At The Case Centre, in 2023, 72% of our team are women. We are committed to increasing the diversity represented in cases created and used by the case community, and to celebrate International Women's Day we are pleased to share details of the award-winning cases since 2017 that feature a female protagonist.
Discover the cases
An Ivey Publishing case by John Valaro and Nicole Amos, Johnson & Wales University
Protagonist: Alice Moore, Senior Data Associate at a global technology firm.
Topics: Maternity leave; Career management; Remote work; Compensation; Benefits; Discrimination; Employment; Law; Human resource management; Equal employment; PDA; FLMA; Organizational behaviour/leadership.
Topics: Maternity leave; Career management; Remote work; Compensation; Benefits; Discrimination; Employment; Law; Human resource management; Equal employment; PDA; FLMA; Organizational behaviour/leadership.
Vanina Farber and Shih-Han Huang, International Institute for Management and Development (IMD)
Protagonist: Lesley Silverthorn Marincola, CEO and founder of Angaza.
Topics: Sustainability; Social innovation; Pivoting; Entrepreneurship; Payment system; Energy; Poverty; Solar energy; Silicon Valley; Software as a service; Diverse protagonist; Quality education; Affordable energy; Clean energy; Climate action.
Topics: Sustainability; Social innovation; Pivoting; Entrepreneurship; Payment system; Energy; Poverty; Solar energy; Silicon Valley; Software as a service; Diverse protagonist; Quality education; Affordable energy; Clean energy; Climate action.
Syeda Maseeha Quemer and Debapratim Purkaysatha, ICFAI Business School
Vijaya Narapareddy Zinnoury, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver
Vijaya Narapareddy Zinnoury, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver
Protagonist: Nina, Senior Correspondent at Tehelka.
Topics: Ethics; Giving voice to values; Sexual harassment; Perpetrators' resources and strategies in sexual offending; Leadership; Organizational behavior; Corporate governance; Cross-cultural research; Hofstede; Values conflict; Problem solving; Trauma research.
Topics: Ethics; Giving voice to values; Sexual harassment; Perpetrators' resources and strategies in sexual offending; Leadership; Organizational behavior; Corporate governance; Cross-cultural research; Hofstede; Values conflict; Problem solving; Trauma research.
Elie Ofek and Eric E Vogt, Harvard Business School
Protagonist: Corinne Mentzelopoulos, owner of Château Margaux.
Topics: Cause marketing; Food assistance; Global corporate cultures; Management; Social security; Incubators; Cross functional management; Organizational culture; Agricultural cooperatives; Marketing; Distribution; Marketing strategy; Product introduction; New product marketing; Brand management.
Topics: Cause marketing; Food assistance; Global corporate cultures; Management; Social security; Incubators; Cross functional management; Organizational culture; Agricultural cooperatives; Marketing; Distribution; Marketing strategy; Product introduction; New product marketing; Brand management.
An Ivey Publishing case by Christoph Grimpe and Nathan Rietzler, Copenhagen Business School
Protagonists: Tove Hejbøl Lindquist, Process Excellence Director and Stine Schlichtkrull Toft, Strategy Transformation Partner at Copenhagen Airports A/S.
Topics: Advertising; Innovation strategy; Platform business model; Sources of innovation; Entrepreneurship; General management.
Topics: Advertising; Innovation strategy; Platform business model; Sources of innovation; Entrepreneurship; General management.
An Ivey Publishing case by Atri Sengupta, Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur and Manoj Kalra and Dinesh K Murugesan, dsm-firmenich
Protagonist: Riya Sharma, leader of the Global Service Centre of Group Business Services (GBS), the shared services division for multinational giant Royal DSM.
Topics: COVID-19; Compulsory remote working; Employee engagement; Employee performance; Work-life conflict; Work-life integration; Organisational behaviour/leadership.
Topics: COVID-19; Compulsory remote working; Employee engagement; Employee performance; Work-life conflict; Work-life integration; Organisational behaviour/leadership.
Nien-hê Hsieh, Michael W Toffel and Olivia Hull, Harvard Business School
Protagonist: Amanda Tucker, Vice President of Sourcing at Nike.
