Team synergy – the secret which the Monash University Sunway campus team discovered in the early days of the L’Oreal Brandstorm 2011 competition, was also the reason they emerged as national champions.

“Every competition requires one thing – team synergy. If you can blend all your team-mates’ core strengths, in your heart, you have already won. That, and trust among the members. Only then can you win a competition,” team leader Leon Chan Wai Hong said.

The three-man team from the School of Business was made up of Chan (Bachelor of Business and Commerce majoring in Marketing and Accounting), Chia Sheng Yeong (Bachelor of Commerce majoring in International Business and Economics) and Lim Shengli (Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Business Law)

The team started work on the competition from December and won at the finals on May 4, beating KDU and Taylor’s University to emerge as national champions to compete at the international finals in Paris.

“We were required to come up with a new product range and a marketing plan for it. It was so interesting because we had to start from the research and development stage and work with an advertising agency,” he said, adding with the agency, the team brainstormed product and salon concepts and visuals.

Chan credits study experiences with academics like School of Business’ Assoc Prof Dr Christina Lee who, as part of the Marketing course, had assigned students to draw up a marketing plan for a resort hotel.

(From left) Leon Chan Wai Hong, Lim Shengli and Chia Sheng Yeong receiving the People's Choice Award from L'Oreal Malaysia Human Resources Director Ms Nora Mahbob.

(From left) Lim Shengli, Leon Chan Wai Hong and Chia Sheng Yeong reaping the reward of their hard work. Presenting the award is L'Oreal Malaysia Managing Director Mr Andrew Stanleick .

“She was instrumental in giving us the foundation in marketing strategy, planning and implementation,” said Chan. Dr Lee is the Discipline Head of Marketing.

The team also received the most number of “Likes” on their Facebook page, which earned it the People’s Choice Award.