ISACA’s Fall 2023 Hackathon Competition: Refining Marketing Strategies Through Analytics

Continuing to build on its partnership with the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) North Texas Chapter, a professional association dedicated to IT governance, the Texas A&M University-Commerce College of Business held its highly anticipated annual Fall 2023 Hackathon competition from November 2 through 12. Ten teams of 25 students took part in the week-long competition, which was geared under the theme of “Refining Marketing Strategies Through Analytics.”

Using their knowledge and expertise, students applied their skills and creativity to address real-world business scenarios all while competing for $2,000 in prizes. On November 15, an award ceremony was hosted at the Dallas location whereby the winning teams were unveiled. Coming in first place and winning the top $1,000 prize were Aathira Nair, Tapasya Singh, and Thuan Nguyen. Second place was won by K.M. Wahiduzzaman Fahad and in third place was Shivani Kandukuri and Durga Prasad Manchana.

The winning teams displayed exceptional problem-solving abilities and a profound understanding of analytics within marketing strategies. The judging panel featured distinguished professionals in the field, including Dr. Vinayaka Gude, Data Scientist and AI Specialist, Thao Nguyen, Manager at M&G PLC, and Lan Do, Manager of IT Audit at Packaging Corporation of America.

Singh, the president of the Marketing and Business Analytics Student Organization, who is one of the members of the winning team and a graduate assistant in the Department of Marketing and Business Analytics, expressed her enthusiasm for the event.

“I am very grateful for the College of Business providing students a platform where they are both challenged and motivated to solve real-world problems while networking, learning and growing from such a distinguished panel of judges,” Singh said. “This is not my first time to take part in this competition and the level of growth and turnout is a reflection of how amazing it is.”

The event’s success is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the ISACA North Texas Chapter, the MKTBA Student Organization, and the dedicated judges who lent their expertise to the competition. This event is just one among several hosted by the College of Business in collaboration with community partners, aimed at cultivating the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of students and nurturing the intellectual curiosity of aspiring business leaders. These events are designed to unlock the complete potential of students, positioning them as forefront figures in the evolution of transformative business leadership for the future.