FGV publishes teaching case in Harvard Business Publishing

Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) has just published a teaching case with the FGV brand seal in the prestigious Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) database. The case, entitled "StoneCo Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: (Too) Fast and (Too) Furious?", was prepared by Professor Gilberto Sarfati , coordinator of the Professional Master's Degree in Management for Competitiveness at the São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP) and academic coordinator of the Senior Management Programs at FGV Executive Education. This achievement was made possible through the School's participation in the CBCC Teaching Case Consortium (Cladea Balas Case Consortium).

Harvard Business Publishing is one of the most renowned academic publications, recognized for its rigorous curation and dissemination of case studies used in educational institutions and global companies. Its content is used as a reference by professors, students, and professionals to illustrate business practices and strategic decisions in real-world scenarios, making it an essential resource for the training of leaders and managers.

The teaching case examines the trajectory of Brazilian fintech StoneCo , which entered the market in 2014 with a focus on payment solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In 2018, the company carried out the largest Brazilian initial public offering (IPO) on Nasdaq. However, its rapid growth encountered obstacles between 2020 and 2021, when StoneCo’s credit operations expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic. With weak financial guarantees and a volatile external environment, the company faced difficulties. The case questions whether the company’s strategy was moving too fast and explores the role of the Board of Directors in guiding this expansion.

According to Professor Sarfati, the teaching case was first discussed in 2022 at the YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) Presidents' Seminar and underwent several adjustments until it reached the necessary rigor to be accepted by the HBP. “Soon, many other cases of large Brazilian companies will be accessible to students from all over the world through FGV EAESP's participation in the CBCC consortium,” says the professor.

The inclusion of this case in the HBP database represents an important milestone for FGV, consolidating the institution as an international reference in the production of academic knowledge. Through the CBCC, which is a partner of HBP, cases about challenges faced by Ibero-American companies are gaining global prominence, being used in classrooms around the world. Furthermore, this advancement reflects FGV's growing relevance in the global academic scenario and highlights its commitment to producing studies that connect theory to business practice, now with the endorsement of one of the most respected academic institutions in the world.

To read more about the teaching case, click here .

To learn more about the CBCC consortium, click here.