Students Convene in Sweden for the 2nd Annual Susilo Institute Business + Ethics Case Competition

Six finalist teams hailing from all over the world competed in the 2nd annual Susilo Institute Business + Ethics Case Competition held in Stockholm and Östersund, Sweden, on June 1–4, 2025. This global case competition began last fall with over 44 teams from more than 20 universities across 12 different countries. Led and hosted by Boston University Questrom School of Business, 39 Boston University students participated in the first round. Additionally, Questrom MBA students Soleha Patel (Questrom ’25), Alexander Orta (Questrom ‘25) and Ankit Saraf (Questrom ‘25) co-wrote the case studies used in the competition.

A Case Competition Rooted in Real-World Business Ethics

The Susilo Institute Business + Ethics Case Competition is a year-long competition that challenges students to tackle complex ethical dilemmas through detailed business case analysis. Early stages feature submission reviews and online regional ‘run off’ competitions featuring judges from all over the world, many of whom are Questrom alumni. The final stage culminates in an in-person, international experience where students are immersed in a new market and culture.

This year’s host country, Sweden, provided a rich backdrop. Teams kicked off the finals by presenting on their initial impressions of Swedish culture and delivering a hypothetical strategic plan for an international company entering a partnership with a Swedish candy distributor. All of the teams were mixed across schools. The many experiences blended cultural exchange with hands-on learning—from a scavenger hunt that encouraged team bonding to a full factory tour and an axe-testing demonstration at Woolpower, sister company of Gränsfors Bruk.

Three original case studies written by Soleha Patel, Alexander Orta, and Ankit Saraf, anchored the competition:

• Woolpower: A private, medium-sized manufacturer in Östersund specializing in warm clothing for professional, military, and consumer markets.
• Single Technologies: A Stockholm-based biotech startup offering DNA sequencing equipment and services.
• “Doing Business in Sweden”: A cross-cultural case examining Sweden’s unique business and ethical landscape, informed by interviews with local experts and comparisons to other international business norms.

The cases were developed as part of an independent study, supervised by Professor Greg Stoller. In January, the MBA student case study writers traveled to Sweden to meet with executives from six companies across three cities, including a startup incubator in Stockholm. Their research included site visits, video production, cultural immersion, and interviews that informed case studies of 23, 26, and 10 pages respectively—models of high-quality academic case writing.

Global Finalists and Winners

This year’s six finalist teams represented:

• Caucasus University (Georgia)
• Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia)
• UMass Boston (United States)
• Stanford University (United States)
• Tor Vergata University (Italy)
• Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)

Congratulations to Giorgi Zanguri, Aleksandre Maisuradze, Mariam Lochoshvili, and Mariam Lortkipanidze, members of the Caucasus University team, who took first place. The win reflects not only their business acumen but their ability to analyze and navigate ethical complexities across cultures. Stanford University was the Runner-Up and Trinity College Dublin also placed.

Powered by a Vision for Ethical Leadership

The competition is a flagship initiative of the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy, founded through the generosity of Harry Susilo, Chairman of Sekar Group—an international corporation based in Indonesia and Singapore, and a long-time supporter of Boston University.

The Institute stands out as a business-focused ethics center, promoting global ethical practices and giving students real exposure to cultural and operational diversity. The competition is the Susilo Institute’s largest program.

Finna Huang and Mark Clay, representing the Susilo family, were in attendance at the finals event in Sweden. Mark, a director at Sekar Bumi shared his enthusiasm:

“Some of these presentations have been absolutely fantastic, but what’s really interesting for me this year… was the feedback from the actual owners of the sponsored companies who are saying they are actually gaining valuable insights into ideas that can benefit their companies going forward.”

Soleha Patel (Questrom ’25), one of the case writers and trip participants, reflected on the experience:

“Someone pinch my 13-year-old shy self and tell her that almost a decade later, she’ll be pursuing an MBA, traveling to Sweden, and sitting across from founders and CEOs.

I’m beyond grateful to have worked with an amazing team to craft cases for The Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy Case Competition, where six schools will compete and showcase their insights and creativity. A huge thank you to Professors Greg Stoller and David Epstein for their guidance, to Sophie Zschirnt and Sandra Zarotney Keldsen for their logistical and administrative support, and to my fellow case writers, Ankit Saraf and Alexander Orta, for their collaboration. A special shoutout to Claudia Sundberg for making Sweden such a welcoming experience.

And to every CEO, founder, and individual I had the privilege to learn from—your generosity shaped this journey, and I couldn’t be more thankful. And of course, thank you, Sweden, for making Fika a vital part of this experience!”

The Susilo Institute Business + Ethics Case Competition shows how business education can go beyond the classroom—uniting students from around the world through immersive travel, student-led research, and a rigorous focus on business ethics.

In the first year of the competition, the finals were held in Jakarta, Indonesia, and featured teams from Mexico, Japan, Germany, Lebanon, Indonesia and the United States.