Dominique Mosbly was humbled by an opportunity to help a popular restaurant company expand its outreach to more diverse job candidates.

The first-year MBA student and his classmates joined Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) for a case competition focused on developing a comprehensive plan to grow the company’s diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives related to recruiting new talent.

“As an African American, it was important to me because I clearly recognize the lack of people that look like me, along with other minority groups, serving in leadership positions across a range of industries,” Mosbly said. “Participating in this case competition reminded me of Fisher’s ongoing mission and efforts to increase representation and outcomes for minority students like myself.” 

A total of 59 first-year MBA students delivered their recommendations to panels of CMR leaders, industry experts and Fisher faculty and staff participating in the competition.

Melissa Johnson, vice president of CMR’s event company, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events and Community Relations, said the restaurant’s team has been together a long time and all agreed a few years ago it was the time to create more diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of the company.

And that’s why fresh voices from Fisher’s MBA students were so important.

“We were so impressed,” Johnson said. “They really had fresh viewpoints.”

MBA student Michael Mullineaux described transferring what he has gained in the classroom and injecting them into this experience.

“We used skills from our marketing, finance and leadership classes,” he said. “Fisher not only values its students learning important material but wants students to be ready to enter the workforce.”

Classmate Manisha Ravi has no aspirations to work in the hospitality field. The opportunity to work so closely with a company on such a relevant challenge, however, was extremely impactful, she said.

“It really opened my eyes to the value these experiences teach us in how to lead and follow while working in teams, how to effectively present a business plan and how to successfully step outside of one's comfort zone and succeed in areas not previously explored,” Ravi said.

She was grateful for CMR’s dedication to DEI and found a personal connection to it. Her ultimate goal is to become a physician, and health equity is passion for her.

“I appreciated the crossover between my interests and this experience as it relates to equity and diversity,” she said.  

The students’ presentations captivated Johnson, who cited one of her favorites: CMR representatives attending festivals around Columbus that represent different ethnicities and cultures.

 “The idea was to engage not only with food, which CMR has done in the past, but with a booth or tent or something — just to introduce our company and let people know we’re welcoming to all,” she said.  “That’s brilliant; we had never really thought about participating in that way that. And that’s only one example of what came out of the case competition. There were so many outstanding ideas.”

The impact of diversity had another angle for student Mary Grein, who found herself inspired by Johnson.  

“For me, it was a wonderful example to see female executives doing really well in their industries,” she said, adding the experience grew her inspiration and comfort in reaching out for further career guidance.

That guidance and other networking opportunities for students remain wide open.

“If they want to meet again and just network or ask questions whatever, those connections are always there,” Johnson said. “They’re very valuable to us. We really appreciate the partnership.”