The winning team – Hanna Simona Allas, Lina Meyer, Karl Enocson and James Raymond-Paul – together with their case coach Mats Urde, delivered an outstanding performance in a highly competitive international setting. The victory marks a major milestone for both the team and Lund University School of Economics and Management (LUSEM), and we could not be prouder of the achievement.
Each year, the John Molson MBA International Case Competition brings together top student teams from universities around the world, a competition considered to be at the very top level of case competitions worldwide. Over seven intense days, teams work under significant time pressure to analyse complex, real-world business cases and present their solutions to panels of experienced academics and industry professionals. This was the 44th edition of the competition – known as The Pinnacle of Case Competitions.
For Lina Meyer, one of the team members, the experience was both intense and inspiring.
“The event felt both surreal and highly professional, with teams flying in from all over the world to compete in intense business case challenges,” she says. “At the same time, it was incredibly exciting. I met amazing people, learned a lot about Canadian companies, and really felt the strong sense of community that defines the competition.”
“Gold is gold”
When reached after the competition, team coach Mats Urde – who has previously been named World’s Best Case Teacher on two occasions – was understandably proud.
“It’s a real confirmation, and incredibly rewarding,” he says. “We’ve reached the semi-finals several times, won bronze twice and silver once – but gold is gold. And the attention that comes with a gold medal is noticeably greater.”
According to Mats Urde, interest in the case teams from both students and business judges was higher than ever last year, resulting in an exceptionally strong selection process. Out of around 120 students, only four were chosen.
“Lund's teams are always strong, but this group developed in an extraordinary way. Their backgrounds, experiences and perspectives complemented each other extremely well.”
Training for performance – and for the future
As in previous years, the team’s intensive case training – including a so-called ”case weekend” at a small hotel in Mölle – played an important role. During the training, students worked hard and solved multiple cases, even when tired – closely mirroring the challenging conditions of the competition in Canada.
That preparation proved crucial once the competition began, says Lina Meyer.
“Our coach told us to hit the ground running – and that’s exactly what we did. Once the competition starts, there’s no time to doubt yourself or rethink your approach. We relied on how we had trained and practiced many times before. That gave us a structure and presentation style we trusted – a kind of winning system.”
Beyond the competition itself, Lina also highlights the long-term value of case training.
“You develop so many skills you can use later – collaborating under extreme time pressure, thinking creatively in a business context, and communicating clearly with people you’ve never met before. It’s everything from public speaking and analytical thinking to teamwork in international settings.”
Strong impression on the international stage
The Swedish team made a strong impression throughout the competition. Already during the semi-finals, the presentation room was reportedly full, with many attendees eager to see the LUSEM team present.
Mats Urde has competed in Montréal with student teams for twelve years and shows no signs of slowing down.
“It’s an enormous amount of work, but incredibly rewarding. Building a team and seeing individuals grow and develop is the greatest reward of all.”
The success was also supported by dedicated colleagues and collaborators, including teachers Nadja Sörgärde and Hassan Hamadi, as well as Nick Gabery Adams, who has served as a judge for several years and participated in multiple training sessions, playing an important role in the team’s preparation. LUSEM also extends its thanks to the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University and the competition’s sponsors for hosting a world-class event.
For students considering case competitions themselves, Lina Meyer has a clear message:
“Just do it. No matter how prepared you think you are, you’ll learn so much. The skills and insights you gain really stay with you – it’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.”
