How Covid-19 tests entrepreneurs’ agility (A): Success hanging in the balance
Case A focuses on how entrepreneurs and leaders deal with sudden unexpected events and crises. It describes the tensions that Russian female entrepreneur and CEO Anastasia Tatulova had to deal with in response to the coronavirus pandemic that wrought wide-scale disruption on society and businesses across the world. Tatulova founded the AnderSon café to address a lack of family-friendly cafés in Russia. Having started in 2009 with a single café in Moscow, AnderSon celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019 as a chain of 52 cafés in Russia and neighboring countries. It employed 1,500 staff in its cafés and in the “Factory of Happiness,” which produced the confectionery sold in the cafés. At the beginning of 2020, Tatulova was poised to expand her business with outside investment, but by March, as COVID-19 triggered restrictions and the shutdown of society, her core business was paralyzed by a 90% drop in sales. This put her in the critical situation of having to fight for AnderSon’s survival. Along with other small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Russia, AnderSon was obliged to pay staff during the lockdown and received very limited government support. The case highlights the struggles that Tatulova faced and it ends with her having to decide what to do with her business.
- Learn about entrepreneurial orientation and growth mindset to support agile leadership to address shocks and challenges in crisis situations.
- Illustrate how fortunes can be suddenly disrupted and map responses to crisis; Examine the impact of a crisis and explore the possible responses that leaders have.
- Demonstrate the importance of agility; Explore how leaders make decisions in rapidly changing and unpredictable environments.
- Identify the core attributes of a growth mindset; Illustrate the difference and consequences between fixed mindset and growth mindset.
AnderSon Café, Travel and Leisure, Catering
2020
Cranfield University
Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]
Harvard Business School Publishing
60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]
NUCB Business School
1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]
IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
- How Covid-19 tests entrepreneurs’ agility (A): Success hanging in the balance
- How Covid-19 tests entrepreneurs’ agility (B): Mobilizing through the crisis
- How Covid-19 tests entrepreneurs’ agility (A): Success hanging in the balance
- How Covid-19 tests entrepreneurs’ agility (B): Mobilizing through the crisis
Case reference: IMD-7-2331 ©2021
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Case reference: IMD-7-2345 ©2021
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Chanel Global CFO and IMD Executive in Residence Philippe Blondiaux explains how finance leaders can sustain a long-term focus on sustainability while addressing short-term challenges.

As AI continues to reshape industries, businesses must navigate the balance between automation and human contribution. How can AI can drive sustainability while empowering both employers and employees through data collaboration, energy optimizatio...

More than simply a compliance exercise, sustainability reporting regulations offer a chance to develop and strengthen your business, says IMD’s Salvatore Cantale

More than simply a compliance exercise, sustainability reporting regulations offer a chance to develop and strengthen your business, says IMD’s Salvatore Cantale

Leaders, strategists, and decision-makers can play a pivotal role in integrating sustainability into business strategies – and make money in the process. Knut Haanaes, Bryony Jansen van Tuyll, and Øystein D. Fjeldstad outline five steps to make it...

AI can enhance sustainability reporting and help you deepen green efforts – but it also has an environmental impact of its own. Julia Binder and José Parra Moyano identify the four ‘hows’ of harnessing AI for enhanced sustainability reporting and ...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely recognized as a driver of productivity, while sustainability, despite its benefits to the environment, is often seen as a cost burden. When combined, however, we believe they form a powerful synergy that can ...

No single leader or business function can drive progress toward net zero. Knut Haanaes identifies six ways in which CHROs can help drive organizational change.

Warnings about alcohol’s harms by medical experts are nothing new. But the drinks industry is now taking sobriety seriously by investing in a growing range of alternative products.

CEO Manuel Reman blends Krug's tradition with innovation, fostering deeper connections with global audiences and emphasizing authenticity to keep the champagne house relevant amid shifting tastes and sustainability challenges.
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD Brain Circuits 17 February 2025
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD 3 February 2025
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications