A student team from the Sobey School of Business won first place in all three categories at the highly competitive 2025 International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition (IBESCC), which took place at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles from April 7 to 11.
Students Robert Nolan Francis, Lydia Hui-Qi Lee, Jonzel Isaiah Robichaud-Lorde and Ashish Ganapathy Venkatasubramanian competed against 32 other teams from around the world, and won in three segments: a 25-minute presentation, a 10-minute ethical analysis, and a 90-second sustainability pitch. The judges praised the team's comprehensive approach and innovative solutions.
The annual competition aims to help students explore the moral imperatives of sustainable development. Topics must be business-related and have an ethical component linking to at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The experience provides a platform for students to tackle real-world business issues, focusing on ethics, law, finance, and sustainability.
"This event wasn't just a competition but a valuable learning experience that allowed our students to apply their classroom knowledge on a global stage,” says Dr. Amna Chalwati, Associate Professor of Accounting at the Sobey School of Business, one of the team coaches. “We are so proud to have represented Saint Mary’s on this international platform and grateful for the support that made this achievement possible.”
A huge congratulations to these students for their remarkable accomplishments!