This exercise takes students back to 2005, when James Cameron began developing Avatar. The exercise introduces the technological breakthrough of performance capture and virtual production developed for Avatar (2009) without detailing how these innovations changed workflows or roles. Students are asked to imagine, in 2005, what such technology might mean for the future of acting, directing, and movie production over the next 10–20 years.<br><br>The .....more

Fleet Feet Charleston, founded in 2013 by Chris and Amy Minkel, expanded from a single Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, store to four running-specialty shops. Guided by an employees-first, community-second, customers-third philosophy, it delivered expert gait analysis and local programs. Yet weekend wait times exceeded 30 minutes, lost-sale walk outs were rising, and high staff turnover threatened service consistency. Amid margin pressure from other .....more

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), which managed football in Belgium, had been recognized as a sustainability leader within European football. However, despite its commitment and structured approach, evidenced by the Because We Care sustainability strategy, challenges remained in generating public awareness, forging commercial partnerships, and measuring impact. In February 2025, the RBFA’s sustainability director and its social and environmental .....more

This case explores how Pudgy Penguins transformed from a struggling non-fungible token (NFT) project into a mainstream character brand under Luca Netz and Austin Lee. By leading with toys, memes, GIFs, and licensing before introducing blockchain elements, the brand lowered adoption barriers and built cultural relevance. Its strategy combined mass retail, community licensing, cross-chain access, and the launch of the PENGU token, positioning Pudgy .....more

The head of talent at Songtradr Inc. (Songtradr), faced a critical decision: How could momentum be sustained for Balance the Mix, an initiative addressing gender inequality in the music industry? Following two successful events, expectations were rising from both internal and external stakeholders. Meanwhile, Songtradr Talent, a new artist search platform she helped create, had the potential to reshape how brands connected with artists. With limited .....more

The founder of Shanshi Rock Climbing Gym in China faced a critical decision in July 2024. After building Chongqing’s largest indoor climbing facility through innovative strategies—including women-centric programs, dynamic route updates, and social media-driven community engagement—she had to now choose between expansion and consolidation. China’s climbing market was booming, and Chongqing’s untapped potential tempted the founder to expand. Yet challenges .....more

By the end of 2024, Amar Chitra Katha Pvt. Ltd. (ACKPL), an Indian publisher renowned for its iconic and extensive cultural content, was navigating the difficulties of a digital-first world. This case study examines ACKPL’s product portfolio, its forays into digital media and entertainment, and its competition from established and up-and-coming publishers. ACKPL faced two core challenges in maintaining sustainable growth. First, the brand had to decide .....more

In November 2023, Max Sterling, president of the Blackpool Supporters’ Association (BSA) for the Blackpool Alliance Football Club (BAFC) was navigating growing tensions with stakeholders regarding a popular but infamous annual event held in the English seaside tourist town. The Coastal Clash Derby was a cornerstone event for the BSA and Blackpool fans, as well as a revenue driver, but BAFC owner Nikhil Patel had growing concerns about the excessive .....more

Nike Inc. (Nike), the global leader in footwear, had captured the imagination of several generations of athletic footwear users through its sports-centric, powerful emotional branding, adaptability, and sustainable practices. It was also entrenched in the offline channel through strong relationships with its wholesalers and retailers. In 2020, a new chief executive officer (CEO), John Donahoe, pivoted Nike’s strategy towards a digital, data-centric, .....more

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), its broadcast division Viacom 18 Media Private Limited (Viacom18), and The Walt Disney Company (Disney) completed a merger on November 14, 2024. In doing so, RIL merged its media assets with the India’s Disney global media house business in a transaction that valued the joint venture (JV) at US$8.5 billion, in which RIL had invested $1.4 billion. The deal involved merging JioCinema, operated by Viacom18, with Star .....more