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B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 56 B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T Each December, these first-year students compete in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition before a panel of judges for scholarship funds. "Competing in Shark Tank gave me a ton of confidence," says first-year student Ryan Fernstrom. "It showed me it's possible. If you have an idea, you can make it real." Fernstrom's experience reflects the entrepreneurial mindset the competition is designed to foster. "is exercise demystifies entrepreneurship and public speak- ing, teaching students that good ideas are only as strong as their ability to articulate them clearly and respond to questions under pressure," says Dr. Jason Harkins, Executive Dean of the Maine Business School and Dean of the Graduate School of Business. "Many participants leave the experience with a new sense of possibility—seeing themselves not just as successful students, but as emerging entrepreneurs." ose entrepreneurial experiences lay the foundation for increasingly complex, client-based projects throughout students' time at UMaine. MBS undergraduate and graduate students strengthen their consulting skills through coursework that partners them directly with organizations across Maine and beyond. Businesses turn to students for fresh perspectives on pressing challenges, while students gain firsthand experience working with real clients and presenting recommendations to company leaders. Partnerships with recognizable regional brands such as Bath Iron Works, Wyman's and Aroma Joe's, as well as innovative startups like Viable Gear and TEMO USA, anchor experiential learning in the realities of Maine's economy. In one recent project, students worked with Aroma Joe's to improve processes for opening new stores, third-party deliv- ery operations, and the implementation of AI. eir recom- mendations gave the company new perspectives while giving students firsthand experience working with a fast-growing business with Maine roots. Across these and other consulting projects, the pattern is consistent: students become problem-solvers and trusted advi- sors while companies benefit from fresh ideas. "Students are challenged to think critically, collaborate effec- tively and communicate with a professional audience," says Dr. Buffie McCue-Quinn, an MBS faculty member who has led several undergraduate consulting classes at the Maine Business School. "e most rewarding part is watching them realize they are capable of solving complex business problems." Students in the World If experiential learning grounds students in the realities of Maine's business landscape, travel and competition experiences broaden that perspective by exposing them to new industries, markets and cultures. Students have traveled to places such as Boston, Chicago, New York City, Montreal, Italy and England, engaging directly with professionals, companies and organizations in fields ranging from finance and destination marketing to sports, tourism, and economic development. Just a day's drive from Orono, students explored international business in bilingual Montreal. rough Bear Treks in Boston, they connected with financial firms, global education and travel providers, and marketing groups, while trips to Chicago immersed them in the professional sports industry, connecting classroom lessons with the realities inside stadiums and front offices. In New York City, the University of Maine's Student Portfolio Investment Fund team, SPIFFY, earned third place at the 2026 Quinnipiac GAME Forum, demonstrating that Maine students can compete successfully on a national stage. Members of the UMaine chapter of the American Marketing Association have Maine Business School From First-Year to MBA: How the Maine Business School Develops New England's Business Talent Maine Business School 5723 Donald P. Corbett Business Building, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469 Sector: Education Dr. Jason Harkins, Executive Dean of the Maine Business School, Dean of the Graduate School of Business, Associate Professor or Entrepreneurship Founded: 1965 (College of Business Administration); 1865 (University of Maine) Maine employees: 43 Faculty and Staff at MBS www.umaine.edu/business W h e t h e r t h e y 'r e l a u n c h i n g a s ta r t u p during their first semester, advising executives through consulting projects, competing on a national stage or collaborating with business lead- ers abroad, students at the University of Maine's Maine Business School spend their education solving real business challenges. Together, the Maine Business School and the Graduate School of Business create a continuous pathway from undergraduate education to graduate study, preparing students — from first-year undergraduates to working professionals pursuing an MBA — to make an impact from their very first day on the job. rough entrepreneurship, consulting projects, national com- petitions, immersive travel experiences and graduate study, stu- dents gain the practical experience, professional relationships and global perspective that today's employers value. For Maine employers and communities, that means access to graduates who are both Maine-rooted and globally informed — pro- fessionals who understand the state's economy, bring fresh ideas from around the world and are prepared to help build Maine's next chapter. Experiential Learning Experiential learning is woven into the fabric of the Maine Business School and the MaineMBA program, not treated as an optional add-on. From their first year, students are expected to move beyond textbooks into situations where real stakes and real partners are involved. ey learn to tackle open-ended problems, communicate with executives, and deliver recommendations that create real impact for organizations. at experience begins immediately. In their first semester at UMaine, business students dive into the world of entrepreneurship, creating their own micro-businesses as part of their Intro to Business class. From concept to execu- tion, students are expected to put their side hustles into practice. P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F M A I N E B U S I N E S S S C H O O L Above: Students interact at the MaineMBA Academy in Portland

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