The 5th Ács Antal Case Study Competition was held in Debrecen on 15–16 May 2025. The Lánchíd Advisory team from Corvinus University of Budapest secured the gold medal for the fifth time, further solidifying Corvinus’s position as the defending champions.  

The event, traditionally organized by the Faculty of Economics at the University of Debrecen, gathered ten teams this year—including two teams from Romanian universities and one from Slovakia—while seven Hungarian higher education institutions represented domestic education. The Budapest Corvinus University team, Lánchíd Advisory, stood out once again by winning the gold medal and defending the university’s title for the fifth time. 

The Corvinus team members—Bence Gál, Adrián Nagy, Lilla Novák, and Kíra Szabó—began their joint preparation in the Strategic International Management master course, where they deepened their strategic thinking through real business cases. An essential part of their preparation was a targeted workshop led by Zoltán Stokinger, the team’s advisor. The program focused on management and financial aspects of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which proved crucial for solving the competition’s case. 

This year’s case was provided by Deufol Hungary Ltd., a domestic mid-sized company undergoing organizational transformation to ensure sustainable growth. The task for the teams was to develop a transformation strategy that would not only structurally prepare the company for growth but also ensure proper training and competency development of its employees. 

“For me, the case was special because, alongside strategic direction, it also involved organizational structural transformation, ” emphasized Adrián Nagy,  adding that the complexity of the challenge required comprehensive knowledge from the team. 

Every team member delivered an outstanding performance, greatly aided by the preparatory workshop held before the competition. “Thanks to Zoli’s workshop, it was easy to handle the online Q&A session with the case-providing organization, as he had previously given tips about what keeps SME managers awake at night,” noted Bence Gál, highlighting the importance of practical insights for their success. 

For Kíra Szabó, the greatest value was gaining insight into a new field: “We had a unique opportunity to look into an industry we don’t encounter every day.” 

The competition was not only a professional challenge but also a personal experience for the team members. “This was my first competition officially representing Corvinus University, which was a huge experience and honor for me, ” said Lilla Novák, who added, “During the competition, I not only developed professionally a lot but also became part of a truly inspiring and supportive community. The organizers were very kind, and it was a pleasure to discover Debrecen.” 

The additional gold medal for Lánchíd Advisory is not only a testament to their performance at the competition but also a tribute to the high-quality education at Corvinus University and the team members’ dedication and collaboration. Special thanks go to Zoltán Stokinger for preparing the team. It is also important to acknowledge the other Case Track instructors, Dr. Miklós Stocker and Balázs Fejes, who supported the team within the SIM course framework. 

This year’s title defense is further proof that the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical preparation enables outstanding results—for the fifth time now.