Team Green Threads, consisting of IBDP Year 1 students Anwita Sethi, Kiana Kamdaar, Kritika Tripathy, and Anaya Shabi from GIIS SMART Campus, has added another milestone to their impressive journey, clinching third place at the prestigious Hult Future Leaders Challenge 2024.

Organised by Hult International Business School in collaboration with luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, the challenge marked the team’s fourth significant achievement, building on their successes in the Young Technopreneur Challenge 2023, the Cambridge IGCSE Learner's Award for Action on Climate Change 2023, and Global Excellence Day 2024.

The challenge tasked students with designing a beauty product tailored for Generation Z, with a particular focus on perfumes or fragrances. Team Green Threads rose to the occasion, showcasing innovation, teamwork, and a keen understanding of business concepts as they developed their product, Ardour, a fragrance reflecting creativity and market appeal.

Throughout the 11-week competition, the team received invaluable guidance through masterclasses conducted by Hult professors Liliana Caimacan and Daniel Rukare, where they gained insights into customer analysis, business strategies, and marketing techniques. They also benefited from mentorship by Valentina Papa from Dolce & Gabbana, which further sharpened their approach to product development.

The team began their journey with extensive market research. By gathering data from peers, analysing popular scents, and identifying key customer personas, they developed a comprehensive foundation for their product. Leveraging tools like AI and Canva, the team created a prototype of their fragrance for their initial submission, securing a well-deserved spot in the semi-finals.

In the semi-final round, the team delivered a concise yet impactful five-minute presentation that showcased their market research, customer insights, and detailed marketing strategies. Concepts such as neuromarketing and impactful communication, learned through the masterclasses, played a pivotal role in refining their plan. Their ability to articulate their ideas under pressure earned them a place in the finals, where they competed against talented peers from across the globe.

In the finals, Team Green Threads delivered a polished 10-minute presentation to judges, including Valentina Papa. Their final pitch combined research, innovative marketing strategies, and interactive storytelling, making their concept stand out. Competing against over 200 schools, 518 teams, and 2,400 students, the team’s dedication and ingenuity earned them a proud third-place finish globally.

This achievement reflects not only the students’ hard work but also the unwavering support of their mentors and teachers. The team expressed immense gratitude to the organisers, particularly Elana Alfred from Hult, and extended special appreciation to their teacher Ms. Nidhi, whose guidance was instrumental throughout the competition.

Team Green Threads’ success at the Hult Future Leaders Challenge 2024 is a testament to their innovation, collaborative spirit, and ability to excel on a global platform. This remarkable journey highlights their growth as future leaders and innovators in the ever-evolving world of business.