to 28 [music] teams in 2025.

For underrepresented communities, [music] credit is the thing that's often talked about, but also not necessarily [music] obtained in a good way. My dad will always tell me, "Don't spend what you

don't have." That was the mindset

don't have." That was the mindset [music] and the mentality I came with. I

went to a public school and I know for a fact they did not teach us a single thing [music] about um financial literacy or education or anything like that.

This year's challenge has asked our participants [music] to position experience as a right of passage for young people coming [music] of age in America. The rights of passage for our students means how can they pay

it forward? [music] How can I go and

it forward? [music] How can I go and enrich somebody else's life who is younger than me? Maybe a 12, a 13 or a 14year-old. [music]

14year-old. [music] And if we can have such program that catch them young and give them the education [music] that they need before they mess up. I think that is a very beautiful concept and young people need

experience.

>> Adding [music] experience in the experience of the pitch competition to our classroom experience [music] adds a whole different dimensions. There's

intentionality with everything that they go through from the fun events, the learning events, the engaging with the experient leaders [music] to the competition. It puts them in a

position where they feel empowered. We

have been assigned individual mentors and coaches [music] for our team. And I

cannot explain you the amount of growth that we have gotten from that opportunity. Now I'm able to figure out

opportunity. Now I'm able to figure out what is important for my future and important for my success. It's really

like taught me to like take my future into my own hands.

>> This year we have our top six teams joining in Costa Mesa and the top three teams will be competing for the $40,000 grand prize. So exciting to see the

grand prize. So exciting to see the different groups of students, the ideas that they come up with, their ability to empower their learning into actionable items. They make things [music] very

practical. It's not just that they're

practical. It's not just that they're participating in modules, but it's also about them [music] having access and exposure and then it leads to [music]

connections and networks.

>> All right, I think enough with this build up.

>> We got it. We got it, Will. The winning

team is >> Fisk.

>> [screaming] >> We believe that Experian has the tools and the resources and the data to solve these challenges.

>> If you really believe in your product and believe in the work that you're doing, I think everything is [music] possible. Like this thing out here.

possible. Like this thing out here.

Oh my goodness, this year's competition was the best one we've had yet.

>> You see, all these students brought a presentation [music] that can really change the way we think about financial literacy for young people. That's what's

[music] really key. This is a wealthb buildinging movement where the impact is so great.

>> This program is driving [music] change in our community and ensuring that we're providing everyone a fair chance to succeed.

>> My students have grown tremendously through this experience and they are [music] walking, living, breathing brand ambassadors for financial literacy. What

we've been able to do together and the impact we've been able to have is palpable. You can feel it and I know

palpable. You can feel it and I know that it's changing people's [music] lives. I'm so proud of everybody that's

lives. I'm so proud of everybody that's been part of it. I can't wait to see what it grows into next year and the year after that and the year after that.

>> All right. So we we do put you in studio. Um if you're a top three team,

studio. Um if you're a top three team, we're going to have a studio interview on campus in Costa Mesa. Um even if you're not a top three team, we put some

of you on stage uh in front of cameras.

It is a broadcast. It is a great learning experience as I've mentioned at least once before for everyone and it's celebratory.

Um I don't want to give too much away.

Uh but we do get on a boat. Uh we are on rooftops.

Um safe of course that is uh we're having a good time and living a true SoCal so cool experience. So let's talk

more about the competition. Um

here is generally the problem statement.

Uh this year is grounded in marketing creative genius. Uh some of you may have

creative genius. Uh some of you may have been following our Experian consumer brand, the brand that we all interact with, the brand we see on television, the brand we probably have on our

phones. And if you don't, you soon will.

phones. And if you don't, you soon will.

And you'll see and understand why in just a moment, called the Big Financial Friend campaign with Sam Richardson, BFF for short.

We are asking this year's competitors to create the next iteration of experience BFF campaign. You are not creating a new

BFF campaign. You are not creating a new product. You're not creating a new

product. You're not creating a new credit education feature. We're asking

you to look at our campaign and we're asking you to couple that with your perspective on experience

present consumer product features and services.

And we're asking you to highlight the feature, the product, the service that really resonates with you and build the

next iteration of the BFF campaign. We

truly believe that we can help you build your financial legacy. We can help people save money. But what I know I don't know is what part of the Experian

product ecosystem speaks most to you and your generation.

And so we're going to unlock all of those premium features for you, for your mom, for your sister, for your roommate, for your partner, for your

grandmother, your aunt, whoever it might be. You're going to need that promo code

be. You're going to need that promo code to unlock those features so that you can engage and come up with a solution to this problem statement.

So, one more time, you're not creating an app. You're not creating a new

an app. You're not creating a new product. You're highlighting experience,

product. You're highlighting experience, products features services whichever one or ones that speak to you and

building on to our big financial friend campaign which is on YouTube. It's in

the pitch brief. Um, you can Google it.

