UCLA MASDS PMI-LA 2025 Edition

Project Management
Case Challenge

A four-week project management simulation.

230 Participants
10 Universities
5 Phases
11 Deliverables
Participants at PMI-LA Professional Development Day
PMI-LA Professional Development Day · October 2025
View Final Report
2025 Champions

The top three teams

Selected for the strength of their analysis, structure, and decision-making.

🥇
Trojan Elevare — USC
Cynthia Han · Zheyu D. · Grace Liu · Tianyi (Luka) Liu · Shloke Sanyal
🥈
The Night Knight at Nine, Victory's Mine and Always Shine — USC
Shen Li · Yiqi Shen · Haofeng Zhang · Jessica Yue
🥉
Traveler's Data Derby — USC
Izumi Kin · Van Do · Minzy Sung · Jeremy LeMenager · Tianzi (Riley) Wu
Honorable Mentions
Best Data Visualization
The Planning Bureau — USC
Richa Sudin Desai · Joanna Zhu · Jade Cai · Neha Thomas · Arya Jay Wadhwani
Best Slide Design
Taskbusters — UCLA
Sarah Dias · Yen-Ting Chen
Best Storytelling
The Night Knight at Nine, Victory's Mine and Always Shine — USC
Shen Li · Yiqi Shen · Haofeng Zhang · Jessica Yue
Finalists

The full cohort

58 participants across 13 teams completed and submitted a final presentation.

University of Southern California 11 teams
5.PM
Jittanun Pansirigorn · Kyro Chen · Shai Long · Min-Chieh Chan · Bob Chen
Analytics of Troy
Tanvi Dhingra · Yue Gao · Shania Chiara · Joshua Zhang
Fight on Deadline
Chia-Chun Hung · Xiaoyu Ma · Yang-Hsuan Lin · Yizheng Xiao · Yan Xu
The Four Horsemen
Eren Dana · Roxanne Li · Wutthichai Upatising · Anh Tuyet To
The Night Knight at Nine, Victory's Mine and Always Shine
Shen Li · Yiqi Shen · Haofeng Zhang · Jessica Yue
The Planning Bureau
Richa Sudin Desai · Joanna Zhu · Jade Cai · Neha Thomas · Arya Jay Wadhwani
Traveler's Data Derby
Izumi Kin · Van Do · Minzy Sung · Jeremy LeMenager · Tianzi Wu
Trojan Elevare
Cynthia Han · Zheyu Deng · Grace Liu · Tianyi Liu · Shloke Sanyal
Trojan Task Force
Rajvir Clair · Kathy Ying · Katherine Chou · Audrey Le · Marc Daniel Chua
Trojanalytics
Hairong Zhang · Steve Wang · Kevin Monje · Binbo Xu · Murphy Yang
Woody
Sijia Ma · Raymond Moy · Yu Fu · Ellie Qi · Zhiheng Fu
UCLA 1 team
Taskbusters
Sarah Dias · Yen-Ting Chen
UCLA × CSU Northridge 1 team
Hikma
Ayah Halabi · Hiba Mughal

Announcements

About the challenge

The 2025 Project Management Case Challenge concluded with 230 participants from 10 universities and multiple organizations across the region. A comprehensive report covering the framework, execution model, outcomes, and lessons learned is linked above.

The Case Challenge is a simulated learning experience that walks participants through a complete project lifecycle — from initiation to closure — guided by PMI best practices and methodologies.

While each scenario includes templates and resources, the challenge is designed to reward independent problem-solving. Participants are expected to conduct their own research, apply critical thinking, and leverage tools such as PMI Infinity to develop and deliver project outputs, mirroring the realities of professional project work.

At the end of the challenge, participants delivered a final presentation showcasing their project management journey — a valuable artifact for any professional portfolio.

Created and led by Yang Ong, in partnership with PMI-LA and UCLA's Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science Program.

Learning Objectives

  • Apply PMI best practices throughout the project lifecycle
  • Develop practical project management skills through hands-on experience
  • Enhance analytical and decision-making capabilities
  • Learn to handle project changes and risks effectively
  • Create professional project deliverables and presentations

Grand Prize

The winning team received complimentary tickets to PMI-LA's Professional Development Day on October 25, 2025.

Timeline

Participants had four weeks to complete all modules, with all deliverables submitted by October 6, 2025.