MBA Capstone Team Delivers Strategic Consulting Proposal for St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store

This summer, students in Woodbury University’s MBA capstone course, Strategic Management Consulting (MGMT 682), partnered with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles to help reimagine the customer experience at its Thrift Store. Under the guidance of faculty supervisor Dr. Paul Sabolic, the team of Erandy Miranda Peregrino, Isabella Kirakosian, Silvia Chaparyan, Talar Zaki, and Cassie Urena took on the challenge of enhancing the store’s signage and boosting foot traffic through a strengthened community presence.

The students grounded their work in direct fieldwork, beginning with an initial client meeting on July 9, 2026, followed by an in-person walkthrough of the store on July 11 to assess its existing signage and customer flow firsthand. From there, they developed a comprehensive four-phase proposal: research and assessment, a signage revamp strategy, a preliminary social media marketing plan, and a coordinated implementation phase bringing both efforts together to drive foot traffic and elevate the overall shopping experience.

The project reflects the kind of real-world, client-facing consulting work that defines the MBA capstone experience — giving students the opportunity to apply strategic management principles to a mission-driven organization actively serving the Los Angeles community, while delivering genuine, actionable value to a nonprofit partner.