Rough Diamonds: The Four Traits of Successful Breakout Firms in BRIC Countries

Preface

Across from the Beijing offices of the SKOLKOVO Business School–Ernst & Young Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS) is Olympic Park, the site of the 2008 Summer Games. Every day tourists and other visitors stream through the park to look at the famous Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Some take pictures in front of these two buildings, while others simply wander around, appearing content to recreate the momentous events of that summer. Tourists who are asked why they flock to those buildings rarely talk about the buildings themselves. “That is where Mark Phelps won his Olympic record eight gold medals,” they say, or, “That is where Usain Bolt ruled in the 100-meter dash.”

People remember winners. In sports bars around the world, people ...