Editor’s note: This story is written by Poole College students Ben Cole and Jayden Ford, who share a personal account of a unique high-impact experience.

We will never forget the anticipation that built in the auditorium at the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Months of hard work and collaboration had all led to this moment. When our team’s name was called for first place in Innovation, we were overwhelmed with happiness and joy. After a decade of NC State’s participation in the SensUs International Biosensor Competition, we were the first team to finally bring home a first-place trophy. 

Our journey began in February with a single email in Nelson Hall. The challenge was to design a wearable biosensor to measure creatinine levels, a key marker for kidney health, and pair it with a business strategy to bring it to market. Michael Daniele, professor in the NC State Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was searching for business students to join the team. He soon found that Poole College had the right talent to add.

Eager to get involved, each of us found meaningful ways to contribute.

Jayden took the lead on outreach, interviewing patients and doctors, managing social media, and producing the pitch video for the Public Inspiration Award.

Ben focused on industry research and prototyped a software platform with a mobile app interface to complement the biosensor. That platform, called CreaCare, gives doctors and patients access to critical healthcare information through a tool not yet available on the market. Together, our efforts showed how business expertise can transform a technical concept into a solution with real impact.

Teams competed across a few key categories, each highlighting a different dimension of biosensor development and application. The Innovation Award recognized forward-looking design and wearable concepts with real potential for reliable, long-term use. Earning this honor among 18 leading universities worldwide made the victory especially meaningful. 

The journey was not without challenges. Balancing classes, jobs, international travel, and deadlines meant our time together was limited and every meeting had to count. At times it felt like we were behind, and technology setbacks only added to the pressure. Early on, even our own team questioned the value of our solution.

“What started as a single email turned into an international achievement.”

What helped us push through was persistence and intentional communication. We made sure to be clear, direct, and honest with each other so that every conversation moved us forward. Combined with the blending of our different strengths, that approach helped us gain real traction. Those struggles taught us as much as the success itself.

One takeaway we want to leave you with is this: never underestimate the value of your unique strengths. Even in highly technical settings, creativity, strategy and communication are essential. Collaboration becomes powerful when people bring their skills forward and have the courage to take that leap together. That lesson gave us a new vision for what our futures can hold. 

What started as a single email turned into an international achievement. The late nights, the bold ideas, and the challenges along the way shaped more than a project. They shaped us as teammates and leaders. We took risks, we pushed limits, and somewhere along the way, we became a team that felt like family. From Nelson Hall to the Netherlands, this journey showed what is possible when the Pack combines talent, persistence, and collaboration to Think and Do.

This post was originally published in Poole College of Management News.