The 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition winners
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition, recognising outstanding contributions to the advancement of management education through case writing.
Each year, the Case Writing Competition, in partnership with The Case Centre and supported by category sponsors, brings together academics and practitioners from around the world to showcase innovative, impactful, and thought-provoking cases. The 2025 edition once again highlights the richness and diversity of global business challenges, with winning cases addressing themes such as sustainability, leadership, technological transformation, entrepreneurship, and responsible business practices.
Eric Cornuel, President, EFMD Global, commented, ‘We warmly congratulate the winners of the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition. This year’s cases reflect a turning point in management education, where global uncertainty, technological acceleration, and societal expectations are reshaping how we teach and learn. These contributions do more than document business dilemmas; they challenge assumptions and inspire new ways of thinking. With strong participation across a wide range of categories, this edition once again highlights the relevance and impact of case writing in advancing management education. We extend our sincere thanks to the Case Centre, all participants, partners, and sponsors, whose continued support makes this initiative possible.’
Vicky Lester, CEO, The Case Centre, said, ‘Congratulations to this year’s EFMD Case Writing Competition winners. These outstanding cases reflect the evolving landscape of business, exploring themes such as sustainability, globalisation, leadership, and ethical complexity. They challenge students to navigate uncertainty, balance competing priorities, and make decisions that have real impact. We’re proud to work with EFMD to celebrate excellence in case writing and its vital role in preparing future leaders.’
Visit the EFMD Case Writing Competition Case Winners website and browse this year’s winners for more information.
The 2025 Case Writing Awards are awarded to:
African Business Cases
Sponsored by ESCA Ecole de Management
The New Protein Buzz: Can Legendary Foods Africa Feed the World with Insects?
- Sophie Bacq, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Valerie Keller-Birrer, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Ruth Shalom Kinyua, R Futures Group
‘As soon as I met her at a dinner in Lausanne, I knew Shobhita Soor was an exceptional entrepreneur. After winning the prestigious $1M Hult Prize and launching Aspire Food Group, her path into insect protein was set. With her second venture, Legendary Foods Africa, her mission is even bolder: to deliver the nutrition of meat at the price point and sustainability of plants. Shobhita told me, ‘Business can be a very dynamic force for positive change in the world. This is the story I wanted to be part of.’ And that is the story I wanted to write and share with classrooms around the globe,’ remarked Sophie Bacq.
Belt-and-Road Cases
Sponsored by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University – PolyU Business School
Overseas Acquisition of a Vietnamese Factory: The Implementation Journey of Man Wah’s ‘China +1’ Strategy
- Yuan Ding, China Europe International Business School
- Jingyuan Hu, China Europe International Business School
- Xiayan Huang, China Europe International Business School
‘We are truly honoured to receive this recognition from the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition. Developing this case provided a valuable opportunity to engage with real-world managerial challenges and reflect on how companies navigate an increasingly complex global environment. The experience reinforced our belief in the value of case-based teaching to spark discussion and encourage critical thinking. We are pleased to see the case reaching a wider audience and hope it can foster thoughtful conversations and broader learning.’
Bringing Technology to Market
Sponsored by SMU (Singapore Management University)
From ODM to Consumer Brand: Keeson Incubating Softide
- Yajin Wang, China Europe International Business School
- Qiong Zhu, China Europe International Business School
‘We are truly honoured to receive the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition award. This case captures a real and ongoing transformation—how an ODM firm navigates the complex journey toward building a consumer brand. In the context of China, where many OEM/ODM firms are seeking to upgrade, Keeson represents a typical example of leveraging new technologies to move closer to end users and build brand capabilities. Centred on its Softide journey, the case highlights the tensions between manufacturing and branding logics, short-term returns and long-term capability building, as well as dual-brand trade-offs. By presenting authentic decision dilemmas, it aims to stimulate rigorous discussion on capability transformation, strategic focus, and brand positioning.’
China Business Cases
Sponsored by CEIBS (China Europe International Business School)
Hisense’s Acquisition of Sanden: Conflict Over New Suppliers
- Su Liu, Ivey Publishing
- Xiaoying Zhang, Ivey Publishing
‘I am truly honoured and deeply moved to receive this award for the case “Hisense’s Acquisition of Sanden: Conflict Over New Suppliers.” Having closely followed Hisense’s remarkable journey for over a decade, I have witnessed its evolution from a determined domestic player to a truly global leader through strategic and resilient acquisitions. It is a profound privilege that my first award is centred on Hisense. This recognition is not just for me, but a testament to the compelling narrative of Chinese enterprises navigating the complex global landscape with vision and integrity. My heartfelt thanks to the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition and to Hisense for providing such a rich and inspiring subject.’