Topics: Accountability; Business ethics; Collaborative innovation; Compliance management; Corporate governance; Corporate social responsibility; General management; Globalization; Human capital; Innovation; Inventions; Labor; Labor relations; Operations; Organizational change.
Topics: Accountability; Business ethics; Collaborative innovation; Compliance management; Corporate governance; Corporate social responsibility; General management; Globalization; Human capital; Innovation; Inventions; Labor; Labor relations; Operations; Organizational change.
Patricia Lui and Lipika Bhattacharya, Singapore Management University
Protagonist: Evangeline Long, co-founder of Kobe.
Topics: Influencer marketing; Artificial intelligence in influencer marketing; Social media marketing; Influencer tactics; Marketing campaign; Branding.
Topics: Influencer marketing; Artificial intelligence in influencer marketing; Social media marketing; Influencer tactics; Marketing campaign; Branding.
Kai Schaumann and Simon Jeuissen, University of Münster
Protagonist: Lara von Petersdorff-Campen, Co-founder of Lytt.
Topics: Entrepreneurship; Platform; Corona; Digital assistant; Speak up; Start-up; General management/strategy.
Topics: Entrepreneurship; Platform; Corona; Digital assistant; Speak up; Start-up; General management/strategy.
Zoe Kinias, INSEAD
Felicia A Henderson, Henderson Advertising
Felicia A Henderson, Henderson Advertising
Protagonist: Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, Mirvac Group CEO.
Topics: Change management; Diversity; Leadership; Organizational change; Organizational culture; Diversity, equity & inclusion; Flexible work; Psychological safety; Women; Women executives; Gender; Work force management; Alternative work arrangements; Top management and change; Leadership style.
Topics: Change management; Diversity; Leadership; Organizational change; Organizational culture; Diversity, equity & inclusion; Flexible work; Psychological safety; Women; Women executives; Gender; Work force management; Alternative work arrangements; Top management and change; Leadership style.
Matthew Sooy, Lauren Iuliani and W. Spencer Ashby, Ivey Business School
Protagonist: Nora Lang, a newly hired consultant at Financial Technology Services.
Topics: Pay equity; Organizational behaviour/leadership; International.
Topics: Pay equity; Organizational behaviour/leadership; International.
David Dubois and Katrina Bens, INSEAD
Protagonist: Marie Gulin, VP of Global Integrated Communications at L'Oréal Paris.
Topics: Social media; Listening strategy; New product development; Consumer trends; Strategic marketing; Online trends; Google; YouTube; Big data; Advocacy marketing; Social media strategy; Marketing research; Fashion trends; Community strategy; Search engine.
Topics: Social media; Listening strategy; New product development; Consumer trends; Strategic marketing; Online trends; Google; YouTube; Big data; Advocacy marketing; Social media strategy; Marketing research; Fashion trends; Community strategy; Search engine.
Denis Gromb, HEC Paris
Alberta Di Giuli, ESCP Business School
Alberta Di Giuli, ESCP Business School
Protagonist: Maria Miuccia, Head of Design at Prada.
Topics: IPO (initial public offering).
Topics: IPO (initial public offering).
Rodolphe Durand, HEC Paris
Protagonist: Ana Goode, Chief Purpose Officer at BestBuy.
Topics: Leadership; Purposeful leadership; Strategy; Collaboration; Inclusive leadership; Human-centered leadership; Servant leader; Employee engagement; Digital transformation of retail; Omnichannel retail; Organizational change; How to compete with Amazon; Management.
Topics: Leadership; Purposeful leadership; Strategy; Collaboration; Inclusive leadership; Human-centered leadership; Servant leader; Employee engagement; Digital transformation of retail; Omnichannel retail; Organizational change; How to compete with Amazon; Management.
Adam Smale, University of Vaasa
Ingmar Björkman and Johanna Saarinen, Aalto University School of Business
Ingmar Björkman and Johanna Saarinen, Aalto University School of Business
Protagonist: Kerttu Tuomas, Vice President Human Resources at KONE.
