Warren Buffett had long been a beacon of inspiration for investors worldwide. Known for his long-term investment approach, Buffett delivered an average annual return of 20 per cent since taking the helm of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway) in 1965. Now, at 95, Buffett was preparing to step back and pass the reins to incoming chief executive officer (CEO) Greg Abel. Since Buffett announced his retirement, Berkshire Hathaway stock lagged .....more

In March 2025, Jamie Salter, founder and chief executive officer of Authentic Brands Group (ABG), faced a pivotal challenge. Forever 21’s US operating company, F21 OpCo LLC, had filed for its second bankruptcy in six years, closing all physical stores in its home market. While Forever 21’s intellectual property remained with ABG and international franchises continued to operate, the brand’s US collapse underscored risks of overexpansion, weak digital .....more

In April 2025, a US federal court found Google LLC (Google) guilty of illegally misusing its dominant position and maintaining monopolies in advertising technology (AdTech) markets. In its defense, the company argued that ad publishers chose Google not due to a lack of options but because its AdTech solutions were simple, affordable, and effective. While remedies for restoring competition were yet to be determined by the court, Google’s plan for business .....more

In 2025, Zomato—India’s leading food delivery platform—faced a channel conflict with its restaurant partners, represented by the National Restaurant Association of India. The conflict arose after Zomato launched its quick food delivery app, Bistro, which partners perceived as unfair competition due to private-label offerings and Zomato’s control over customer data. The company had to decide whether to scale back, negotiate with partners, or continue .....more

Circle Internet Group Inc. (Circle) debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on June 5, 2025, reaching a $63 billion valuation. As the issuer of USDC, Circle managed $65 billion in digital dollars, generating revenue primarily through interest on US Treasury reserves. However, the company faced a fundamental dilemma: high interest rates drove profits but increased the opportunity cost for users, while falling rates squeezed margins. Additionally, Circle .....more

In September 2024, beauty and e-commerce retailer Nykaa E-Retail Ltd. (Nykaa) completed its acquisition of Kolkata-based skincare brand Dot & Key Wellness Private Limited (Dot & Key) by increasing its stake from 51 per cent to 90 per cent. Founded in 2018, Dot & Key had built its early success on transparent formulations, micro-detailed research and development (R&D), stimulating packaging, and a strong resonance with Generation Z .....more

The term Sephora kids referred to young children who showed significant interest in beauty products, such as skin care and makeup. The ethics of targeting young children was debatable. At the same time, kids' interest in beauty products was expected to remain strong. Also, only one-third of Sephora kids were spending their money at Sephora (the beauty retailer owned by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH)). In Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. (Shoppers .....more

In 2023, the founders of Groww, an online investment platform based in Begaluru, India, and valued at over US$3 billion, faced a dilemma. This followed the announcement in India’s union budget that income from cryptocurrency investments would be taxed. This move raised expectations of allowing cryptocurrency trading, prompting Groww’s founders to consider entering this potentially lucrative sector as part of its aggressive growth strategy, which also .....more

In April 2025, newly appointed president and chief executive officer Yoshitaka Oji announced a midterm management plan for Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. The Japanese watchmaker, known for its world-leading quartz technologies and dominant position in the European and US mid-range market (US$300–$1,200), was seeking growth. Oji aimed to shift Citizen's marketing strategy from emphasizing functional benefits to conveying emotional value, targeting the .....more

Set in April 2025, this case examines the collapse of Indian clean-energy firms Gensol Engineering Ltd. and BluSmart Mobility Ltd. (BluSmart) and the ethical challenges faced by BluSmart cofounder Punit Goyal. Once recognized for advancing sustainable transportation, both companies faltered amid allegations of fund misuse, governance breakdowns, and regulatory noncompliance. The case explores founder accountability, interfirm dependencies, and the .....more