Our Winning Strategy for a Data Ecosystem for California  

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A high-stakes competition that tested our skills, teamwork and critical thinking, the Gartner Case Competition provided an opportunity to solve a real-world challenge impacting the state of California. 

As a team of four students from the UC Davis Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), we had one week to develop a data ecosystem solution for California Department of Public Health, followed by another week to refine our solution and prepare for the final round.  

Our powerhouse all-female group, “Team Case Closed,” brought together Angel Mary Oviya, Katrin Maliatski, Shrishti Gupta and Shubhi Phartiyal.  

Our combined efforts paid off. We ultimately took first place in the competition, marking a significant achievement in our UC Davis MSBA journey. 

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Designing a Secure, Scalable Data Ecosystem 

With just one week to craft a comprehensive solution, we had to navigate California's complex public health data infrastructure. The task was daunting, but with the guidance of incredible Gartner mentors—Nikhil Nayak, Mandy An, John-Paul Mitchell and Aisha Mathews—we were able to create a hybrid data ecosystem that prioritized security, accessibility and real-time integration across multiple stakeholders.  

After countless brainstorming sessions, collaboration and fine-tuning, we built a scalable solution that would improve healthcare data management for California’s vast population.  

With creativity and practicality at the core of our solutioning, we developed a hybrid data ecosystem that combined the strengths of the various data models while keeping the constraints of the health department in view.  

Our solution focused on improving data accessibility, security and interoperability while ensuring that key stakeholders—healthcare providers, decision-makers and the public—had timely access to critical health data. 

Pitching to State CIOs: Our Winning Moment 

The final round was nerve-wracking, but it also provided a rare opportunity to present our solution to an esteemed panel of judges, including State Chief Information Officer Liana Bailey-Crimmins; CalPERS’ Chief Information Officer Stephenson Loveson; and State Chief Information Officer of CalSTA Marcie Kahbody. 

These professionals brought a wealth of experience in government operations, IT strategy and healthcare management, which added an extra layer of challenge to the competition.

Our ability to present our solution with clear data, sound reasoning and a compelling vision for the future played a critical role in securing our victory in the Gartner Case Competition.

A Valuable Learning Experience Beyond the Classroom 

The Gartner Case Competition was an incredible challenge that tested our ability to think critically and apply our learning outside of the classroom. We had to consider not only the technical aspects of data management but also the strategic and operational challenges faced by government departments. The competition required teamwork, long hours and an unwavering commitment to the task at hand. 

More than just a competition, the experience reinforced important skills that will serve us throughout our careers: 

• Real-world problem-solving: Developing a data ecosystem solution for a real-world department like the California Health Department provided us with an invaluable experience in applying business and data analytics principles to a complex, impactful problem. 
• Collaborative teamwork: Working closely with consultants and our teammates allowed us to leverage diverse perspectives and expertise, ensuring that every aspect of our solution was well thought-out. 
• Clear communication: Presenting complex data insights to an audience of seasoned professionals required us to refine our storytelling skills, ensuring that our findings were not only accurate but also compelling. 

Key Takeaways 

Participating in the Gartner Case Competition demonstrated the power of teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving in a real-world setting. It also highlighted how academic knowledge can be translated into tangible solutions in the business world. Whether you are interested in data analytics, consulting or any other career, case competitions provide a fantastic opportunity to grow professionally and personally.