STU Students Conquer Global Business World, Win Top Honors

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – January 28, 2026 – In a stunning display of strategic prowess, students from St. Thomas University (STU) have ascended to the pinnacle of a prestigious global business competition, proving that giant ambitions can spring from the vibrant campus in Miami Gardens. Two teams of senior business students earned top international honors in the Business Strategy Game (BSG), an advanced online simulation that pits the world's brightest young business minds against each other.

Team A SMIF, a group of four students from the Gus Machado College of Business, achieved a remarkable tie for first place worldwide. A second STU team, BMJ, also secured an elite position, placing 73rd overall. Both teams' performances landed them in the top 1% of a massive field of more than 10,000 teams from business schools across 30 countries, outmaneuvering competitors from larger institutions like Texas A&M University, the University of Maryland, and California State University.

The Digital Boardroom

The Business Strategy Game, marketed by McGraw-Hill Education, is far more than a simple academic exercise. It is a rigorous, capstone-level simulation widely respected in business education for its realism and complexity. The competition thrusts students into the role of executive teams managing virtual athletic footwear companies, challenging them to navigate the turbulent waters of a competitive global marketplace.

For several simulated years, the STU teams made high-stakes decisions across every facet of their companies. They managed intricate supply chains, set production volumes, and oversaw plant operations. They crafted sophisticated marketing campaigns and managed distribution to wholesale retailers across four major geographic regions: Europe-Africa, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The simulation mirrors the real-world operations of athletic footwear giants, requiring teams to balance the production of both branded and private-label products to maximize market share and profitability.

Performance was not judged on a single metric but on a balanced scorecard reflecting true corporate health. Teams were critiqued on five key indicators: earnings per share (EPS), return on equity (ROE), stock price, credit rating, and image rating. Success required not just a single brilliant move but a sustained, coherent strategy that demonstrated a deep understanding of financial principles, market dynamics, and competitive positioning.

A Giant-Sized Victory

The victory serves as a powerful testament to the university's ethos, encapsulated in its slogan, "Be Giant!" The winning teams, composed of students who all excelled in the Business Policy course taught by Professor Lloyd Mitchell, have brought that slogan to life on the world stage.

Team A SMIF, which includes members Luca Vogel, Jan Gewaltig, Tobias Mattson, and Josh Cronje, executed a strategy that propelled them to the top of the global leaderboard. Their fellow students on Team BMJ—Lucas Olivos, Constantino Rau, Dominic Shoemaker, and Gustavo Tunon—also demonstrated exceptional business acumen, earning their place among the top 100 teams globally.

Professor Mitchell lauded the students for their dedication and skill. "The A SMIF team...demonstrated an exceptional grasp of strategy, teamwork, and leadership," Mitchell remarked. He noted their meticulous approach, stating, "They paid consistent attention to all aspects of business management and worked cooperatively on the strategic and tactical decisions that placed them in a first-place finish worldwide."

This sentiment was echoed by the university's leadership. "The exceptional performance of our STU teams against not just the best American universities, but the entire world, is a concrete example of how we are achieving excellence and living up to our slogan: Be Giant!" commented David A. Armstrong, J.D., President of St. Thomas University.

The Student-Athlete Advantage

Adding another compelling layer to the victory is the background of the first-place team. All four members of Team A SMIF are student-athletes, and collectively, they speak six languages. This unique combination of athletic discipline and international diversity proved to be a winning formula.

Success in high-level athletics requires immense discipline, time management, and the ability to perform under pressure—skills that are directly transferable to the high-stakes environment of a business simulation. The teamwork and strategic thinking honed on the field and court were applied with precision in the digital boardroom. Professor Mitchell's praise for the team's exceptional teamwork and leadership underscores this connection, highlighting how the collaborative spirit essential in sports can be a powerful asset in business.

Furthermore, the team's multilingual and multicultural composition reflects the global nature of the competition itself. In a simulation that spans four international markets, the ability to think beyond a single cultural or economic perspective is a significant advantage. This inherent global competence allowed the team to develop and execute a nuanced strategy that resonated across different virtual regions, contributing significantly to their top-tier image rating and overall success.

Forging Future Leaders Through Simulation

St. Thomas University's triumph in the BSG highlights a critical trend in modern business education: the move toward immersive, experiential learning. These advanced simulations are designed to bridge the often-vast gap between academic theory and real-world practice, providing a safe yet highly competitive space for students to apply their knowledge.

By managing their own virtual companies, the students gained invaluable hands-on experience in a dynamic environment. They learned to analyze complex financial reports, interpret market data, anticipate competitor moves, and adapt their strategies in real-time. This is the kind of practical, high-impact learning that cannot be replicated through textbooks and lectures alone. Academic research supports the value of such tools, indicating that they significantly enhance students' decision-making capabilities, analytical thinking, and overall preparedness for their professional careers.

For the students of Team A SMIF and Team BMJ, this achievement is more than just a line on a resume; it is a powerful validation of their skills and a preview of their future potential. They have proven they can develop and execute a winning strategy against the best in the world, emerging from the simulation not just as students, but as seasoned decision-makers ready to lead in the global community.