What is the Southeast Case Competition (SECC)?
Unlock Real-World Experience
Held jointly by the Duke Advanced Degree Consulting Club, the Graduate Business Careers Club at UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Consulting Club at the Texas Medical Center, the Southeast Case Competition (SECC) offers participants the chance to solve real-world business problems in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. Participants will develop comprehensive solutions and present them to a panel of consultant judges from top consulting firms.
Why Participate?
Breaking into strategy consulting in the life sciences can be challenging, particularly for graduate students with deep technical expertise but limited business exposure. The SECC is the ideal platform to gain invaluable experience and boost your career trajectory. Besides the outstanding prizes, here’s how this event can benefit you:
- Real-World Business Problems: Work on high-impact, complex healthcare cases that mirror challenges faced by leading organizations today.
- Exclusive Networking: Connect with industry consultants, current offer- holders, and peers from top schools. Panel discussions and networking sessions will give you the opportunity to build your professional network.
- Skill Development: Hone critical consulting skills—learn how to structure solutions, craft compelling presentations, and receive direct feedback from professional consultant judges.
- Resume-Boosting Success: A case competition win is a powerful addition to your resume, showcasing your problem-solving abilities and leadership skills.
- Beginner-Friendly: No prior consulting or business experience is required. The competition welcomes first-time participants, making it a great starting point for those new to consulting.
For detailed rules, instructions, and deadlines, visit our 2025 Event Website.
Our Team
Case Competitions Director: Hrshita Gowda
BME PhD Candidate
Hrshita is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Duke university, specializing in machine learning towards drug discovery and delivery. She also serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Duke Microbiome startup facilitating the logistics of organizing and conducting informational seminars for careers outside of academia. Prior to her PhD at Duke, she worked in the biopharmaceutical industry over a period of 4 years.
Case Competition Associate Director: Jaiqi (Evelyn) Hong
BME PhD Candidate
Evelyn is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. Her research focuses on modeling cardiac device-associated infections using a tissue-engineered blood vessel platform. She investigates the interplay between immune cells and endothelial cells during bacterial challenges. Alongside her research, she also contributes to Duke Office of Technology and Commercialization (OTC), gaining experience in intellectual property and research commercialization. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling to new places, and unwinding with friends over video and board games.
Meet our Previous Winners
Previous Winning Presentations
Be a part of SECC 2025
Registration for SECC 2025 is now open, please visit our website for more details! This event is your opportunity to gain hands-on consulting experience and network with top industry professionals.
Our Sponsors
For collaborations, sponsorships or any other questions, please feel free to contact us:
- SECC Team Gmail: southeastcasecompetition@gmail.com
