I cannot thank enough Luis Hernan Contreras Pinochet, my co-advisor turned friend. When I could not find strength to continue, he did. After all the late nights collecting and analyzing data, discussing different theories, and going thru a whole crash course on new analytical methods. I can only hope to achieve such commitment and ethics. He is the real researcher super-star and I can only hope to continue this partnership for a very long time.I also thank the Business School of the University of São Paulo and its Post Graduate Department faculty for their support. I am grateful to all colleagues from the NETS USP research group for all their feedback and support, sharing their knowledge and challenges and always making sure to contribute. A special thanks to my close friend Fabiano Castello, who helped me with finding creative solutions to new problems. I thank my loving wife Anaira who supported me unconditionally and cheered each small milestone. Thank you for your love and strength to make sure I could focus and that our wonderful kids Napoleão and Vicente were always under the best care ever. Thanks to my brother Bernardo, who also shared the PhD journey and always kept me motivated.Finally, I thank my mother Yara and my father Napoleão who instilled in me the will to never stop asking questions and to work hard and smart. They are my constant inspiration to do better.