Guest Editorial: Introduction to the Special Issue on Navigating Storms and Shaping Horizons: Latin American Businesses Resilience, Innovation, and Transformation in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jahanshahi A.A.; Avolio B. · IEEE Engineering Management Review (2026) · DOI: 10.1109/emr.2026.3695339

Resumen

The COVID-19 pandemic served as both a crisis and a catalyst for transformation across Latin American business landscapes. This editorial article synthesizes key insights from eight empirical studies featured in this special issue. These studies span diverse yet interlinked themes, including workplace transformation, entrepreneurial resilience, environmental sustainability, digitalization, emotional well-being, and inclusive leadership. Collectively, they reveal that Latin American firms—especially small- and medium-sized enterprises and women-led ventures—faced not only operational disruptions but also deep social and psychological challenges. Yet, many responded with remarkable adaptability, leveraging informal networks, digital tools, and people-centered management approaches. The papers highlight how flexible work models, emotional salary, and virtual platforms reshaped organizational resilience and worker engagement, while also cautioning against the unintended consequences of digital acceleration, such as mental health deterioration and social exclusion. Moreover, the findings emphasize the need for context-sensitive, inclusive strategies—whether through green finance reforms, gender-responsive entrepreneurship support, or institutional mechanisms for well-being. By drawing connections across sectors and methodological approaches, this article distills critical lessons for businesses, educators, and policymakers seeking to build more equitable, innovative, and resilient economies in the post-pandemic era. This article also outlines future research opportunities aimed at deepening our understanding of leadership, sustainability, and digital transformation in Latin America’s evolving and often turbulent socioeconomic environment.

Instituciones: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú