Pitch Competition Sharks

Judge Barcley Johnson

Barcley Johnson

Barcley Johnson is an instructor of management at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business. He is a graduate of the Haworth College of Business, and attended graduate school at the University of Notre Dame, eventually earning an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He joined the WMU Department of Management faculty in 1998 at the WMU-Southwest regional location, and has since become a valuable asset to the business college.

Johnson's educational focus and research include the study of failure, venture and angel capital, new venture valuation methodology and all things entrepreneurial. He is heavily involved in community activities such as the Rotary and St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce.

Johnson's most significant business educational experience came early in his career working at the City Limits Dairy Farm owned by his grandparents—with hands on learning from auctions to the laws of the harvest.

Johnson owns several businesses including a consulting corporation.

Judge Johanna Degraeve

Johanna Degraeve

Johanna Degraeve is an emerging finance professional with a robust academic background and diverse international experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and Economics from HEC Lausanne and went on to pursue a Master of Arts in Accounting and Corporate Finance at the University of St.Gallen. Her master’s thesis, which analyzed how CEO and CFO cognitive traits influence synergy target selection and integration planning in mergers and acquisitions, reflects her analytical prowess and keen interest in corporate strategy.

Complementing her academic achievements, Johanna has gained hands-on experience in some of Switzerland’s most respected financial institutions. She has undertaken internships at Credit Suisse and EY, where she contributed to strategic advisory and M&A lead advisory projects in Zurich. Currently, she is advancing her career through UBS’s Graduate Programs—first in Global Family & Institutional Wealth in Geneva, and now in Investment Bank Equity Research in Zurich—delving into both wealth management and equity research for Swiss small-to-mid cap companies.

Beyond her formal roles, Johanna has demonstrated leadership and commitment to the broader community. She has held pivotal positions such as Head of Sponsorship at oikos St.Gallen and Head Accountant at oikos Lausanne, while also actively engaging in finance clubs and mentoring initiatives at HEC Lausanne. Her volunteer work at Cambrian Assisted Living further underscores her dedication to social action and community service.

Overall, Johanna Degraeve combines a solid academic foundation with practical industry experience, leadership roles, and community involvement—positioning her as a well-rounded professional poised for success in the dynamic field of finance.

Judge Muhammad Razi

Muhammad Razi

Dr. Muhammad Razi is the chair of the Department of Business Information Systems and professor of computer information systems. He joined WMU in 2000. His scholarly interests include relational and non-relational databases, ERP Systems, and software application and adaptation. Prior to joining WMU, Razi worked as a software developer and an IT consultant for several years. He has 22 years of teaching experience at the Haworth College of Business and worked as the associate chair of the department from 2018 to 2022. He was awarded the Haworth College of Business Service Award in 2017. He enjoys bringing industry experience into the classroom.

His work has been published in numerous academic journals including: Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, Expert Systems with Applications, American Journal of Business, International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Information Management & Computer Security, Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, and Journal of Small Business Strategy.

Social Engineering Judges

Judge Kane Greer

Kane Greer

As a cybersecurity professional with a profound passion for psychology, my mission is to empower organizations in safeguarding their sensitive information against insider threats. With a keen focus on the pivotal role of social engineering in such attacks—where studies indicate up to 60% of data breaches stem from insider actions—I am dedicated to forging strategies that effectively detect and thwart these malicious endeavors.

My academic journey has been shaped by a deeply personal experience. Following the tragic loss of my younger brother to suicide in 2015, I embarked on a path originally aligned with psychology, driven by a fervent desire to effect positive change for individuals like my brother. However, I came to the realization that while my intentions were noble, they were not truly my own, instead I was trying to save someone that had already passed. Determined to continue making a meaningful impact, I shifted my focus towards cybersecurity, recognizing it as a realm where I could still contribute to societal well-being, albeit on different terms.

Combining my expertise in cybersecurity with insights from psychology, I aspire to devise robust methodologies for identifying and mitigating social engineering threats. Central to my approach is an understanding of the intricate interplay between human behavior and technological vulnerabilities. Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, I am committed to fostering a culture of security within organizations, empowering individuals to recognize and respond to potential threats effectively.

My academic pursuits have equipped me with a solid groundwork in network security, cryptography, and risk management, complemented by a nuanced understanding of human behavior, decision-making processes, and social dynamics. I am eager to leverage this interdisciplinary knowledge to tackle real-world challenges and drive impactful change in the cybersecurity landscape.

Ultimately, my vision is to cultivate an environment where security awareness is ingrained in organizational culture, promoting a safer digital ecosystem for all stakeholders, both within and beyond the confines of the workplace.