Students from the GW Center for International Business Education and Research (GW-CIBER) made their mark on the global stage this spring, earning top awards in a series of international business case competitions focused on ethics, sustainability, and strategic market analysis.
Two teams of five students each participated in the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition (IBESCC) hosted by Loyola Marymount University, an innovative event that challenges students to explore ethical issues and address real-world business dilemmas. The GW teams addressed ethical and sustainability challenges in the fashion and apparel industry.
The undergraduate team — Carly Bottitta, Yael Loubat, Samarth Nagaraj, Denise Roman and Ambuja Sharma — placed first in their division for the 25-minute case presentation and earned runner-up in the 90-second pitch category. Their case, Nike Next, tackled sustainability in the athleisure industry by proposing a sustainable collegiate jersey line, integrating Digital Product Passports, and launching a marketing campaign promoting responsible consumer behavior.
The graduate team — Melda Akan, Nicole Dela Rosa, Carlysle Devane-Schneider, Tram Nguyen and Diyora Shodmonova — placed first in their division for the 10-minute ethics speech. Their case, Grounds for Change, proposed a circular solution for coffee ground waste, transforming used grounds from Peet’s Coffee into sustainable apparel and demonstrating how brands can rethink waste and drive innovation.
Additionally, two teams of four students each participated in the virtual NASBITE International Student Case Competition, which challenges student teams to identify the best international market and market entry strategy for a U.S. exporter. This year’s company was Save the Girls, a fashion-with-function brand that has experienced more than 100 percent annual growth in the U.S. market over the past few years. The competition focused on the company’s crossbody product, Clip&Go, an innovative solution designed to address common concerns for smartphone users.
The GW graduate team — Audrey Ely, Ines Martinand, Sonia Porej and Qiang Zhong — placed first in their category. The undergraduate team — Alanna Gauto-Kennedy, Navya Kadalayil, Madison Koetz and Marissa Lumnah — advanced to the finals in theirs. The teams were supported by GW-CIBER advisors Anna Helm, Alexis Gaul and Rachael Rusnov.
In addition to the competition, students explored sustainability practices in the fashion industry through site visits to Cone Denim, Shein, LA Apparel, Circular Library and Patagonia. The teams were supported by GW-CIBER advisors Anna Helm, Laura D'Antonio, Alexis Gaul and Rachael Rusnov.
These competitions provided valuable opportunities for hands-on learning, global business engagement, and future career growth for students, showcasing the talent of students representing GW on an international stage.