Vietnamese team finishes as runner-up at Harvard Crimson Global Case Competition 2025

The competition attracted over 4,300 participants from 1,300 teams representing countries and territories across the globe.

The Vietnamese team included Nguyen Phuong Anh from Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Lan Anh from the High School for the Gifted under Vietnam National University–Ho Chi Minh City, Do Bao Tram from Vinschool The Harmony in Hanoi, and Dang Man Chi from the Foreign Language Specialized High School in Hanoi.

Team CAPT finished behind Powerpoint Rangers from the North America region, while Nova Mindset, representing Europe, Russia and Central Asia, took the third place, according to the competition’s official website.

The team’s name, CAPT, comes from the initials of its members’ first names and also evokes the word ‘captain,’ symbolizing initiative, responsibility, and leadership in collaborative work, according to Giao Duc & Thoi Dai (Education & Times) newspaper.

The contest unfolded in multiple stages. In the opening round, teams submitted strategic proposals based on a practical business case.

Successful teams advanced to regional rounds, delivering video presentations, before the top 10 were selected for the global finals.

This year’s final case focused on Boeing, a leading U.S. aerospace and aviation company, and challenged teams to address issues of innovation, competition, sustainability, and market expansion strategies.

Finalists presented their solutions to an international panel of judges and participated in live question-and-answer sessions, defending their arguments and responding to expert critiques in specialized business English.

Organizers praised the Vietnamese team’s submission for its clear problem framing, logical analysis, and solutions closely aligned with real-world business contexts.

Judges highlighted the team’s strong grasp of market dynamics, persuasive reasoning, and presentation skills that met global evaluation standards.

A Team CAPT representative said the students coordinated entirely online, working from different cities to analyze the case, develop strategies, and rehearse presentations.

For its achievement, the Vietnamese team received a US$1,000 cash prize along with training and skills development courses valued at $1,500, according to Giao Duc & Thoi Dai.

The Harvard Crimson, an independent student-run newspaper at Harvard University, launched the virtual competition, which is held annually to challenge high school students to solve real-world business problems.

Beyond journalism, The Harvard Crimson, founded in 1873, organizes a range of academic programs and competitions worldwide, including the aforementioned competition, offering young participants exposure to practical challenges in business, economics, and management.