Back to the Future: A Night with the Brightest Young Minds at the Smithtown Business Olympics
Woohoo! What a first-time experience to remember! This year marked my very first time mentoring and judging at the 31st Annual Smithtown Business Olympics on November 20 - and wow, this is a core memory!
There’s something electric about walking into a room full of excitement and big ideas - students everywhere, last-minute brainstorming, pep talks with teammates, that kind of energy makes you want to jump in and cheer.
This year’s theme? Back to the Future.
The challenge: pick a defunct company - think Blockbuster, Sports Authority, or another brand that’s been off the map and figure out how to bring it back to life in 2025. Bold and creative ideas + clever marketing strategies were on full display, and let me tell you… these students were ready to impress. I can’t wait to get back next year and do it all again!
From Mentor to Judge - A Full-Circle Experience
Back on October 16, I had the chance to mentor several of the teams. I watched ideas spark and evolve - sometimes in ways that surprised even the students. Fast-forward to the finals, sitting at the judging table, and it was incredible to see how much they had refined their pitches. Their attention to detail and confidence were inspiring.
Being a final-round judge was more than an honor - it was a privilege to witness the next generation of business leaders showcase their talents. Every presentation reminded me why programs like this exist: to give students a space to experience, apply, and learn in a real-world setting.
A Community Effort That Makes It All Possible
With 225 students and 53 teams, plus more than 80 judges volunteering their time, the Business Olympics isn’t just an event, it’s a movement. A huge thank you to the Smithtown Industry Advisory Board, Smithtown HS School of Business, Smithtown IAB Director - Phil Como, the teachers, the organizers, and the entire community who make this event possible.
These programs give students more than knowledge; they give them real-world experience and the ability to think big. And being part of that - mentoring, guiding, judging - is a gift I don’t take lightly.
Watching the Future Take Shape
One of the best parts of the night? Seeing the spark in each student’s eyes as they presented their ideas. That moment when it clicks: “We actually did this”. It takes guts to get up in front of a crowd and speak - and these students did it brilliantly.
Huge props to each and every one of them for having the courage to share their ideas with confidence! To all the students: your work matters. Your ideas matter. And I’m so proud to have been part of your journey.
As Marty McFly said in Back to the Future: “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”
Here’s to dreaming big and supporting the next generation of innovators.
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