You're going to find it. You're going to see what it is. you're gonna get a link to our consumer services business president

talk about the campaign and then in um and I'm going to go and edit this today a little later but on the competition website

this pitch brief has an entire segment on the tone and the voice guidelines.

You're getting some insider information.

Um, you're going to learn a little bit about Experians campaigns in the past.

There's a a small section here about the BFF campaign.

Um, you're going to talk about the Experian. You're going to learn about

Experian. You're going to learn about the Experian brand evolution.

Um, and where we're headed and how you can help us.

Let's go on.

Eligibility rules.

Teams must consist of four students from the same school. There's an asterisk there that I'm going to uh talk about.

For any school that may be on this call that competed last year, which is going to be probably none, but for those who watch from the other um info call

because I didn't record that one, they can include last year's competitors.

I do ask that no school identifies where they're coming from in the preliminary rounds to mitigate bias and maybe even more importantly um some schools have

more than one team competing and all of those schools are eligible to make the finale. I never want any one of our

finale. I never want any one of our judges to be biased in such a way that they know that the University of Texas at Austin um has two teams and they just

so happen to like both of those teams the best based on their marks and their criteria, but then they think it doesn't make sense for two teams from the University of Texas at Austin, which is

my al alma mater. I'm not a judge, by the way, to make it to the finale. So, I

ask all students to never identify what school they're coming from. In the

finale, we will know. Um, and you'll understand why if and when you make it there. Now, here's the one caveat for

there. Now, here's the one caveat for nonhome for USA Center for Financial Advancement Schools. And I got to get

Advancement Schools. And I got to get this into the rules document.

Uh most of you are going to come from schools that have um or programs where there are plenty of students to be all of Houston Community College or Ohio

State or whatever it might be. Um

for places like Houston Community College or no uh there's uh two other groups, excuse me, that we've done business with. A Hispanic Alliance for

business with. A Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement. We've done some work

Career Enhancement. We've done some work with groups of students that are in their program and there aren't enough of those students um to create a team of four from the

same school. So we might have some

same school. So we might have some unattached teams that are representing assay that might be from University of Illinois Chicago

um University of Texas, Arlington. I'm

going to look at that. I'm going to double check that everything is kosher and that it makes sense. Most of you are going to be able to form teams of four from the same school. Athlete Ally is

another program uh that we work with that may not have enough students from the same school, but they are affiliated with Athlete Ally and we would allow

them to participate in the program in this competition.

Um, all team members must complete that module that we just reviewed on the competition website by December 31st.

And I've mentioned this once already, schools can submit multiple teams and more than one team can advance to each of the rounds in the competition, the

semifinals and the finals. in Costa

Mesa.

The official roll stock is coming. That

is step number four. It is due uh December 31st. Josephina is going to be

December 31st. Josephina is going to be helping us track all of that. And in

round one, let's go back to the blueprint um or to the pitch brief. In at the end of your pitch brief,

there is a template for a blueprint. So,

you go all the way to the end and for every round of competition, you will be submitting a revised blueprint.

If you continue to advance, you're going to put your team number and your team name. Then you're going to put the four

name. Then you're going to put the four names of your teammates in here.

The challenge, which is summarized from the pitch brief, is restated here. And

then notice you have different segments here.

Your campaign main idea is always going to be part of the pitch blueprint. You

only have 1,400 characters.

Make sure that you use them wisely.

Then you're going to have your idea in action. You need that for every round of

action. You need that for every round of competition. Another 1400 characters.

competition. Another 1400 characters.

A commercial link. You'll see in the pitch brief where you need a commercial.

Round one, everyone submits a 3inut max commercial.

Commercial is a fancy word uh for a pre-recorded virtual presentation.

Because we have so many teams competing, we need to give our judges autonomy to judge the submissions on their own when

they want within a certain time frame.

And so the best way we know to do that is they're going to read your pitch [music] brief, uh, your blueprint, excuse me, and then they're going to

watch your commercials. The commercials

must be uploaded to YouTube unlisted.

And that is shown here. So you'll put your URL.

Taking it to market. Notice it says semi-finals and finals. You don't need to do this for round one. Validation.

You might have validation in your presentation or that pre-recorded commercial, but you're not required to fill this segment out. And then the financials and the funding. You might

start thinking about those things, but we're not really going to expect any of that until you make it into the finale.

The competition is open to undergraduates and graduates alike.

And uh the commercial is your way. Let's

go up to the pitch brief. I've given a little context in here. Let's go to the quarterfinals right here.

Create a 3minut max video that clearly explains your campaign. Keep the

explanation simple while exercising creativity. Ensure your campaign

creativity. Ensure your campaign identifies the existing experience products and features your team has decided to showcase and why. Folks, this

is in lie of a real time virtual pitch.

