Challenge Accepted! Meet Ariel McDade, Winner of the Rainway Challenge.

Rainway, a video game streaming service that allows users to run games on their PC and play them on other devices over an internet connection, recently paired up with WeSolv to launch a unique Quickfire Challenge. It asked MBAs to develop positioning and channel recommendations for Rainway to engage current PC gamers and the existing mobile market.

Ariel McDade, University of Maryland University College ’20, was a brand new WeSolver when he stepped up to this Challenge. Despite not having much prior marketing experience, within a week Ariel became familiar with Rainway, researched marketing trends in the gaming space, and developed a strategy for Rainway that focused on harnessing the power of influencers.

We recently sat down with Ariel to learn more about his background, his goals, and how he took on the Rainway Challenge.

Tell us a little bit about your career.

I have worked across several industries within the IT sector during the past 13 years and currently run a multidisciplinary telehealth program. I’m flexible enough to be able to adapt to a wide range of situations and one of my strengths is connecting with people. I enjoy experiencing multiple sectors and working with various stakeholders across real estate, law firms, and other industries.

What led you to pursue an MBA?

The MBA track is a great opportunity to enhance my business acumen for multiple industries, and I wanted to gain more project management and leadership experience.

Is that what compelled you to join this Challenge?

I wanted to start exploring different career avenues, and I don’t have a lot of experience with marketing strategy. I’m in no way a hardcore gamer, but my son and nephew are, and I do play games with them from time to time. I’m always interested in learning more about new ones, so I thought this Challenge would be a fun way to do that.

What was your approach to developing recommendations for this very quick Challenge, within a week?

When I looked at the deliverables, the main task was to come up with new avenues for engaging PC users. During the second call, Rainway’s CEO, Andrew Sampson, mentioned that he was looking for recommendations that would deliver the biggest ROI. He also mentioned that video was a channel that hadn’t really worked that well for them in the past, which surprised me.

So first, I monitored Rainway’s social media activities and researched anything I could find on Rainway. I also did a little in-person customer research. I asked my son, nephew, and other gamers how they find out about new games. YouTube happened to be a common refrain. I noted that they tend to watch specific people and channels on YouTube to get their information. When I researched what made these channels more provocative, I noticed that the influencers were the key. So I developed a strategy that focused on engaging these influencers. I made sure to quantify the expense and outcomes of these recommendations.

What are some key takeaways you learned from this Challenge?

The Challenge gave me a little sneak peek into startup life, and it also exposed me to the challenge of developing a marketing strategy. I really enjoyed contributing in a creative way using market research and analysis. I started the challenge wondering where to begin and I walked away feeling like a mini-expert. My greatest joy is the thought that my strategic recommendations will add value to an early-stage startup. Overall, this experience will help me improve for the next Challenge.

Any advice for any MBAs thinking about joining a Challenge?

The best advice I can give is to look at the Challenge Brief and do a little research before the first kick-off call so you have your questions ready. This will make the call more productive and give you a head start on formulating your deliverables.

Want to join Ariel and other talented MBAs and prove your talent and skills on our next Challenge? Join WeSolv to gain access to future Challenges!