Carolina Sodi Mayet, an exchange student from Mexico, represented SolBridge International School of Business at Problem Busters 2026: Make an Impact in Asia, an international problem-solving hackathon organized by menTory and held in Uiseong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, from September 3 to 5, 2026.

The program brought together Korean and international university students to explore local challenges, develop practical business solutions, and consider how these solutions could be applied more broadly across Asia. Participants worked through the full problem-solving process, from identifying and defining local issues to conducting expert interviews, developing business models, and presenting their ideas through investor-style pitches.

As part of a multicultural team, Carolina collaborated with students from different national and cultural backgrounds to examine challenges facing the local community in Uiseong. Her team focused on agricultural plastic waste generated by plastic mulch, exploring alternative approaches to improve the collection and management of these materials.

The team conducted field-based research, engaged with experts, analyzed the challenge, and developed a business proposal to address the environmental impact of agricultural plastic waste. Their work culminated in a final investor-style pitch, where they presented their proposed solution to the program's evaluators.

Their proposal received an Innovation Award, recognizing the team's approach to developing a practical and innovative response to a local environmental challenge.

For Carolina, the experience also provided an opportunity to apply business knowledge in a real-world, multicultural setting while representing SolBridge beyond the classroom. Through collaboration, field research, problem analysis, and solution development, the program connected business education with social and environmental impact.

The project closely aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through its focus on reducing and better managing agricultural plastic waste, and SDG 13: Climate Action, through efforts to address environmental challenges and promote more sustainable practices. It also reflects SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, as the program brought together students from diverse backgrounds to collaboratively address a community-based challenge.

Through participation in initiatives such as Problem Busters, SolBridge students continue to extend their learning beyond the classroom, engaging with real-world challenges and contributing their business perspectives to issues affecting local communities and wider society.

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