The annual Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition (SG-FECC) hosted by the University of Vermont’s (UVM) Grossman School of Business (GSB) was honored with the 2023 International Achievement Award by the Family Firm Institute (FFI), the leading global association for family enterprise professionals.

Each year, the FFI Awards honor excellence in the field by granting Achievement Awards in Family Business Research and Practice. FFI established the Achievement Awards for professional achievement in 1992 to further enhance its multidisciplinary and global approach to family enterprise advising, consulting, and research.

FFI International Award

The FFI International Award was established in 2000 and recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding achievement in furthering the understanding of international issues and global networks in multi-generational, family-owned enterprise. The award will be formally presented as part of the FFI Annual Global Conference in October 2023 in New York City.

“It is an incredible honor to receive this award from FFI for SG-FECC. Our brilliant team is integral to the success of this event over the last 10 years. Not only is SG-FECC a tremendous learning opportunity for student organizers but also the competitors and coaches who come from all over the world to participate,” said Dita Sharma, professor and Schlesinger-Grossman chair of family business at GSB and SG-FECC co-chair. “Our faculty and leadership work hard to organize this world-class competition. I would like to acknowledge and thank the judges and UVM leadership who have provided their support over the years.”

SG-FECC co-chair Dita Sharma addresses the competitors, coaches, and judges at the 10th edition event in January 2023. (Photo: Andy Duback)

Dita Sharma is also the recipient of the prestigious Barbara Hollander Award at the 25th anniversary conference of the Family Firm Institute and received the Life Time Influence and Impact award at the Family Enterprise Research Conference.

10 Years of SG-FECC

Founded in 2013 by Dita Sharma who runs and co-chairs the event along with Thomas Chittenden, SG-FECC is a four-day competition in which undergraduate and graduate student teams from top business schools around the world analyze cases focused on the unique dilemmas faced by family enterprises. Competitors have limited time to prepare their recommendations and present these to a panel of judges comprising business leaders, educators, and advisors. More than 800 student competitors from 66 universities have competed in SG-FECC and more than 550 judges have participated since its founding. The 11th edition is slated for January 10 – 13, 2024 and is open to team registration.

Student teams prepare their cases at the 10th edition of SG-FECC. (Photo: Colleen Goodhue)

"This international award is a very big deal for UVM and is a testament to our team at GSB and our pioneering family business program. I am proud of our faculty, leadership, and student organizers who have worked hard to keep this event going,” added Grossman School of Business Dean Sanjay Sharma.

Family Business at the Grossman School of Business

The Grossman School of Business offers an online Certificate of Graduate Study in Sustainable Family Enterprise with a curriculum drawn from its award-winning Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) and supported by GSB's Family Business Institute. Recognized worldwide for its expertise in sustainable business and family business education and the intersection between the two, the Grossman School of Business continues to rank among the top two Green MBA programs by The Princeton Review, top "MBA Program for a Better World" by Corporate Knights, and top 25 global business schools for family business education and research by Family Capital.

About FFI

For more than thirty years, the Family Firm Institute has engaged in educating, connecting, and inspiring professionals who serve family enterprises. FFI is a leading organization for the advisors, consultants, educators, and researchers who help perpetuate trans-generational family enterprise. In adopting a multidisciplinary and global perspective, FFI understands family enterprise as a fundamental driver of global economic growth, prosperity, and stability.

Learn more about SG-FECC and the Grossman School of Business’ Certificate of Graduate Study in Sustainable Family Enterprise.

Undergraduate winning team at SG-FECC on January 14, 2023. (Photo: Andy Duback)