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The Beliefs that Built a Global Brewer

Harvard Business Review

Now the largest beer company in the world, AB InBev reported a double digit EBITDA growth rate and almost 30% growth in earnings per share. The Brazilian company AmBev, already at 20% EBITDA in 2000, increased its margins to a whopping 36% in 2003. Anheuser's EBITDA in 2007, prior to its acquisition, was 23%.

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How to Anticipate a Burning Platform

Harvard Business Review

By 2010, it would have been too late to act, as we saw with the Border's bankruptcy. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is the equivalent of corporate blood pressure. Consider how narrow B&N's window was. Look at profit margin trends. Listen to passionate leaders.

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Category Creation Is the Ultimate Growth Strategy

Harvard Business Review

Few growth strategies match the economics of category creation. Our analysis showed the top 20 firms in Fortune 's 2010 list of fastest-growing companies received $3.40 coffee sector revenue grew from $28 billion in the late 1990s to $47 billion in 2010. in incremental market capitalization for every $1.00 of revenue growth.

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Improve Your Ability to Learn

Harvard Business Review

No stranger to ambiguity, Alex was flexible in formulating his strategy and sought feedback from the people around him. In a 2010 study with Cornell University, we showed that our assessment grades predict performance, as measured not only by revenue and EBITDA but also by boss ratings (often issued by the Board).