John Mullins named Outstanding Case Teacher 2026

Dr John Mullins, Associate Professor of Management Practice at London Business School, has been named Outstanding Case Teacher 2026 by The Case Centre, the global authority on case method teaching. The award recognises his exceptional contribution to case-based learning and his sustained impact on students across MBA and executive education programmes.

Now in its 13th year, the international Outstanding Case Teacher award celebrates educators who bring the case method to life through innovative, rigorous and engaging classroom practice. The annual winner is announced as part of the global #WorldCaseTeachingDay celebrations, marking excellence in experiential learning worldwide.

John was recognised for a distinctive teaching approach that places application at the heart of learning. A committed case teacher and prolific case writer, he uses cases not to illustrate theory but to compel participants to apply it, often under conditions of uncertainty, constraint and incomplete information. His classrooms are designed around decision-making, debate and judgement, reflecting his belief that the deepest learning comes not from passive absorption, but from doing.

Teaching primarily in entrepreneurship, John is known for designing original A-B-C cases that unfold over time, mirroring the reality of entrepreneurial journeys. These cases deliberately incorporate ambiguity, reversals and consequential forks in the road, requiring participants to commit to decisions before outcomes are known. By resisting mini-lectures and setting high expectations for preparation, he creates classrooms that are intensely interactive, intellectually demanding and consistently described by participants as memorable and transformative.

A defining feature of John’s practice is the way he brings the real world directly into the classroom. Through close relationships with case protagonists, who often join teaching sessions anonymously before revealing themselves later, he adds authenticity and immediacy to discussion. Combined with careful case design, rigorous facilitation and disciplined use of supporting materials, this approach has delivered exceptional outcomes over more than two decades, including outstanding student evaluations, consistently full programmes and waiting lists across executive education.

The reach of John’s teaching extends well beyond the physical classroom. His ideas on entrepreneurial decision-making and disciplined growth have influenced learners globally, reflecting a rare ability to translate rigorous thinking into practical frameworks that resonate across cultures, contexts and career stages.

Reflecting on the award, John said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this very meaningful award. I owe huge thanks to the legendary Stanford Graduate School of Business finance professor James Van Horne, who so many years ago showed me the value of case teaching and case learning. When I left my career in the business world to enter academia, I vowed to put teaching first and to ‘teach like Jim Van Horne’. It seems to have worked out pretty well.”

Vicky Lester, Chief Executive Officer of The Case Centre and chair of the judging panel, commented: “John is an inspirational case teacher who demonstrates world-class facilitation and a deep, long-lasting impact on learners across a wide range of audiences. His innovative, well-organised approach prioritises ‘theory applied’ over ‘theory explained’, enabling rich learning experiences and exceptional classroom engagement. Watching him teach a case was both a privilege and a joy.”

John Mullins is one of the world’s foremost thought leaders in entrepreneurship. He brings more than 20 years of executive experience in high-growth retailing firms to his teaching and research. Since becoming an entrepreneurship professor in 1992, he has published four trade books, more than 50 cases and over 50 articles, with research that has won national and international awards. He is a frequent speaker and educator for audiences in entrepreneurship and venture capital worldwide, known for combining intellectual rigour with practical relevance.

The Case Centre is an independent, not-for-profit organisation and registered charity dedicated to advancing the case method globally, supporting educators and institutions in transforming business education.

To mark the award, John will lead a free public webinar on 21 May 2026, from 15.00–16.00 (BST), titled Inside the Case Classroom: Insights from an Award-winning Teacher. Led by John Mullins, the session will offer participants the opportunity to hear directly from an award-winning educator and to pick up practical ideas that can be applied in their own case classrooms. Places are free but booking is required via www.thecasecentre.org/WebinarCaseTeaching.

John’s impact as an educator also continues to grow at global scale through his digital teaching. His Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), a free, web-based and widely accessible programme designed to reach large and diverse learner communities worldwide, has recently reached a milestone of 90,000 learners. The course offers university-level learning through video lectures, applied exercises and peer interaction, further extending John’s commitment to rigorous, practice-oriented education well beyond the classroom.

John is also a highly regarded author whose work has shaped contemporary thinking in entrepreneurship and venture creation. He has written several influential books that challenge conventional wisdom and emphasise disciplined, evidence-based decision-making, including Break the Rules!: The Six Counter-Conventional Mindsets of Entrepreneurs That Can Help Anyone Change the World, The New Business Road Test, The Customer-Funded Business and Getting to Plan B. Widely adopted by entrepreneurs, investors and educators around the world, his books are known for their clarity, practical insight and rigorous application of theory to real-world business challenges.