Dream Big (Sonho Grande)

Dream Big – Cristiane Correa

Jorge Paulo Lemann, Marcel Telles and Beto Sicupira are among the most successful businessmen in the world, yet for many years they were little known outside Brazil. In Dream Big (Sonho Grande): How the Brazilian Trio Behind 3G Capital Acquired Anheuser-Busch, Burger King and Heinz, business journalist Cristiane Correa tells the story of how they built a business empire.

Correa traces the trio’s journey from their beginnings at Banco Garantia, the investment bank Lemann founded in Rio de Janeiro, where they developed a distinctive culture based on meritocracy, partnership, ambition and cost discipline. She describes how they applied this culture to other businesses, beginning with the Brazilian retailer Lojas Americanas and the brewer Brahma, and then building AmBev, which later merged with Interbrew to form InBev and acquired Anheuser-Busch to create the world’s largest brewer. Through their investment firm 3G Capital, they also acquired Burger King and, in partnership with Warren Buffett, Heinz.

The book explores the management principles behind their success, including hiring talented and hungry young people, rewarding performance, setting ambitious goals, practicing zero-based budgeting and maintaining a relentless focus on efficiency, as well as the criticisms these methods have attracted.

Based on extensive interviews and research, Dream Big offers a fascinating look at one of the most influential business partnerships of recent decades.

It is a valuable read for entrepreneurs, managers, investors and readers interested in business strategy, corporate culture and Latin American business. Some developments at their companies have occurred since publication.