Interview Summary
Jorge Gerdau describes his family's experience in the steel sector over five generations. Over time, the family business grew into a multinational corporation that is now the largest steel producer in the Americas. He discusses his related experiences advising the Lula da Silva and Rousseff governments, thereby enhancing public-private partnerships and instituting corporate management policies in public sector ministries. Mr. Gerdau explains his company's somewhat unique decision not to diversify, instead choosing to focus entirely on becoming one of the most well-respected steel producers. He also explains how Gerdau has established and adapted its corporate culture in a variety of countries, including India and the U.S.
[A]side from my management vision in the steel industry, the public sector, I also give my attention to issues of social responsibility. In a country like Brazil, no leader can avoid worrying about social development.
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Additional Resources
Gerdau (A) [HBS Case]
Interview with Philip Casey at AmeriSteel, Video
Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter, “A importância do capital de risco para a livre iniciativa,” in Movimento Nacional pela Livre Iniciativa: Uma contibuição da publicidade à democracia brasileira, edited by Roberto Corrêa. Instituto Cultural ESPM, 2008.
Histórias de sucessos: Empresários que venceram no Rio Grande do Sul, edited by Carlos Alberto Gianotti. Associação dos Jovens Empresários, 1998
http://video.hbs.edu/videotools/play?clip=tgmp_ameristeel_1
http://video.hbs.edu/videotools/play?clip=tgmp_ameristeel_2
http://video.hbs.edu/videotools/play?clip=tgmp_ameristeel_3
“From Brazil, An Emerging Steel Giant; A Family Company Shops Abroad for Acquisitions,” New York Times, August 30, 2001
“Gerdau Chief Outlines his Plans to Hand over the Reins,” Financial Times, September 3, 2004
“Ninth Annual Gala, Jorge Gerdau Speech,” YouTube, Uploaded July 3, 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBD7eR81Xmw
“Poder e Política: Jorge Gerdau,” YouTube, Uploaded January 13, 2014: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGswcU6Q1FQ
Video file of this interview available at Baker Library Historical Collections, histcollref+hbs.edu. Harvard ID holders can access the full-length video above.
Interview Citation Format
"Interview with Jorge Gerdau, interviewed by Aldo Musacchio, Porto Alegre, Brazil, July 2, 2013, Creating Emerging Markets Project, Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School, http://www.hbs.edu/creating-emerging-markets/."
