At the Daniels College of Business, providing students with hands-on, real-world experience is a top priority, and the partnership with Birdcall is a prime example of this commitment. In an exciting initiative within the core strategy course (MGMT 3000), students are stepping beyond traditional classroom learning to work on real-world business challenges—directly partnering with Birdcall, a local company known for its innovative business model and rapid growth in the food service industry. We recently sat down with Donald Bergh, the Louis D. Beaumont Chair of Business Administration and professor of management at the Daniels College of Business, to discuss the goals of this initiative and the unique learning opportunities it offers students.
Professor Bergh, can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the partnership with Birdcall and what you hope students will gain from this experience?
This partnership was born out of a desire to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application. While classroom instruction provides a solid foundation, we wanted to give students something more tangible—something that mimics the kind of complex challenges they’ll face once they enter the workforce. So, we approached Birdcall, a dynamic local company, and asked them to present a challenge they’re currently facing or considering for the future. This allows our students to work in cross-functional teams to tackle real, company-specific issues. What’s special about this is that students from various majors—finance, marketing, management and others—come together to develop strategies that apply directly to a real organization. It’s a way to integrate what they’ve learned and see how the whole organization fits together.
What kind of challenges are students working on as part of this course?
In previous years, we’ve worked with companies like Crocs, asking questions like, “How do you recommend Crocs grows over the next five years?” These are the types of broad, strategic challenges that students love to dive into. For Birdcall, we’re excited to see how they’ll approach a completely different industry—one that’s fast-paced and technology-driven. The students’ work will directly reflect the challenges a company like Birdcall faces in balancing innovation, growth and operational efficiency.
How do you think this partnership helps students prepare for their careers after graduation?
One of the most valuable aspects of this initiative is that it helps minimize the uncertainty students often face when choosing a career path. It’s one thing to pick a major, but it’s another to see what that field looks like in practice. Through this partnership, students get a firsthand look at what it’s really like to work on strategic initiatives for a growing company. They gain insight into how businesses operate, how strategic leaders make decisions, and what it takes to succeed in a fast-moving environment like Birdcall. This experience is something they can carry with them into any industry, and it gives them a unique competitive edge. Instead of just imagining what their future job might be like, they get to live it, even while they’re still at Daniels. At its core, MGMT 3000 will give students an interview-worthy experience to reference as they apply for positions after graduation.
This collaboration between Daniels and Birdcall represents just the beginning. In upcoming newsletters, we’ll delve deeper into the work being done, speaking with Birdcall professionals and Daniels students about their experiences and the exciting outcomes of this initiative. Stay tuned for more updates!