Quick Recap
Over the past 6 weeks I've been traveling, staying physically active and working on a little certification along with some side projects. It's an odd way of saying that I am aware I've been away, but I'm happy to be back.
Amongst all of these extracurriculars, I've had some great reflections, learned lessons and have some new stories, all of which will make there way into the letter eventually.
For now, another item on the agenda: Case Studies. One of the learning curves I've been fortunately challenged with is the amount of case studies I've read in the pursuit of my degree in digital business. While in the moment it may be challenging, I'd like to take a second to reflect on some of the cases.
Often times people ask "What're you studying?" So in an attempt to share that, while recapping some of the more interesting points, you'll find below a brief summary and some talking points from 4 of the most interesting pieces. Disfruta.
De Beers: Reverse-Disrupting the Diamond Industry
Summary
De Beers used to be the diamond industry. They built the hype around engagement rings and controlled the supply chain like a monopoly. But then lab-grown diamonds came along: same sparkle, less money, more ethics. Instead of fighting it, De Beers launched a new brand called Lightbox and started selling lab diamonds themselves. It was a weird twist, but also kind of genius.
The Problem?
Younger people didn’t care much about tradition or “forever.” They cared about cost, sustainability, and not getting ripped off. They weren't buying into De Beers' steep prices any longer.
The Solution?
De Beers tried to split the market in two, beginning the disruption themselves. They let Lightbox offer fun, cheap diamonds, while keeping the original brand focused on high-end, “real” stones, pushing the true difference.
The Lesson?
If change is coming no matter what, it’s better to steer into the skid than get left behind.
TikTok: Rise to Global Markets
Summary
TikTok didn’t just blow up randomly, it was part of an incredibly smart plan. The company behind it, ByteDance, bought Musical.ly to quickly get into the U.S. market, then used personalized feeds and local content to win users around the world. Every country got its own campaigns, trends, and influencers, which made the app feel more personal. While other apps focused on features, TikTok focused on making things fun.
The Problem?
They wanted to grow outside China, but the TikTok brand wasn’t known and competitors like Instagram were already huge.
The Solution?
They used Musical.ly as a shortcut into key markets and made the app feel local wherever it launched.
The Lesson?
If you want to go global, start locally. People are more likely to connect with what feels familiar.
Zara: What Business Are They In?
Summary
Zara doesn’t try to guess fashion trends, it watches what people are wearing and reacts super quickly. Instead of planning months ahead like other brands, they design, make, and ship clothes in just a few weeks. They release new stuff all the time, in small batches, and rarely bring anything back. That way, the store always feels fresh and nothing sits around too long.
Think about Gap or Old Navy, they spend months researching, having a planned drop for Fall, Spring and Summer, then the items go on Sale. Zara watches closely, shifts the value chain, and hops on trends quicker than anybody.
The Problem?
Most fashion companies move too slowly, and that leads to piles of unsold clothes and heavy discounts, not to mention the underwhelming brand reputation of classic sweaters and blue jeans for the fall.
The Solution?
Zara built its own system from scratch, keeping design, production, and delivery in-house so they could control speed and adjust fast.
The Lesson?
You don’t have to be the best at predicting trends, you just have to be quick at noticing them.
WeWork: The Harder We Fall
Summary
WeWork started as a cool co-working space with snacks, plants, and a strong startup vibe. It grew fast, like, billions in valuation fast and for a while it felt like the next big thing. But the business model didn’t really work, and the founder’s behavior got increasingly chaotic. When they tried to go public, everything fell apart. I can't share the case study but here's a link to learn a little more.
The Problem?
Simply put, they were spending way more than they earned and acting like a tech company, even though they were really just renting office space.
The Solution?
Once the IPO flopped, the founder stepped down and the company tried to clean things up and focus on actual business basics.
The Lesson?
Confidence can take you far, and is quite vital, but at some point, the numbers have to make sense.
It's been a pleasure
That's all for now. Case studies can feel kind of far off when you’re reading them in a classroom or highlighting them on a screen, but stepping back, you start to see how familiar these stories really are, hype cycles, overreactions, smart pivots, and slow burn wins.
A lot of it comes down to timing, listening, and being willing to adjust before things break.
More reflections soon. Something a little less business-y next time.
