MBA Students Showcase Talents at CFA Institute Challenge

Three School of Business students, part of “Clark Team 2,” were selected as one of just four final teams at the CFA Institute Research Challenge – a global competition that engages students as research analysts and requires a rigorous analysis of publicly traded companies.

Students Prajwal Balaji, Akhil Kumar, and Steve Pellissery – all MBA students concentrating in finance – examined the company Wafair Inc, evaluating its financial performance, competitive positioning, and ESG-related risks to support the team’s investment recommendation. They began their research back in September of 2025, meeting regularly to work on their analysis and report until early January when they presented. At the competition, teams were then judged on their analytical, valuation, report writing, and presentation skills.

The Clark students shined, defeating teams from Boston University, Northeastern University, Merrimack College, and Endicott. As a result, they will be heading to the CFA Society Boston Chapter in February where they will share their research during the Local Finals Presentations, and compete against teams from Babson, UMass, and Western New England.    

“As a team, this experience was an incredible learning opportunity and a meaningful way to connect with industry experts,” Kumar said. “We collectively contributed over 250 hours to produce a professional equity research report for the competition.”

“We could not have achieved this without the guidance of our mentor, Professor David Tang, who supported us throughout the process,” he added.