This case explores Vanguard''s strategic decision-making process as it considers entering the growing market for actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Set in 2024, the case places students in the position of Rodney Comegys, Vanguard''s global head of the Equity Index Group, as he evaluates whether the firm should launch a suite of fundamental active ETFs. Students are asked to analyze the implications of Vanguard''s .....more

Alex Reinhardt was brought in to turn around a renewable-energy company that had been on the verge of bankruptcy until the German government bailed it out. After he fainted from overwork and burnout and had to take a medical leave, the board appointed an interim CEO. Now Reinhardt insists that he''s ready to return, and the board must decide whether to retain or replace him. This HBR Case Study includes both the case and the commentary. For .....more

Alex Reinhardt was brought in to turn around a renewable-energy company that had been on the verge of bankruptcy until the German government bailed it out. After he fainted from overwork and burnout and had to take a medical leave, the board appointed an interim CEO. Now Reinhardt insists that he''s ready to return, and the board must decide whether to retain or replace him. For teaching purposes, this is the case-only version of the HBR .....more

Raya Partners, a private equity firm, faces a crucial decision regarding Asa Specialty Coatings Company (ASCC). The dilemma involves shifting ASCC''s manufacturing operations to Mexico, a move that would boost profitability and reduce emissions but result in significant layoffs in Vermont, impacting employees and the local community. Adrienne, Raya Partners'' Chief Investment Officer, grapples with balancing financial gains, social .....more

With the enactment of the long-awaited U.S. security-based crowdfunding regulations in May 2016, early-stage private companies can utilize regulatory crowdfunding to raise funds on digital platforms via multiple nonaccredited investors. To protect such small microinvestors and maintain market efficiency, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires extensive disclosure information in filings. However, with many ventures being new, small, .....more

Founded in 2016, Moonfare headquartered in Europe, was a pioneer in the "democratization" of private equity investments. Historically, private equity was accessible only to institutional investors like pension funds, endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and large family offices. However, as personal wealth has grown among broader segments of the population, along with advancements in technology and a slowdown in traditional fundraising, figuring .....more

Next Gen CDR is a startup that pools corporate commitments to purchase Tech CDR, which promises to permanently remove and store carbon from the atmosphere to combat climate change. A partnership between South Pole and Mitsubishi Corp., Next Gen has secured initial commitments from five founding buyers and has just announced the pool at the World Economic Forum''s Annual Meeting in Davos. Now the parties have to hammer out the exact terms of .....more

In July 2024, a 38-year-old vice-president at a leading consulting firm in San Francisco was grappling with increasing dissatisfaction despite his professional success and substantial income. The high-pressure demands of his job and the strain on his personal life led him to contemplate a major career shift: returning to India to become a professor of practice at a prestigious private university. His reflections on this potential transition were deeply .....more