The student team of the Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) once again made proud achievements in the international arena. This time, the team consisting of Gustav Susanto (Management 2022), M. Hilmy Naufal (Accounting 2022), Najwa Waq’iah (Management 2022), Nikita Dinda Azizah (Management 2022), and Farras Maula Audina (Industrial Engineering 2022) won 1st place in the Woolpower Case category in the final of the Susilo Business+Ethics Case Competition 2025 in Sweden on June 6, 2025.
In addition, the FEB UGM team also won 3rd place in the Single Technologies category. For this achievement, the team was named the 3rd General Champion.
The supervisor of the FEB UGM team, Prof. Wakhid Slamet Ciptono, MBA, MPM, Ph.D., expressed his pride in this achievement. He emphasized that this victory not only succeeded in bringing the good name of UGM, but also the good name of Indonesia and Asia. The reason is that the FEB UGM team is the only Asian representative in the final round.
“I appreciate the team’s victory in this event. However, they are not only prepared to win, but also to gain experience and produce the best. I hope this victory can motivate other students,” he said.
The Susilo Business+Ethics Case Competition is an annual business case competition organized by the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy, Questrom School of Business, Boston University, focusing on sustainability issues in business. This year, 44 teams from 20 universities across 12 countries participated in the competition.
Gustav Susanto explained that in this competition, all teams had to undergo a rigorous selection process since October 2024, from submitting executive summaries of case studies in the preliminary stage to online presentations in the semifinal round of the Asia-Pacific region. In these two stages, each team must solve a business case about a startup that sells interactive gaming headset products for people with ADHD, focusing on improving attention and impulse control.
Next, the top six teams advanced to the final stage in Sweden. In the final stage, which took place over five days in Sweden, the finalists must analyze challenges, potential improvements, and possible solutions for two companies, Single Technologies and Woolpower. The six finalists who made it to the final round were Stanford University, USA; University of Massachusetts Boston, USA; Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Tor Vergata University, Italy; and Caucasus University, Georgia.
In the final stage, the team must analyze and provide solutions for two companies, Single Technologies (DNA/RNA Sequencing) and Woolpower (Outdoor Clothing).
“We analyzed the production and marketing process problems of both companies. Furthermore, we must identify areas that could be improved and provide solutions from the identified areas,” he explained.
Gustav Susanto revealed that their journey to winning was not easy. The complexity of case studies related to advanced technology demanded a deep understanding and guidance from lecturers across fields, such as industry, management, finance, and health.
However, behind all these challenges, Gustav considered the experience they gained during the competition very valuable. They had the opportunity to meet and discuss with students, lecturers, and executives from various countries, further enriching the team’s insight and cross-cultural understanding. He also expressed his gratitude for this victory.
“I am grateful and delighted with this achievement because we put a lot of preparation and resources into this competition. In addition, we had to give up many other opportunities for this competition, and the result is very satisfying,” Gustav said.
Gustav said the team’s success in this prestigious competition could not be separated from the support of their supervisors and FEB UGM. FEB UGM through Career and Student Development Unit (CSDU) gave full support to the team, ranging from intensive mentoring by supervisors during the seven months of the competition, public speaking mentoring, to funding support.
Gustav also shared a message to other students who want to participate in this competition in the future. He advised the team to prepare themselves in advance and not to hesitate to discuss with experts in the field when they are stuck. In addition, prayers and support from the closest people are essential keys to achieving the best results.
Finally, if he had to summarize the whole experience in one word, Gustav would choose the word “irreplaceable.” According to him, the opportunity to learn about the culture and industry first-hand in Sweden and make cross-cultural connections with participants worldwide is an irreplaceable experience and something that can only be gained through this competition.
Reportage: Najwah Ariella Puteri
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Sustainable Development Goals
