Latin America

On March 13, 2025, in Mexico City, Harvard Business School’s Institute for Business in Global Society (BiGS) and the Latin America Research Center hosted a solutions-driven roundtable, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and civil society representatives to explore the role of business in addressing economic inequality in Mexico and beyond. Participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions on navigating the evolving expectations of business in society. The conversation focused on actionable measures for Latin American firms to address inequality, highlighting emerging strategies for expanding equity ownership, poverty alleviation, and fostering deeper community collaborations.

LARC hosted a breakfast in Mexico City, bringing together a diverse group of social impact entrepreneurs to engage in meaningful discussions about the unique challenges and opportunities present in the Mexican setting. This gathering provided a platform for entrepreneurs to share their insights and experiences, promoting collaboration and networking among individuals dedicated to driving positive change in their communities. In candid conversations, participants explored pressing issues such as access to funding, regulatory hurdles, and the evolving social landscape, while also identifying innovative solutions and potential partnerships. The meeting highlighted the importance of collaboration in the social impact sector and aimed to empower entrepreneurs so that they can navigate the complexities of their environment more effectively.

In October, in collaboration with the Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard (D^3), LARC hosted the "Revitalize, Reinvent, Reskill: Unlocking Workforce Productivity" event in Medellín, Colombia, which gathered 80 participants—predominantly C-suite executives from Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay. Key takeaways included the importance of employees’ continued reskilling in line with companies’ strategies, as well as emphasizing the critical role of middle managers as "champions of change" with the right incentives. Effective communication was highlighted as essential to this ongoing process, and companies were urged to begin measuring and piloting reskilling initiatives to maintain their competitiveness. Participants also identified a significant gap between corporate skill demands and academia, calling for greater collaboration between the private and public sectors with educational institutions to develop relevant curricula. Throughout this event led by Professor Raffaella Sadun, Professor Joe Fuller, and Professor Jorge Tamayo, attendees’ engagement remained strong, both in discussions and in networking opportunities. For more details in Upskilling, Reskilling and Digital Transformation, click on the following links: Reskilling in the Age of AI Designing a Successful Reskilling Model

The HBS Club of Brazil hosted a dedicated event for search funds in June 2024. Gustavo Vaz (MBA 2018), Marcos Noll Barboza (GMP), and Paulo Molinari (MBA 2020) talked about this innovative investment vehicle that enables investor groups to back entrepreneurs (searchers) looking to identify and acquire privately held companies. Searchers' primary goal is to find promising businesses—typically in the lower middle market—and take over its operational leadership.

In Latin America, female entrepreneurs are making a profound impact on economic growth and development. While much of this momentum comes from small enterprises, there are inspiring stories of women who succeed at the highest levels of business. Such is the case of Laura Catena, a graduate of Harvard University. Laura serves as the managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata, a world-renowned family-owned winery started by her great-grandfather. She also owns Luca Wines, further proving her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in Argentina's wine industry. Her journey exemplifies how women are driving innovation and prosperity across the region.