Publications

Research Summary

Dissertation topic: The invisible hand and the good of communities: How institutional logics matter in local banks

How do individuals’ backgrounds and identities influence the strategies and success of newly founded ventures? In my dissertation, I explore the impact on local bank startups of their founders’ community and financial identities. Those identities have... View Details

15 Feb 2017
News

Vanguard, Trian And The Problem With 'Passive' Index Funds

Video

Adrian Gore

Adrian Gore, founder and Group Chief Executive of Discovery Limited, outlines a commitment to improving the health of their customers, which has allowed the company to continue building public trust. View Details

15 Sep 2021
Video

Okechukwu "Okey" Enelamah

Okey Enelamah, the former Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment (2015-2019) and Founder of African Capital Alliance, explains the foundations of his religious values and the importance of family. View Details

Video

Pedro Tarak

Pedro Tarak, a founder of Latin America’s Sistema B, describes how the movement was formed in 2012, including the direct inspiration from the B Corporation movement in the United... View Details

October 2002 (Revised January 2003)
Case

McDonald's Russia: Managing a Crisis

By: Youngme E. Moon and Kerry Herman

In August 1998, George Cohon, founder and senior chairman of McDonald's Russia, is facing an economic state of emergency. Russia is in the midst of a severe currency crisis--the ruble has plummeted in value, creating massive inflation and widespread economic disarray.... View Details

Keywords: Currency; Crisis Management; Brands and Branding; Retail Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Russia

February 2018 (Revised August 2023)
Case

Nykaa.com: A Passion for Beauty

By: Paul Gompers, Anjali Raina and Rachna Chawla

Being an entrepreneur was a childhood dream for Falguni Nayar. The opportunity to build Nykaa.com, a woman-centered business, with a multi-brand retail format in the beauty and wellness space, and the fact that she was doing it with her daughter Adwaita (HBS MBA 2013)... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Leadership; Organizational Culture; Information Technology; Human Resources; Brands and Branding; Operations; Marketing; Decision Making

August 2011 (Revised November 2015)
Case

CFW Clinics in Kenya: To Profit or Not for Profit

By: V. Kasturi Rangan and Katharine Lee

Ten years after having launched a chain of non-profit health clinics, its founder is now debating the merits of scaling the operation by converting to a for-profit enterprise. View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Business Model; Social Enterprise; Nonprofit Organizations; Transformation; For-Profit Firms; Health Industry; Kenya

February 2024
Case

Horizon Quantum Computing

By: Paul A. Gompers and Billy Chan

In 2023, the Singapore-based startup company Horizon Quantum Computing was on the cusp of fast expansion and the founder faced the challenge to decide where to open the second office outside Singapore. To make a choice from the list of 10 countries, the founder had to... View Details

Keywords: Business Plan; Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial Finance; Disruptive Innovation; Business Offices; Business Startups; Talent and Talent Management; Decision Choices and Conditions; Partners and Partnerships; Expansion; Information Technology Industry; Telecommunications Industry; Singapore; Asia

15 Jan 2020
Video

Suresh Krishna

Suresh Krishna, founder of the largest manufacturer of industrial fasteners for the auto industry in India, explains how his company has maintained positive industrial relations by cultivating open... View Details

16 Feb 2022
Video

Seema Aziz

Seema Aziz, founder of Sefam, the first high quality fabric manufacturer in Pakistan, describes the beginning of her company's commitment to creating high-quality, 100% cotton cloth, with excellent dyes and... View Details

August 2001 (Revised January 2002)
Case

Votia Empowerment AB (A)

The founder of a Swedish company specializing in e-democracy examines the economics of her business and the value proposition it delivers to customers, including municipalities, unions, and companies. View Details

Keywords: Internet and the Web; Communication; Entrepreneurship; Government and Politics; Sweden

Find at Harvard

27 Feb 2014
News

Resolving the Armed Standoff in Ukraine's Crimea

27 Nov 2018
News

The Gig Mindset: Making The Culture Shift

Video

Adenike Ogunlesi

Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder and Chief Responsibility Officer of Ruff 'n' Tumble, underscores the importance of values, principles, and self-mastery in order to become a responsible leader in business. View Details

February 2010
Case

Go Mobile: The Phirbol Franchise

By: Rajiv Lal and Natalie Kindred

To grow Phirbol, a telecom retail franchise chain in Delhi, India's underdeveloped markets, its founders were exploring ways to offer more value to the franchisees. In mid-2009, the Phirbol franchise was comprised of some 150 franchisees that had converted their small... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Business Startups; Innovation and Management; Brands and Branding; Service Operations; Franchise Ownership; Value Creation; Telecommunications Industry; Delhi