Rodrigo DeMello

Rodrigo DeMello

  • Tenure Track Associate Professor, Management, Management
  • Tenure Track Associate Professor, Bentley University
  • Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering (Strategy), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
  • Other in Industrial Engineering (Strategy), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
  • B.S.C.E. in Civil Engineering, Federal University of Ceara (UFC)

Teaching Interests

Strategy and International Business. Business, Government, and Society. Research Methods. Doing Business in Latin America.

Research Interests

The sociopolitical dimension of Strategy and International Business encompasses how political institutions and regulations, state ownership, and socio-political pressures shape the strategizing and organizing of domestic and multinational firms.

Consulting/Practice Interests

Business models, strategic planning, and geopolitical risks for businesses. 

Bio

Rodrigo B. DeMello is a Tenure-track Associate Professor of Management at Bentley University. A seasoned educator with over 25 years of experience, he has trained executives and future managers in strategy and international business across Latin America, Europe, and the United States, including programs for the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), Executive MBAs, and Executive PhDs. His research examines the strategic interface between business, government, and society for domestic and multinational corporations. Dr. DeMello has published widely in this area, and his work on the strategic implications of business–government relations has been featured in major Brazilian media outlets. Before Bentley, Dr. DeMello was an Associate Professor at Merrimack College, and at FGV in São Paulo, Brazil, and a visiting professor at the Fletcher School (Tufts U.) and Paris Dauphine University, in France. 

Professional Memberships

  • Academy of International Business 2024-05-01 - Present
  • Academy of Management 2024-05-01 - 2025-05-01

    • Awards and Honors

  • Finalist Best Paper Award, Brazilian Academy of Management
  • Nominated for the 2024 Cronin Award for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring, Bentley University
  • Best Paper Award in the Strategy Division, Brazilian Academy of Management (ANPAD)
  • Top 10 Finalist paper, Best Paper Award., 2018 Annual Meeting of the Strategic Management Society (SMS)
  • Best Paper Award in the Strategy Division, Brazilian Academy of Management (ANPAD)
  • Best Paper Award, Academy of International Business (AIB) SE Chapter
  • Best Paper on Emerging Markets Award, European International Business Association (EIBA)
  • Finalist of the Best Paper Award, Strategic Management Society (SMS)Special Conference
  • Best Division Chair Award, Brazilian Academy of Management (ANPAD)
  • Best Paper Award, Brazilian Academy of Management (ANPAD)
  • Best Paper in Strategy Award, Brazilian Academy of Management (ANPAD)

    • Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions

    Journal Articles

  • Lopes, E., DeMello, R., Buchelli, M. (2024). Political influence on the investment of state-owned enterprises. Journal of Economic Policy Reform, (27) 4 452-473. (Link)
  • DeMello, R., Gama, M., Bertrand, O., Betschinger, M. (2024). The effect of political elections at home on the internationalization of state-owned multinationals from emerging countries. Global Strategy Journal, (14) Issue 2 (Link)
  • DeMello, R., Gama, M., Bertrand, O., Betschinger, M. (2023). The effect of political elections at home on the internationalization of state-owned multinationals from emerging countries.. Global Strategy Journal
  • Caldeira, C., Kallas, D., DeMello, R. (2023). Unveiling Political Activities of Multinationals Operating in Brazil: Procurement Lobbying. Revista Alcance, (30) 2 28-39.
  • Gatignon, A., Gama, M., DeMello, R. (2023). The Returns to nonmarket strategies during institutional transitions: Investor reactions to actor and tie characteristics. Organization Science, (34) 2 916-934.
  • Gatignon, A., Gama, M., DeMello, R. (2023). The Returns to Nonmarket Strategies during Institutional Transitions: Investor Reactions to Actor and Tie Characteristics. Organization Science, (34) Issue 2 (Link)
  • Gama, M., Lana, J., Bueno, G., Marcon, R., DeMello, R. (2022). Moderating the connections: media coverage and firm market value. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, (23) 3 607-627. (Link)
  • Bandeira de Mello, R., Godinez, J., Sanchez-Barrios, L., Khalik, M. (2021). Familiarity does not breed contempt: Curbing subsidiary corruption through a legitimacy-enhanced ownership structure. Latin American Business Review, (23) 3 279-307.
  • Gama, M., DeMello, R. (2020). The effect of affiliation structure on the performance of pyramidal business groups. Journal of Business Research, (124) 24-37.
  • Gama, M., DeMello, R., Galilea, G., Marcon, R. (2019). With other people s money: Campaign financing as an agency problem. Journal of General Management, (45) 1 40-49. (Link)
  • DeMello, R., Mauerberg Jr., A., Cuervo-Cazurra, A., Jourdan, J. Confronting a bully: How subsidiaries of foreign firms counter hostile geopolitical rhetoric in a host country. Journal of International Business Studies Forthcoming