We need assets to judge. And if you're not going to be there with the judges, the way that you are there is by completing the blueprint

and giving us a threeinut pitch that is pre-recorded. That is ultimately what

pre-recorded. That is ultimately what the commercial is for.

Do not lose sight of what the judging criteria is. And this is where people

criteria is. And this is where people have gone ary every year of the competition in my opinion. Again, I am not a judge. I will not be a judge. I do

not influence the judges. I help create the infrastructure for the competition.

Um, your criteria for round one, 30% clarity and communication. This is where people

and communication. This is where people fall short. We watch your commercial and

fall short. We watch your commercial and we read your blueprint. One, we can't tell your blueprint from another because they're all the same. And you're using

AI to generate solutions. And all of the AI that we're all using is giving us the same solution. So sure, you use AI

same solution. So sure, you use AI however you need it to help you and make you better. Don't rely on it to solve

you better. Don't rely on it to solve the problem for you. Um, so solutions and submissions begin to look alike.

It's the ones that look and sound different that we remember.

Solutions are sometimes overly complicated. And because of that,

complicated. And because of that, they're so hard to understand and they're so hard to follow. Because this

year's pitch um problem statement is less technical, I think it's they're going to be easier to follow and understand. But know that you're going

understand. But know that you're going to be up against 30 other pitches and 30 30 other ideas. How are you going to stand out? How are you going to make

stand out? How are you going to make yours unique? And how are we are you

yours unique? And how are we are you going to help us understand what you're doing in a very

clear, concise yet creative manner.

So we do get to see creativity and um not only in the solution but in delivery through the way that you write your pitch brief or the the blueprint, excuse

me, and then the way in which you construct the commercial. We've had

everything from recording a conversation um like I'm doing today to an animated video to a fully produced video with

camera um and um what you would expect of more of a a true commercial. All of

those have advanced to the semifinals. I

wouldn't say one is better than the other.

All right.

Um, Isaac, was that helpful about the commercial?

Great.

Okay, we talked about the pitch brief.

Um, judging rubrics. Tiana is working on the

judging rubrics. Tiana is working on the rubrics. Um, they're going to look Let

rubrics. Um, they're going to look Let me see if I can get behind. Um,

let me move this. You don't really need to see them because um this is what we're going to give our

judges. Our judges are going to have the

judges. Our judges are going to have the the different categories. These are are the categories from last year and then the same definitions that you're getting and they're going to be scoring you on a

10point scale. and then we're going to

10point scale. and then we're going to weight them based on the the different uh values that you will see in the pitch

brief. The categories do change from

brief. The categories do change from round to round. So, make sure you're giving them a close look and that you're adhering to, okay, what more do I need

to add to my pitch for the semifinals and then what is different for the finale? We will have a no before you go

finale? We will have a no before you go for the semifinals the Monday after we announce the winners of the quarters.

And we will have two no before you goes for the finals. One the Monday after we announce the winners of the semis and

then another one two weeks before we meet in California.

Um, okay. Let's go to some key dates.

okay. Let's go to some key dates.

This is a bit dated. Um, January

5th is the date that your quarterfinal submissions are due. You're submitting a blueprint and in that blueprint, you are submitting the URL to your

3minut Max commercial.

I'll take it on 12:31, December 31st.

I'll take it on January 3rd, but it is due January 5th, noon Eastern um on that Monday, I believe. Now,

you're probably thinking, "Rowdy, we're on holiday break. Some of us don't start school until January 13th." The due date is the due date. There is no exception.

Our judges are going to be ready to begin your judging on January 5th because we must complete it by January

8th to announce the winners via text message on January 9th. Meaning the

teams that advance, not the winner of the competition. Top 12 teams from a

the competition. Top 12 teams from a field that is 22 right now. I believe

it's going to grow probably to 30 plus will be going to the semifinals.

Top six teams will be announced on January 30th. Three of those have won

January 30th. Three of those have won $10,000.

One of those teams will win the $40,000 grand prize. All six of you will be

grand prize. All six of you will be presented with an opportunity to be matched with a mentor from February until May.

And the top three teams will be assigned two coaches each to help you through the month of February to prepare for the finale.

We come together on Friday, February 27th. We'll manage your flights. We're

27th. We'll manage your flights. We're

going to work through all of those details. We're going to spend the day in

details. We're going to spend the day in Los Angeles and maybe at the beach. On

Saturday, we'll be in Costa Mesa, right down um the street from the hotel, the Costa Mesa Marriott. On Sunday, we

compete on Monday. We have a party on Monday evening on a boat. We announce

the winner on Tuesday and you fly back Tuesday afternoon.

All right, that was everything.

Um questions.

Vanessa, I see something for the second eligibility for forming a team. How will

you know if yours We are double-checking. Um, oh, I'll know. I

double-checking. Um, oh, I'll know. I

know who the CFA schools are off the top of my head. And I know who our non CFA schools are. So, if I have any

schools are. So, if I have any questions, I'll go to those teams, say, "Hey, who are you? Where did you come from?" But you wouldn't be on this call

from?" But you wouldn't be on this call um if you shouldn't be. So, I'll take a look at that.

Other questions?

I'm glad to know that we can have uh two teams from our school.

Is that what I understood you to say?

>> Yes. Who is that?

>> Carolyn from Claflin.

>> Yes, ma'am. You are correct. You can

have two teams of four. Absolutely.

and the information that you share today, this is the recording is going to be forwarded to us.

>> What I'm going to do, Miss Snell, I am going to add a segment to the web page probably right under here and you're going to be able to play back the video and you're going to get the slides in a

button uh right under as well. And then

secondly, I can email uh the same information to everybody invited to this call today.

>> Thank you.

>> I see our um my PR partner is also on Victoria Lim. She's a key part of the

Victoria Lim. She's a key part of the experience. If you end up being a top

experience. If you end up being a top six school, especially a top three team school, you're going to hear from Victoria. Uh we're going to look to see

Victoria. Uh we're going to look to see uh learn a little more about the students that are coming uh getting the word out to different networks in the

markets that you're in for uh some publicity as appropriate. She works

through all of that. I'm not promising anything, but she's going to be working with you and your students um to share the great news with um people that are

willing and want to listen and want to put the stories out to your respected markets.

She's extremely friendly, much friendlier than I am, I will say.

And she will absolutely be interviewing you. Yep. Leaison, we do put you in

you. Yep. Leaison, we do put you in studio as well for an interview of your own. Um,

own. Um, and um, what you didn't see is we end up creating a highlight reel for each of

the top three teams. So, you saw the general competition reel. We'll have a reel for Fisk, a reel for um Talladega,

and a reel for Oh, man. Who was our our third finalist

Oh, man. Who was our our third finalist last year?

>> Was it Billy State?

>> Yes. Thank you, Victoria. I've done this for one one too many times now that the years are beginning to bleed into each other.

>> Well, the competition is really tough.

We have a lot of smart folks who I'm gonna end up working for someday. I

know. So, we look forward to seeing everyone >> without a doubt.

Thank you, Victoria.

Any other questions, team? We have three more minutes before we jump. No question

is a silly question. Tiara,

>> hi Rody. Thank you again for this presentation. I know you mentioned you

presentation. I know you mentioned you could possibly send out the videos um from the pitch competition. Is there a way we need to reach out to you to get those or you just going to send it to everyone?

>> They're in here. Um, we already added them. So, when you go here to the

them. So, when you go here to the competition website, >> you'll see celebrating three years of if you know, you know, champions, these videos are going to be the videos of the

three winning presentations from the last three years. But what you already have are the presentations themselves.

Um, so ASUS downloads automatically because it's a PowerPoint. Uh, BSUS is a prey and then Fisks is a Canva, I

believe. But the presentation recording

believe. But the presentation recording should be up by the end of the week.

I'll leverage an SMS update to say um, past year's winners presentations are up. Uh, and I'll give you the URL to

up. Uh, and I'll give you the URL to remind you of what page they're going to be hosted at.

Sounds good. Thank you.

>> Mhm.

Anybody else?

All right. I guess the most important question is uh who's in and who's gonna nab the $40,000 grand prize this year.

I see some smiles. Um,

>> there you go. All right. Claflin is

claiming it.

>> Virginia State >> is claiming it. Okay, folks. This is

going to be Morris College. Love it for the win. You've already won some money

the win. You've already won some money at our last event.

It's going to be fun.

Victoria has already stated it. It is a lot of work. Um, administrators, we're going to

work. Um, administrators, we're going to lean into you to support and to guide your students as appropriate, knowing that you have a ton of responsibility

and this is their body of work. The

student leaders will see this maybe in a month, maybe in a year, maybe in 10 years.

The opportunity afforded to grow and to learn and to present and to work on a team and to come up with solutions to

solve real business problems has value beyond the $60,000 that we're awarding and the trip to California. Um I can't

wait to hear the stories 10 years later of the team from Alabama State that won in 2023.

Um, thank you all for your time. Thank

you for your partnership.

And I just got the chills. I don't know what we've gotten ourselves into and open opening it to so many more schools, but I got I got the chills because I

know it's going to be great. Um, I can't wait to see that amount of greatness, all of the creativity, and all of your leadership showcased in the first round

on January 5th. Holler if you need me.

Email followup to come and many more SMS updates from Ruff Rowdy. Take care

everyone. Have a great week.

Bye.

>> Bye. Bye.

>> Bye. Thank you.