Topics: Talent management; Human resource management; Strategy; Multinational corporation; China; International management; Digitilisation; Leadership development.
Topics: Talent management; Human resource management; Strategy; Multinational corporation; China; International management; Digitilisation; Leadership development.
Fabien Pecot, The York Management School
Virginie de Barnier, IAE Aix-Marseille Graduate School of Management
Virginie de Barnier, IAE Aix-Marseille Graduate School of Management
Protagonist: Laurence Clavier, Marketing Manager at Le Roy René.
Topics: Brand heritage; Communication; Brand anniversary; Brand management; Authenticity; Confectionary; Export.
Topics: Brand heritage; Communication; Brand anniversary; Brand management; Authenticity; Confectionary; Export.
Karen Harlos, University of Winnipeg, and Lucas Monzani and Alison Konrad, Ivey Business School
Protagonist: Dawn Meyers, nursing union representative.
Topics: Workplace harassment; Toxic work environment; Sexual harassment; Organizational behaviour/leadership; International.
Topics: Workplace harassment; Toxic work environment; Sexual harassment; Organizational behaviour/leadership; International.
Steven Sweldens, Stefano Puntoni, Niela Kleinsmith and Tao Yue, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
Matthieu Campion, TomTom
Matthieu Campion, TomTom
Protagonist:Corinne Vigreux, co-founder of TomTom Automotive.
Topics: Marketing, branding, innovation; Disruption; Technology; Automotive; Navigation; B2B; Google; Self-driving cars; Autonomous driving.
Topics: Marketing, branding, innovation; Disruption; Technology; Automotive; Navigation; B2B; Google; Self-driving cars; Autonomous driving.
Michelle Mielly and Naida Culshaw, Grenoble Ecole de Management
Protagonist: Catherine, studying for her MBA.
Topics: Cross-cultural conflict; Cross-cultural behavior; Intercultural / cross-cultural management; Intercultural HR management; Intercultural sensitivity; Organizational behavior analysis; Organizational behavior case study on attitudes; Cross-cultural psychology; Emotional intelligence; Emotion regulation and expression; Leadership & organizational behavior; Human resource management.
Topics: Cross-cultural conflict; Cross-cultural behavior; Intercultural / cross-cultural management; Intercultural HR management; Intercultural sensitivity; Organizational behavior analysis; Organizational behavior case study on attitudes; Cross-cultural psychology; Emotional intelligence; Emotion regulation and expression; Leadership & organizational behavior; Human resource management.
Laurel C. Austin, Copenhagen Business School
Protagonist: Marye Anne Fox, Chancellor of the University of California at San Diego.
Topics: Decision making; Cognitive biases; Representativeness heuristic; Risk management; Organizational communication; General management; Human resource management (HRM); Intuitive statistics; Crisis management; Health policy; Negotiation; Evidence based management; Health and safety.
Topics: Decision making; Cognitive biases; Representativeness heuristic; Risk management; Organizational communication; General management; Human resource management (HRM); Intuitive statistics; Crisis management; Health policy; Negotiation; Evidence based management; Health and safety.
Marco Di Maggio, Benjamin C Esty and Greg Saldutte, Harvard Business School
Protagonist: Elizabeth Kemp, Portfolio Manager at Sand Hill Road Capital.
Topics: Advertising; Analytics; Cash flow; Conflicts of interest; Corporate governance; Finance; Forecasting; Going public; Investment banking; IPO; Profitability; Social networks; Start-ups; Start-up; Technology.
Topics: Advertising; Analytics; Cash flow; Conflicts of interest; Corporate governance; Finance; Forecasting; Going public; Investment banking; IPO; Profitability; Social networks; Start-ups; Start-up; Technology.
Other resources on the topic
- The gender case gap - exploring the lack of women in teaching cases, its impact on business students and the challenge posed for educators.
- The case of the missing woman - Lesley Symons reveals the true extent of gender imbalance in cases.
- The Case for Women - promoting women’s leadership and presence in business and at business schools.
- The Case Compendium from The Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership (EGAL) at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, includes two sets of cases: those with a diverse protagonist, and those with a DEI focus.
