Latin America

Mexico City, Montevideo, São Paulo

HBS has had a longstanding footprint in Latin America for over 20 years. The Latin America Research Center (LARC) opened in 2000 to satisfy strong interest on the part of the HBS faculty in this dynamic region. As a result, the LARC’s work has greatly increased the volume of in-depth research and course materials that focus on business management issues specific to Latin American companies. This has also enabled HBS to strengthen its relationships with important companies and organizations, fostering increased student engagement in the region. Since its inception, the LARC has supported HBS faculty in developing most of the HBS research cases and projects on management and economic issues in Latin America. To further encourage research being carried out in this region, HBS established a research center in São Paulo, Brazil, coupled with an office in Mexico City.

Locations

Latin America Research Center: Montevideo
Av. Italia 6201
Edificio Los Robles, Planta Baja
Parque Tecnológico del LATU
11500, Montevideo
Uruguay

Latin America Research Center: Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico

Latin America Research Center: São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
Tel: +55 11 3549 9590

News & Highlights

APRIL 2024
ALUMNI EVENT

Alumni Event with HBS Monterrey Club

In April, Professor Christina Wing delivered a presentation on “Difficult Conversations” to the HBS Monterrey Club, accompanied by a gathering of local alumni and community members. Professor Wing, renowned for her expertise in family business, facilitated a dynamic discussion with the group. The conversation centered on cultivating trust and rapport in challenging scenarios, mastering effective communication with various stakeholders, fostering empathy, and transforming conflict into constructive dialogue. Attendees were encouraged to contemplate the timing, method, and significance of engaging in difficult conversations, emphasizing the value of aligning visions and seeking compromise.

November 2023
EVENT

Alumni Event with HBS Club of Brazil

LARC and the HBS Club of Brazil jointly organized an exclusive event with Professor Michael Chu in São Paulo in November. During the session "Income Inequality in our Region: A Dialog on What to Do About it," Prof. Chu engaged with alumni, leading a group discussion highlighting the importance of addressing inequality. He emphasized that it is not only a moral imperative but also crucial for fostering economic growth, social stability, and sustainable development. Prof. Chu highlighted that by addressing the root causes of inequality and promoting inclusive policies, societies can create environments where individuals have better opportunities to thrive, contributing to the well-being of the entire community.

SEPTEMBER 2023
EVENT

Nubank: Democratizing Financial Services Case Discussion

In September 2023, Professor Michael Chu taught the case Nubank: Democratizing Financial Services to a Latin American faculty group. A total of 45 professors attended the session and discussed Nubank’s expansion to Mexico, its business model, and its use of technology. To wrap up the event, Professor Chu shared his insights on how to teach a class, showing his teaching plans and objectives. Faculty from Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile enjoyed this unique interaction.

AUGUST 2023
EVENT

Professor Paul Gompers's Visit to Latin America

In August 2023, Professor Paul Gompers travelled to Latin America with the primary objective of exploring the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem. During his stay in Latin America, Professor Gompers engaged with numerous entrepreneurs, policymakers, as well as private equity and venture capital firms. His itinerary included visits to key countries in the region, such as Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mexico. Additionally, he capitalized on the opportunity to reconnect with HBS alumni and friends of LARC, visiting with the HBS Club in Brazil, the Harvard Club in Argentina, and the HBS Club in Mexico. The insights gathered during his visit will be integrated into his upcoming course and book entitled Entrepreneurship Outside the Valley.

MAY 2023
COMPANY VISIT

Professor Michael Chu Meets with Ceibal

Professors Michael Chu and John Kim co-authored a case in 2022 about Ceibal, an organization within the Ministry of Education of Uruguay, devoted to educational innovation. In May 2023, Professor Chu visited Ceibal and held a stimulating case discussion with Ceibal's management, encouraging them to pursue their mission and be a key factor to leverage the country's opportunities in the global context.

New Research on the Region

May 2024
Case

HarvEast

By: Jeremy Friedman and Natalie Kindred

In late 2023, Dmitry Skornyakov, CEO of Ukrainian agribusiness HarvEast, was navigating the turmoil caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that began in 2014 and escalated into full-scale war in February 2022. Before the full-scale invasion, HarvEast managed 127,000 hectares (ha) of farmland in Ukraine and generated about $100 million in revenue from three businesses: commodity crops, seeds, and horticulture. Due to Russia’s war and occupation, HarvEast’s land bank now totalled 32,000 ha, its horticulture business had been overtaken, and its commodity business was loss making. Compared to many Ukrainian agribusinesses, HarvEast was in an advantaged position, as the seeds business continued to perform well. Yet Skornyakov’s outlook was sobering. He expected the war, in some form, to last as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remained in power. And he expected many Ukrainian agriculture companies to approach bankruptcy within a couple years. His primary goal for HarvEast was survival until Ukraine’s victory. How could he achieve it? Should HarvEast continue investing in Ukraine? What does the future hold for agriculture in Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of Europe? What lessons does HarvEast's experience hold for agribusinesses and business leaders in other settings, given mounting uncertainty and risk in the global geopolitical landscape and food system?

March 2024
Case

Biomanufacturing Decentralization by Stämm

By: Paul A. Gompers, Jenyfeer Martínez Buitrago and Mariana Cal

Stämm, a startup based on decentralizing biomanufacturing processes, is transitioning to product launch. The founders face key challenges to craft the startup’s business model and growth strategy, as well as to choose the optimal model for scaling their technological platform.

March 2024
Case

Doing Business in São Paulo, Brazil

By: Laura Alfaro, Hise O. Gibson, Leonard A. Schlesinger and Pedro Levindo

The case gives readers an overview of key factors of doing business in Brazil, including Brazil’s economic transformation since its colonial years until 2023, when leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was sworn in for his third term, after the most polarized elections in the country’s recent history and having to deal with an attack against government buildings in Brasília. The case’s ultimate goal is to foster a discussion about how political and economic uncertainty impacts consumer behavior and companies operating in Brazil. For that, it summarizes the key obstacles faced by these businesses, such as the country’s logistical bottlenecks, complex bureaucracy and arcane tax system. At the same time, the case sheds light on the sectors that are thriving despite these difficulties and on some valuable opportunities offered by Brazil’s huge consumer market and diversified economy.

See more research