China-Europe Human Leadership
Sponsored by CHEL (Centre for Human & Emotional Leadership)
Glocal and Global Leaders: Leadership Development in Schneider Electric
- Jean Lee, China Europe International Business School
- Liman Zhao, China Europe International Business School
- Fu Zheng, China Europe International Business School
‘We are deeply honoured to receive this award. This case explores how Schneider Electric redefines leadership in a complex global landscape by cultivating “glocal” leaders who bridge local ecosystems and global strategy. By combining human judgement with an AI-powered Digital Twin as a reflective thinking partner, the case highlights a new paradigm of leadership—where technology enhances, rather than replaces, human insight. We are grateful for the openness of Schneider Electric’s senior executives and hope this case will inspire educators and practitioners to rethink leadership in an increasingly fragmented world, especially in the age of AI.’
Continuous Improvement: The Journey to Excellence
Sponsored by EFMD Global
Dooney & Bourke: Continuing to Tap into the Lucrative Chinese Luxury-goods Market
- Sheri Lambert, Ivey Publishing
- Peter Beaugard, Ivey Publishing
- Jean-Baptiste Frantz, Ivey Publishing
- Kelly Mitchell, Ivey Publishing
- Laurie Ferranda, Ivey Publishing
‘Thank you for the recognition of this award. I am truly excited that “Dooney & Bourke: Continuing to Tap into the Lucrative Chinese Luxury-goods Market” has been recognised by the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition. This case captures what I believe is a critical tension and strategic consumer pivot: how heritage brands evolve without losing the very identity that made them successful. It reflects a real-world, nuanced exploration of foundational brand strategy, balancing legacy, digital transformation, and global expansion in a rapidly shifting market. What makes this recognition especially meaningful is the case’s relevance for both practitioners and students. As authors, we aimed to ensure this case goes beyond theory, offering a pragmatic lens on decision-making under uncertainty, particularly in complex markets like China. To see this work acknowledged at an international level reinforces the importance of bridging academic rigour with real commercial challenges, and I am incredibly proud to have contributed to that dialogue,’ expressed Laurie Sarah Ferranda.
‘Winning the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition is truly an honour. It reinforces my belief that the most impactful cases are the ones that are clear, practical, and grounded in real decisions leaders face every day. I’m grateful for the recognition and excited to continue creating work that helps learners think critically, connect ideas to action, and navigate real-world challenges with confidence,’ commented Frantz Jean-Baptiste.
‘Receiving the 2025 EMFD Case Writing Competition award for Continuous Improvement: The Journey to Excellence is an incredible honour. This recognition affirms the importance of documenting how organisations embed a culture of progress, where continuous change, operational discipline, and customer value creation are not initiatives, but mindsets. I hope this case not only highlights pathways to greater efficiency and competitiveness but also inspires leaders (and future leaders) to view improvement as an ongoing journey rather than a destination. It was especially fun and rewarding to collaborate on this case with peers from my DBA cohort, making the experience both intellectually and personally meaningful,’ said Sheri Lambert.
Diversity, Responsibility and Sustainability
Sponsored by CHEL (Centre for Human & Emotional Leadership)
Specialisterne: Working with Neurodivergent People – Which Business Model Creates the Most Impact?
- Alfred Vernis, ESADE Business School
- Jaume Iglesias, ESADE Business School
- Dalia Silberstein, ESADE Business School
‘We are honoured to receive this award for a case that questions a fundamental business assumption: who gets to participate in the labour market. Specialisterne demonstrates that the real barrier is not talent, but how organisations are designed. By reframing neurodiversity as a source of value rather than limitation, we hope this case pushes decision-makers to rethink how organisations create both economic and social value. The real impact is not only in jobs created, but in lives changed and mindsets shifted—proving that inclusion, when done well, drives both social and business value.’
Entrepreneurship
Sponsored by EMLYON Business School
DSS+: Carving Out a Sustainability Consulting Leader
- Benoit F. Leleux, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Giorgio Pignalosa, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Larissa M. Bieler, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Mojisola Akinkunmi, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Nicolas Campodonico, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
‘It is always a great honour to be recognised for a teaching case, but it is particularly so when it acknowledges a great effort by a team of brilliant 2025 eMBA graduates. We owe endless gratitude to the dss+ executives, who generously contributed their time and allowed us to capture their entrepreneurial drive in pushing the limits on sustainability consulting, and the managing partner at Gyrus Capital, who provided the private equity perspective on incentivising and empowering a team of fantastic consultants through the convoluted carve-out buyout process and subsequent growth phase for the firm.’
Family Business
Sponsored by Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut
The Succession Process of Ricardo Garza Limón
- José Luis Rivas, Ivey Publishing
- Gonzalo Gomez Gómez-Betancourt, Ivey Publishing
- Pedro Vazquez, Ivey Publishing
‘We are honoured to receive this recognition from EFMD. This award is especially meaningful because it highlights the relevance of complex, real-world challenges faced by business families. Our aim with this case was to capture the nuanced interplay between family, ownership, and governance in succession processes. We hope it contributes to richer classroom discussions and supports both educators and practitioners in addressing one of the most critical transitions in family enterprises.’
