Democrat and Chronicle · 20 Sep, 17:20 · Business briefing

La Lew wins $15K in RIT business pitch competition

La Lew has secured first place in the Rochester Institute of Technology’s annual business pitch competition, winning a prize of $15,000.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

26%average salary uplift after a professional certificate

2.7xfaster promotion for certified professionals

71%of leaders prefer candidates who upskill continuously

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

La Lew has secured first place in the Rochester Institute of Technology’s annual business pitch competition, winning a prize of $15,000. The victory highlights the successful application of academic business strategies in a competitive, real-world simulation. This event underscores the growing emphasis on practical entrepreneurial skills within higher education, demonstrating how students can translate theoretical knowledge into viable commercial proposals. The award recognises exceptional ability in strategic planning and persuasive communication, marking a significant achievement for participants seeking to validate their business acumen before entering the professional workforce.

Employer demand for Business And Management skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This outcome signals that investors and employers increasingly value the ability to articulate a clear value proposition under pressure. You must refine your pitch skills to stand out in competitive environments. Focus on developing concise, compelling narratives that highlight market fit and financial viability. Watch how emerging professionals leverage academic competitions to build credibility and networks. To stay ahead, practise presenting complex ideas simply and confidently. Seek opportunities to test your business models through hackathons or pitch events. Cultivate resilience and adaptability, as feedback is immediate and critical. Invest in courses that sharpen your strategic thinking and public speaking abilities. Build a portfolio of successful pitches to demonstrate your potential to future employers or partners.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Business And Management, Innovation, Leadership and Finance and Accounting — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.