Harvard Case Study Sparks Global Dialogue in Istanbul Classroom

In a groundbreaking international collaboration, students from Ihsan Schools in Istanbul took part in a live Harvard Business School case study in Spring 2024, marking the first time an HBS case was taught to high school students outside the United States. A new case was introduced this Spring 2025 in Istanbul.

Cases in the High School Classroom is one of the initiatives of Chicago's Mentoring Mission (www.mentoringmission.org), which seeks to stretch the horizons of high school students as they consider their own capabilities and future careers. Cases have been done at Chicago's Whitney Young High School and at high schools in Wisconsin, New Jersey, California, North Carolina and soon South Carolina.

The case study done in Istanbul in 2024-Nike Global Sourcing and Labor Practices - was led by Harvard Business School alum and veteran case presenter Rita Koselka ('90), with support from Mentoring Mission's Carol Valentino-Barry and the enthusiastic participation of Ihsan teachers and administrators. The experience bridged continents as students engaged in critical discussion and debate, with Harvard Professor Nien-he Hsieh joining via Zoom to discuss the complexities of case writing and ethical decision-making in global business.

Professor Hsieh, who authored the case, shared, “I was especially eager to have high-school students engage with the case. Their engagement validated writing of the case.”

The session was designed to mirror the famed HBS Socratic method, challenging students to weigh business strategy against ethical responsibility. The results were extraordinary.

“I loved coming up with points that may have been unique in perspective,” one student remarked. “I enjoyed learning from others' insights and the journey the instructors facilitated.”

Hami Saka, Economics teacher at Ihsan Schools, emphasized the impact of the real-world exercise: “The case sparked lively discussions and brought to life the complexities of international business in a way textbooks simply cannot. It reaffirmed my belief in the power of hands-on learning.”

David Miles, Chief Schools Officer of Premiera Education Group, noted, “The level of collaboration and exchange of ideas was beyond expectation. This partnership is paving the way for continued innovation in education.”

In May 2025, Rita Koselka returned to Istanbul with Mentoring Mission to guide students through a case study on Allbirds: Can the Sustainable Shoe Company Reinvigorate the Brand? Her facilitation, in Socratic style, helped students wrestle with questions of branding, sustainability, and innovation.

Students—some engaging with this kind of dialogue for the first time—rose quickly to the challenge. One remarked, “It felt like I was being invited into a conversation that usually happens far away from people like me.” The session not only deepened their understanding of global business strategy, but also gave them a sense of belonging in conversations that shape the future.

Following the success of the first spring session, the team reconvened with teachers and school leaders in August to launch the “One Case Initiative,” with plans underway for a new case to be introduced in late May 2025. A virtual session this summer is being planned with Harvard professors and the original case protagonist, further enriching this global education exchange.

For more information about Cases in the High School Classroom and Mentoring Mission, visit www.mentoringmission.org