Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont welcomed business students from around the world to the 10th edition of the Schlesinger Global - Family Enterprise Case Competition (SG-FECC) from January 10 – 13, 2023.
Nineteen student teams from top institutions focused on family business education at the undergraduate and graduate levels traveled from twelve countries across four continents to compete in this intensive four-day event. Competitors came from India (Indian School of Business), Sweden (Jönköping International Business School), and Thailand (Sasin School of Management), among other countries.
“At the Grossman School of Business, in addition to analytical and technical skills, we teach the ethos of caring professionalism. SG-FECC is an experiential program that enables our students to practice and demonstrate these tenets to visiting competitors, coaches, and judges,” said Thomas I. Chittenden, co-chair of SG-FECC and Interim Director of Undergraduate Programs.
In addition to case analysis, SG-FECCs social and networking events included a visit to ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, the “Wear Your University” dinner, and an Explore Vermont Tour to the State Capitol and Beta Technologies, an electric aircraft company in Burlington.
Joachim Link, coach for the Heilbronn University team from Germany, shared that his students enjoyed their stay at the University of Vermont and that it was one of the “best weeks of their student lives.” Link added, “SG-FECC is always one of the highlights of my academic year.”
This year, the winning teams for both the undergraduate and graduate leagues were from Canada with Lazaridis School from the Wilfrid Laurier University taking top place in the undergraduate league and University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business winning the graduate league.
Undergraduate League
1st Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
2nd Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
3rd Rotterdam University, Netherlands
4th Bishop’s University, Canada
5th Maastricht University, Netherlands
Graduate League
1st University of Manitoba, Canada
2nd Jönköping University, Sweden
3rd Indian School of Business, India
4th ESADE Business School, Spain
Generous sponsors of this event include Steven Grossman, Steve Schlesinger, Jim Keller, Robin and Chuck Tauck, Adam Ifshin, Lisa and Dan Lehan, and Sukey and Davis Farmer. Corporate sponsors included Butler Brothers, Creative Planning, Danforth Pewter, Gridiron Capital, Olivia’s Organics, UVM Family Business Club, Westaff, Beta Technologies, and OnLogic.
“We are delighted with the resounding success of this student-organized event that brought together nearly 200 students, coaches, business leaders, advisors, and educators to the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business,” said Dita Sharma, co-chair and Schlesinger-Grossman Chair of Family Business. “As each case in the competition highlights a different dilemma faced by family business leaders, it challenges the competitors and the judges to determine pragmatic solutions to ensure the sustainability and longevity of the focal enterprises. Every attendee leaves the competition energized with greater confidence and enriched with new friendships.”
About the Grossman School of Business: The Grossman School of Business is an AACSB Accredited business school at the University of Vermont. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. GSB has nearly 1,000 undergraduate students and two graduate programs - the Sustainable Innovation MBA and the Masters of Accountancy. Learn more about the Grossman School of Business at uvm.edu/business.