Students from the GW School of Business took lessons learned in their courses and leveraged them into a strong showing at business case competitions during the 2023-2024 academic year.
A team of graduate students at the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition, hosted by Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles claimed first place in their division for a 25-minute presentation focused on ethical and sustainability issues in the fashion and apparel industry. The students, Sarah Bodewes, Paige Garczynski, Letiyo Mawadri, Bradley Whittaker and Lara Zeitoun, were also named runners up in a related 90-second Sustainability Pitch Competition.
The Center for International Business Education and Research (GW-CIBER) sponsored the graduate students and a team of undergraduates that included Aevyn Koczera, Natalia Parientes, Jaime Perez-Bedmar Merello, Brenda Santiago-Ramos and Christine Yoo. While in Los Angeles, the GW students made site visits to Patagonia and Lefty Production Co. to further explore sustainability in the fashion industry as part of a career trek.
Another GW graduate team earned the top prize in a case competition hosted by global business education and trade association NASBITE International, while a three-member undergraduate team made it to the final round in its division. The graduate team of Joshua Kim, Joon Park, Tai Pham and Virali Shah worked on a challenge involving Nevco Sports, the world’s largest privately owned scoring and display manufacturer. The graduate students and the undergraduate team of Carlysle Devane-Schneider, Mateo Moya and Olivia Rosewarne—were supported by GW-CIBER Director Anna Helm and advisors Alexis Gaul and Rachael Rusnov.
Twenty GW Business students also won the “Best Plans Book” award for their written submission in the American Advertising Federation District 2 National Student Advertising Competition. The same students earned third place overall in a sustainability-focused case competition sponsored by Tide, which sought to persuade more 18- to 35-year-olds to use cold water to wash their laundry.
The GW team included students from Capitol Advertising (CapAd), the GW Advertising and Marketing Association and an advanced advertising and marketing communications course taught by Professor of Advertising and Marketing Lynda Maddox. The team formulated a $75 million campaign called “Why Not Cold?” GW CapAd alumni from the last 20 years who provided financial support for the team.
A team of graduate students became the first from GW to advance to the final stages of the John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition. This national competition—now in its fourth year—is hosted by the Business & Society Institute at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and was created in honor of the late congressman and civil rights leader. GW was among 52 universities that competed
The GW Business students’ case prompt focused on First Step Staffing, a staffing agency that supports the needs of military veterans, the previously incarcerated and others experiencing homelessness and chronic poverty.
Four GW marketing students also claimed third prize in a case competition at the American Marketing Association (AMA) International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans in April.
Emily Bradford, Anna Moore, Isabela Robeiro and Sarah Swank, who represented the GW chapter of the American Marketing Association, prepared an integrated marketing campaign for the Sheth Foundation, which advances scholarship in the field of marketing. The GW campaign strategy highlighted sustainability concerns and social marketing causes for the company to adopt.
The GW team advanced past more than 30 other AMA chapters in the business challenge. John Ferreira, teaching assistant professor of marketing, was the faculty adviser for students.