Ivey faculty played a prominent role in the inaugural IWIL Case Writing Competition, contributing three of the five winning cases. Their work reflects the School’s continued efforts to strengthen women-centred case materials and broaden the representation found in business classrooms.
Launched by Ivey Publishing and Ivey Women Investing in Leadership (IWIL) on International Women’s Day 2025, the competition highlights case writing that features women in leadership roles and encourages more inclusive teaching resources. It drew strong interest from educators around the world and reinforced the need for leadership stories that better reflect women’s experiences in business.
During a virtual announcement event, entrepreneur Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, HBA ’92 – who sponsored the competition – joined Violetta Gallagher, Director of Product and Publishing at Ivey Publishing, to acknowledge the winning authors. Gallagher noted the momentum behind the initiative.
“What began as a bold idea has now become a truly international platform for elevating women’s leadership through the case method. This is not just a competition, it’s a global collaboration,” she said.
Speaking about the winning cases, she added that they represent lived leadership realities “captured and shared so that students around the world can learn not only about business, but about representation, inclusion, and leadership under pressure. This is how case writing becomes a tool for systemic change.”
Singh Cassidy emphasized the impact of representation in the classroom.
“If you can see it, you can be it. Learning with cases became instrumental for my career. But we know that women in cases are often underrepresented in how often they are the protagonist and, when they are, underrepresented in how often they are profiled as leaders,” she said.
She also spoke to the influence these cases can have on future leaders.
“The cases that result from this competition will be taught not just at Ivey but in business schools around the world, and with them we have the opportunity to really amplify the representation of women in leadership roles and help prospective women leaders understand that, in truth, women are already leading big businesses," she said. "They are already sitting at leadership tables, and seeing this represented in cases is just as important as seeing it in real life.”
Ivey’s winning cases
First place
Untangle Money: Wealth for Every Woman
By Miranda Goode and co-author Tanisha Juneja, HBA ’25
This case explores the gendered realities of financial planning and the development of financial tools designed specifically for women. It highlights issues of long-term planning, financial autonomy, and equity, and encourages students to engage more deeply with women’s lived experiences in financial decision-making.
Third place
The Longest Job Interview: Has Yasmene McDaniel’s Ascent Stalled at Interim CEO?
By Felicia Henderson and Zoe Kinias
Co-authored by Ivey faculty member Zoe Kinias, this case study examines the leadership journey of an interim CEO as she navigates visibility, organizational politics, and the complexities of succession. It offers a realistic look at career progression and the challenges women often face in accessing senior leadership roles, making it a strong platform for discussion among emerging and established leaders.
Fourth place
Emma McIlroy: Tackling Challenges with Purpose
By Kanina Blanchard and Dusya Vera, PhD ’02, with co-author Vania Sakelaris, EMBA ’12
This video case looks at what it means to lead with purpose in the face of competing pressures. It explores the tension between mission and financial performance, and invites reflection on character, courage, and integrity. Judges were particularly drawn to its emotional depth and the way it frames leadership as an evolving, lifelong journey.
Each winner will receive a cash prize, a certificate, and the publication of their case in the Ivey Publishing catalogue, making their work available to instructors and students worldwide through Ivey’s global partners.
Strengthening inclusive case teaching
Beyond the winning cases, the competition encouraged submissions that included strong teaching notes, clear learning objectives, and practical strategies for classroom discussion. A panel of Ivey faculty and IWIL leadership experts reviewed all entries, assessing each case on teaching quality, real-world insight, and alignment with IWIL’s goal of elevating women’s leadership stories.
Reflecting on the volume and diversity of submissions, Gallagher said the response speaks to a broader need in business education:
“The diversity of submissions shows that the need for women-centred leadership narratives is universal. Authors from around the world are telling stories that deserve to be heard in every classroom, and this competition is helping make that possible," she said.
Looking ahead
Ivey Publishing will open submissions for the next IWIL Case Writing Competition on International Women’s Day in March 2026. Full details on submission guidelines and timelines will be shared closer to the launch.
Educators can follow Ivey Publishing on LinkedIn or create a free educator account for updates and access to new teaching materials.
Related Articles
