FROM TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP TO HOLDERSHIP: UNRAVELING THE SEMCO’S CASE

Authors

Keywords:

Organizational Dynamics, Innovative Environments, Holdership, Holding, Leadership

Abstract

Objective: This article explores the role of holdership principles in organizational dynamics, focusing on the case of Semco, a Brazilian company renowned for its innovative practices. The specific objectives are to analyze the alignment of Semco’s practices with holdership principles, explore the conceptual connections between Winnicott’s theory of emotional development and holdership, and investigate the impact of holdership on individual and organizational outcomes.

Design/Method/Approach: This is a qualitative study based on the analysis of Semco’s organizational practices through the lens of holdership principles and Winnicott’s theoretical framework, with a conceptual and interpretive approach.

Originality/Relevance: The study contributes to the literature by proposing holdership as an alternative to traditional leadership models, offering a more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered organizational structure.

Key Results/Findings: The findings reveal that Semco’s emphasis on autonomy, ownership, collaboration, and shared responsibility reflects the embodiment of holdership principles. Positive outcomes include increased employee satisfaction, enhanced creativity and innovation, and improved organizational dynamics.

Theoretical and Practical Contributions: The article advances the understanding of holdership as a viable and humanized organizational model. It also offers practical implications for organizations aiming to foster supportive and participatory work environments. A critical perspective is maintained, recognizing potential trade-offs and challenges in implementation.

Author Biography

Anderson Sant'Anna, Fundação Getúlio Vargas - Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo

Professor da Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). Professor Adjunto do Departamento de Administração Geral e Recursos Humanos da Fundação Getulio Vargas, Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (FGV-EAESP). Professor da FGV Educação Executiva (FGV-SP) e FGV In-Company (FGV-BH). Pesquisador Produtividade em Pesquisa (PQ-CNPq). Brazilian Ambassador at the Management Executive Education Division (MED-AoM). Psicanalista-sócio do Círculo Psicanalítico de Minas Gerais (CPMG). Pós-doutorando junto ao Programa de Pós-graduação em Psiquiatria do Departamento de Psiquiatria da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pós-doutor pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Teoria Psicanalítica da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Doutor em Administração, Doutor em Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Mestre em Administração, Especialista em Gestão Estratégica e Graduado em Administração pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG). Graduado em Filosofia pela Universidade Paulista (UNIP). Membro-fundador do Fórum Losófono de Gestão de Recursos Humanos e Administração Pública (ISCSP-ULisboa), Membro Adjunto do Instituto Sephora de Estudos de Orientação Lacaniana (UFRJ) e da Associação Universitária de Pesquisa em Psicopatologia Fundamental (AUPPF). Pesquisador do Centre de Recherche et D'intervention pour le Travail, L'efficacité Organisationnelle et la Santé - CRITEOS (HEC Montreal), do Núcleo de Estudos Organizacionais, Sociedade e Subjetividade - NOSS (CEFET-MG), do Núcleo de Estudos em Recursos Humanos e Relações de Trabalho - NERHURT (Pucminas), do Núcleo de Gestão de Carreiras e Planejamento Estratégico Pessoal - GeCaPEP (UFRRJ), do Grupo de Estudos sobre Universidade Empreendedora (UNIFEMM/EMBRAPA), da Linha de Investigação em Empreendedorismo e Desenvolvimento Regional do Centro de Administração e Políticas Públicas do Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas da Universidade de Lisboa (ISCSP-ULisboa) e da Rede Interorganizacional Colaborativa Pré-competitiva de Desenvolvimento de Políticas Públicas e Gestão em Saúde (IDrCC). É também Líder do Tema Liderança: Fundamentos, Abordagens e Desenvolvimento da Divisão de Gestão de Pessoas e Relações de Trabalho da Associação Nacional de Pós-graduação e Pesquisa em Administração (ANPAD), na qual atuou como membro do Comitê Científico (2012-2017) e Líder do Tema Liderança (2010-2011). Sua trajetória acadêmica inclui participações no GEP 2003, no INSEAD (França); no PDEC 2006, da HEC Montréal (Canadá); no GCPCL 2009/2010, da Harvard Business School, em Boston (EUA) e Shangai (China). Tem como interesses de pesquisa e ensino as áreas de Comportamento Organizacional e Comportamento Humano nas Organizações, atuando, principalmente, nos temas: Gestão de Carreiras e Competências, Liderança, Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho e Estresse Ocupacional. 

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Published

2025-07-08

How to Cite

Sant’Anna, A. (2025). FROM TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP TO HOLDERSHIP: UNRAVELING THE SEMCO’S CASE. Brazilian Journal of Management and Innovation (Revista Brasileira De Gestão E Inovação), 12(2). Retrieved from https://sou.ucs.br/etc/revistas/index.php/RBGI/article/view/13933

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2025): (May-August)

Section

RBGI Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Anderson Sant'Anna

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