    • Book Chapters

  • DeMello, R. (2022). State Capitalism in Latin America The Oxford Handbook of State Capitalism and the Firm. Oxford: Oxford University Press (Link)
  • Demello, R. (2022). STATE CAPITALISM IN LATIN AMERICA . Oxford University Press (Link)
  • DeMello, R. (2020). Corporate Political Strategies Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management. Xoford: Oxford University Press (Link)

    • Presentations

  • DeMello, R., Gama, M. (2025). “Blown to the Left: The Political Consequences of Stakeholder Mobilization in Wind Farm Communities” Presented at the 2025 Academy of Management Annual Meeting
  • DeMello, R., Gama, M. (2024). “Shareholder’s campaign contribution a substitution channel of corporate campaign contribution” Presented at the Academy of Management (AoM) NonMarket Strategies PDW at Academy of Management Annual Meeting Chicago, Il

    • Service

    Service: Department

  • Faculty for reviewing Global grants offered by the Cronin Office of International Education - Present
  • Faculty for grading the Organization Theory comps for the Executive PhD program - Present
  • Committee Member for MG's Research Committee 11/1/23 - Present
  • Committee Member for Search Committee for International Management/Organizational Behavior Position 5/16/24 - 12/1/24

    • Service: Public

  • Board Member for Andover Coalition for Education 1/1/23 - Present
  • Guest Speaker for Brazilian General Consulate in Boston 11/12/24 - 11/12/24
  • Guest Speaker for Edu Boston IEC SEBRAE 9/23/24 - 10/2/24
  • Guest Speaker for Boston Innovation Gateway/IXL 3/13/24 - 3/13/24
  • Guest Speaker for Brazilian General Consulate in Boston 11/12/24 - 11/12/24

    • Service: Professional

  • Committee Member for Doctoral Dissertation Committee (Eleandra Meneghini) at Univali 11/27/24 - 11/27/24
  • Invited Lecture/Presentation for University Uninove 10/11/24 - 10/11/24
  • Conference/Workshop Session Chair for STR Division of the Academy of Management 12/1/23 - Present
  • Editorial Review Board Member for Strategic Organization Journal 12/1/23 - Present
  • Invited Lecture/Presentation for Fundacao Getulio Vargas FGV SP 7/1/23 - Present
  • Editorial Review Board Member for Ad Minister Journal 1/1/15 - Present
  • Editorial Review Board Member for Revista de Administracao Conteporanea 1/1/15 - Present
  • Editorial Review Board Member for GV Casos 1/1/10 - Present

    • Service: Ph.D. Advising

  • Independent Study Advisor 2025/01 - Present
  • Supervisor 2024/01 - Present

    • Service: University

  • Mentor (Faculty) for Mentor at the BLTC Mentorship Program - Present
  • for Teaching, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (TIE) workshops - Present
  • Committee Member for PMBA Student Experience SubCommittee 9/1/24 - Present
  • Committee Member for MBA Revitalization Committee 10/1/23 - 2024-10-01