Finance and Banking
Sponsored by EFMD Global
DSS+: Carving Out a Sustainability Consulting Leader
- Benoit F. Leleux, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Giorgio Pignalosa, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Larissa M. Bieler, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Mojisola Akinkunmi, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Nicolas Campodonico, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
‘It is always a great honour to be recognised for a teaching case, but it is particularly so when it acknowledges a great effort by a team of brilliant 2025 eMBA graduates. We owe endless gratitude to the dss+ executives, who generously contributed their time and allowed us to capture their entrepreneurial drive in pushing the limits on sustainability consulting, and the managing partner at Gyrus Capital, who provided the private equity perspective on incentivising and empowering a team of fantastic consultants through the convoluted carve-out buyout process and subsequent growth phase for the firm.’
Responsible Business
Sponsored by University of Canterbury
Green or greenwashing? A 95 million dollar sustainability paradox for Michelin and BNP Paribas
- Vanina Farber, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
- Shih-Han Huang, IMD – International Institute for Management Development
‘I love writing and teaching with cases because they create a space to reflect on how we make decisions. This case may start with a sustainability strategy, but it ends with a mirror. It invites executives to confront difficult realities: credibility can conceal risk, innovation can outpace accountability, and partnerships can strengthen projects while blurring ownership. When impact coexists with blind spots and unintended harm, leaders cannot rely on simple trade-offs. In a world of quick answers, this case demands nuance, critical thinking, and the ability to navigate when something genuinely good goes wrong. Thank you for recognising it and the value of these skills in an uncertain world,’ acknowledged Vanina Farber.
Responsible Leadership
Sponsored by Cork University Business School
Scaling for a Purpose: Homeboy Industries’ Potential Acquisition of B Corp Isidore Recycling
- Maria Ballesteros-Sola, California State University Channel Islands
- David Choi, Loyola Marymount University
‘We are honoured to receive the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition award for the Responsible Leadership category. We are thankful to the judges, EFMD, and Cork University Business School as the award sponsor. Homeboy Industries is one of the most compelling examples of social entrepreneurship in the United States, and we hope that this recognition encourages professors to adopt this case as it explores the complex intersection between missions and markets. ’
Short Cases: Real Decision, Deep Learning
Sponsored by Ivey Publishing
From Tiktok to Turbulence – Fix Chocolate’s Viral Surge at Strategic Crossroads
- Deval Kartik, HEC Paris Doha
- Siddharth Wadehra, Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi
‘It is an absolute honour to receive the EFMD Case Writing Award. While Fix ‘Dubai’ Chocolate became a viral sensation, our goal was to distil the deeper learning from a phenomenon that triggered a global pistachio shortage and inspired hundreds of pistachio-kunafeh creations worldwide. We wanted these insights to reach a far broader audience of students and practitioners. This recognition meaningfully advances that mission. To support a rich and structured learning experience, we developed two comprehensive Teaching Notes—one focused on Strategic Decision Making and the other on Product and Brand Management—enabling instructors to engage with the case from multiple pedagogical perspectives.’
Women in Business
Sponsored by Universidad Panamericana
Ethics and Influence in client-driven marketing research
- Shubhashree S. Iyer, Ivey Publishing
- James Newswanger, Ivey Publishing
- Ritu Gupta, Ivey Publishing
‘We are honoured that Ethics and Influence in Client-Driven Marketing Research has been recognised in the Women in Business category at the 2025 EFMD Case Writing Competition. Our case explores a dilemma that is highly relevant in contemporary business: how professionals respond when ethical standards collide with organisational pressure and client appeasement. Receiving this award in the Women in Business category is especially meaningful because the case centres on voice, credibility, and the courage required to question problematic norms early in one’s career. We hope the case continues to support rich classroom conversations on ethics, influence, and responsible decision-making.’
We warmly thank our category sponsors and The Case Centre for their continued support in making this competition possible.
You can explore the winning cases on the EFMD Case Writing Competition website. We also invite you to follow the next edition of the competition, which will launch in July 2026.
About Sponsorship
The EFMD Case Writing Competition is proud to collaborate with dedicated sponsors who actively contribute to advancing impactful teaching and learning in management education. Sponsoring a category offers a unique opportunity to showcase your institution’s expertise within a specific field across the global EFMD network.
We are currently seeking sponsors for the 2026 edition. If you are interested in becoming part of this important initiative and highlighting your institution’s thought leadership, we invite you to get involved.
The following categories are open to sponsorship:
- Continuous Improvement: The Journey to Excellence
- Finance and Banking
- Responsible Business
- Women in Business
We also welcome proposals for new categories that reflect emerging priorities in case writing and management education.
If you would like to express your interest, please fill out the following form or contact Petra Grestenbergerova at petra.grestenbergerova@efmdglobal.org.
Follow the conversation about the EFMD Case Writing Competition here.
