You Asked, We Answered
Watch some of the questions asked by authors about the IWIL Case Writing Competition 2026.
Get insights on:
- Case eligibility and scope
- Content and focus including decision points and protagonist selection
- Teaching note requirements
- Authorship guidelines
- Expert tips for creating impactful, inclusive cases on female leadership
Case Eligibility & Scope
Q: Does the case have to be based on a female leader working in a multinational company (MNC)? A: No. Cases can feature women leaders across any industry, sector, geography, or company size. MNCs are welcome, but so are startups, MSMEs, and other organizations.
Q: Can we write a perspective-based / narrative case? A: Generally, no, unless it is an experience-based case, meaning you work in the industry, are also teaching, and are sharing something currently happening (or that just happened) in your workplace.
Q: Can we write field-based cases on leaders running startups or MSMEs in India? A: Yes. Field-based cases on entrepreneurs and small/medium enterprises are very welcome from India, Canada, the U.S., Europe, or anywhere else. Just ensure your signed consent form is submitted along with the case.
Q: Would a case on an athlete's transition to entrepreneurship be eligible, even if the venture struggled? A: Absolutely. Cases don't need to be "good news" stories, they need tension and a decision point for students to engage with.
Q: Are you primarily seeking cases with successful business outcomes? A: No. What matters is whether the case creates tension, discussion, and decision-making in the classroom, and whether it meets clear learning objectives. If your story is currently at a "successful" moment, consider rewinding the timeline to a point where the outcome was uncertain.
Q: Can a case on a collective women's enterprise be submitted? A: Yes. Just be mindful of your decision point, cases should have one clear decision point, which can get tricky with collective protagonists.
Q: Is a live case (e.g., video-based) acceptable? A: Yes, video-recorded/live cases can be submitted.
Q: Do you accept both field-based cases and cases supported by published sources? A: Yes, both formats are accepted. Field-based cases require a signed consent form at submission.
Content & Focus
Q: Should we focus on one issue or multiple issues faced by the woman leader? A: One decision point per case. That decision can be approached from multiple angles through your learning objectives and analysis. If the protagonist moves from one decision to the next, that becomes a separate case (with its own teaching note). Multiple cases on the same protagonist/topic/industry are welcome.
Q: Can the case outcome be finance-focused, with women pivotal in decision-making? A: Absolutely, and encouraged. Finance is underrepresented in cases featuring women, and the protagonist does not need to be a CFO.
Q: Can you share sample cases? A: Yes, last year's winning cases and teaching notes are the best place to start. Register for a free educator account to access them.
Click hear to review the case and teaching notes of the 2025 IWIL Case Writing Competition winners.
Teaching Note & Submission Requirements
Q: Is a teaching note required at the time of submission? A: Yes. Submissions without a teaching note cannot be considered.
Q: Is there a page limit for the teaching note? A: No. Include the full richness: learning objectives, discussion questions, analysis, classroom-test outcomes, tools/resources used, and any unexpected discussion themes. A teaching note template is available on the website.
Case Writing with Women Protagonists Webinar
Explore how case writers can more critically and effectively represent women protagonists and strengthen classroom impact.
In this session, join Karen MacMillan and Janice Byrne as they share practical case writing experience with a research-informed perspective to explore how case writers can more critically and effectively represent women’s leadership in business cases.
The panelists will discuss some of the challenges and choices that case writers face and highlight potential narrative ‘flaws’ to keep in mind alongside teaching approaches and classroom strategies.
About the Competition
Ivey Publishing, in collaboration with Ivey Women Investing in Leadership (IWIL), is launching the second year of the Ivey Women Investing in Leadership Case Writing Competition, celebrating outstanding case writing that highlights women in leadership. After a successful first year, this initiative will continue to recognize and promote high-quality cases that feature female protagonists, such as founders, senior managers, NGO and industry leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, or focus on leadership issues impacting women in business.
As a global leader in case publishing, Ivey Publishing reaches 168 countries and is committed to advancing the case method in business education. Partnering with IWIL, a women-led initiative at Ivey Business School dedicated to investing in the next generation of women leaders, this competition aligns with both organizations’ missions to foster responsible leadership and inclusive business practices.
Through this competition, Ivey Publishing and IWIL aim to encourage diverse storytelling in business education, ensuring that more cases reflect the experiences of women leaders and entrepreneurs. Winning cases will be widely disseminated through Ivey Publishing’s global network, helping shape meaningful discussions in classrooms worldwide.
By recognizing impactful case writing, the Ivey Women Investing in Leadership Case Writing Competition will contribute to a more inclusive and representative future for leadership education.
RELEVANT DATES
- Case Submissions Open: May 6, 2026
- Case Submissions Close: July 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time)
- Winners will be announced on October 13, 2026
AWARD AMOUNTS
Up to five awards:
- 1st place - $2,500
- 2nd place - $2,000
- 3rd place - $1,500
- 4th & 5th place - $750 each
Submission Criteria
There are three items required in the submission packets:
A Case Study
• Cases must be designed for business and management education and should feature a female protagonist and/or focus on a female leader.
• Multi-disciplinary case submissions are welcome if relevant.
• Cases must be field-based or supported by published sources.
• Case studies must not exceed 8 pages of body text, and no more than 15 pages in total, including supplemental documentation and other appendices.
• Non-traditional case studies are welcome, including video cases, simulations, or other novel pedagogical materials.
• Financial exhibits should include usable and editable .xls or .xlsx files.
A Teaching Note That Includes the Following:
• An introduction to the program on which the case is used and to the background of students who will use the case, pedagogical objectives and underpinnings of the case, questions for class discussion, and any other comments that might be of assistance.
• Quality submissions will make explicit reference to good pedagogy and the processes underpinning the educator and classroom experiences.
• The female leadership issue pertinent to the case study and the learning outcomes.
Submission Form
• Author and organization details.
• All required documentation.
Other Criteria Include:
• Copyright: The work must be original and unpublished.
• Language: Written in English
CAVEATS
Case competitions and awards have many working parts and actors. It is important that all parties communicate and collaborate with the ambition of elevating female leadership and high-quality teaching. The award will benefit from repeatable steps and a durable foundation of committed actors.
To ensure case publication goals, prizes will only be awarded to winners at the time of official submission for publication.
Learn more about the competition: Ivey Publishing and IWIL Celebrate Women in Leadership with New Case Writing Competition
2025 Winners and Past Webinars
Explore the 2025 IWIL Case Writing Competition winners and gain insights from the authors behind the cases.
Watch past webinars below to explore inclusive case writing and its role in shaping more equitable business education.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Ivey Women Investing in Leadership Case Writing Competition award is funded by Ivey alumni Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, HBA ‘92, member of IWIL. Authors will have their winning cases edited and published through Ivey Publishing’s process.