- 01 Oct 2024
- Research & Ideas
How Politics Drives Business Decisions in a Polarized Nation
As the US heads toward a presidential election, political polarization is influencing personal relationships, living choices, and even corporate decision-making. Research by Elisabeth Kempf reveals how partisan divides are shaping businesses, with significant implications for investment returns, credit ratings, and economic growth.
- 27 Sep 2024
- Research & Ideas
Charting 'Cheapflation': How Budget Brands Got So Pricey
Rising prices prompted many consumers to shift to lower-cost goods from premium brands. However, an analysis of millions of products by Alberto Cavallo shows how inflation hit budget products harder in many countries, a phenomenon called “cheapflation.”
- 26 Sep 2024
- HBS Case
If a Car Can Drive Itself, Can It Make Life-or-Death Decisions?
AI is transforming industries from retail to finance, but what about the moral quandaries posed by thinking machines? Buckle your seatbelts: Joseph Badaracco probes the most consequential questions raised by self-driving cars.
- 25 Sep 2024
- Managing the Future of Work
Collective counsel: Corporate law's changing workforce and culture
Vinson and Elkins' Keith Fullenweider on recruiting team players, boosting collaboration and soft skills through targeted training and mentorship, prioritizing mental health and work-life balance, automating judiciously, and making return-to-office work.
- 25 Sep 2024
- Climate Rising
Sam Read, Sustainable Entertainment Alliance
This episode is the third in our series on how the media and entertainment industries are integrating climate change into their storytelling and TV show and film production processes. This episode features Sam Read, Executive Director of the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, a consortium of major studios and streamers including Disney, Netflix, and Warner Brothers. Sam describes how these players are working together to share best practices and insights, and the progress he’s seeing in the industry. He also offers advice for those looking to work in climate-related alliances and collaborations.
- 24 Sep 2024
- Research & Ideas
Why Small Businesses Deserve More Credit
Small firms and startups don't always seem like sound lending opportunities to banks. But research by Olivia Kim shows that they draw down debt conservatively—and expanding their access to credit could drive growth.
- 19 Sep 2024
- Research & Ideas
Global Talent, Local Obstacles: Why Time Zones Matter in Remote Work
Remote employees working in different time zones often stretch beyond their typical schedule to connect with colleagues in real time. But communicating after hours is especially challenging for some workers, including women, research by Prithwiraj Choudhury finds.
- 17 Sep 2024
- Cold Call Podcast
Fawn Weaver’s Entrepreneurial Journey as an Outsider in the Spirits Industry
In 2017 Fawn Weaver launched a premium American whiskey brand, Uncle Nearest. It became the fastest growing and most awarded whiskey brand in America, despite the challenges Weaver faced as a Black woman and outsider to the spirits industry, which is capital-intensive, highly regulated, competitive, and male-dominated. In October 2023, Weaver announced plans to expand into cognac with the goal of building the next major alcoholic beverages conglomerate. But the company was still heavily reliant on capital. How could Weaver convince new investors that her plans for cognac would yield success? Harvard Business School senior lecturer Hise Gibson discusses Weaver’s leadership style, growth strategies, and her use of storytelling to connect customers with her brand in the case, "Uncle Nearest: Creating a Legacy."
- 17 Sep 2024
- Research & Ideas
Advice for the New CEO: Talk to Your Employees Early and Often
Shortly after a new CEO takes over, uncertainty and fear dampen communication among employees, research by Raffaella Sadun and colleagues shows. Sadun explains the steps organizations can take to get dialogue flowing quickly following a leadership transition.
- 17 Sep 2024
- HBS Case
The Climate Targets Leaders Need to Know as Regulations Loom
Is "net zero" better than "carbon neutral"? New rules related to climate risk disclosure are raising the stakes for executives trying to set meaningful decarbonization goals. Michael Toffel demystifies the terms and nuances of climate impact reporting.
- 11 Sep 2024
- Managing the Future of Work
Help Wanted: Workforce boards face greater demands and more strings
With legislative changes looming, federally funded boards must juggle the demands of workforce training, economic development, and long-term systemic goals while ensuring accountability to both local communities and federal oversight. Brad Turner-Little, President and CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards, explains.
- 11 Sep 2024
- Climate Rising
Telling Climate Stories at Scale: Netflix's Strategy for Sustainability and Impact
In this episode of Climate Rising, we explore how Netflix, a global entertainment powerhouse, is leveraging its platform to tell compelling stories about climate change. Emma Stewart, Netflix's first Sustainability Officer, joins host Mike Toffel to discuss the company’s strategic approach to sustainability and how it supports creators looking to tell sustainability stories. Stewart shares insights into the challenges and opportunities of incorporating climate considerations into both operations and storytelling, revealing how Netflix is contributing to the global climate conversation.
- 10 Sep 2024
- Research & Ideas
What Happens When Business Owners Turn to ChatBots for Advice
Can generative AI help entrepreneurs solve their business problems? Yes, but mostly when companies are already thriving, suggests research by Rembrand Koning that reveals the potential for AI-powered mentors to reach owners around the world.
- 09 Sep 2024
- HBS Case
McDonald’s and the Post #MeToo Rules of Sex in the Workplace
As #MeToo cast a spotlight on harassment in the workplace, former McDonald's CEO Stephen Easterbrook went from savior to pariah. Drawing from a series of case studies, Lynn Paine outlines eight lessons all corporate boards can take away from the scandal to improve culture and prevent abuse of power.
- 03 Sep 2024
- Cold Call Podcast
How the US Government Is Innovating in Its Efforts to Fund Semiconductor Manufacturing
In February 2023, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was deciding whether or not to sign off on a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $39 billion in direct semiconductor manufacturing incentives. But this NOFO had several unconventional provisions: a pre-application (pre-app) to the actual application, upside sharing provisions to align incentives, and funding milestones so that only awardees making progress would receive additional funds. The funding had been made available through the US Department of Commerce by the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) and Science Act passed a few months earlier. Raimondo’s team had proposed additional measures that would help the US regain technological leadership while protecting taxpayer funds. Should Raimondo move forward with the “innovative” NOFO, despite the risks? Harvard Business School professor Mitch Weiss explores the issue of risk-taking and innovation in government in his case, “The CHIPs Program Office.”
- 03 Sep 2024
- Research & Ideas
Is It Even Possible to Dam the Flow of Misleading Content Online?
With a US presidential election on the horizon, tech companies are struggling to stem misinformation on social media. Research by Scott Duke Kominers and Jesse Shapiro suggests it's time to focus on eliminating content that can lead to potential harm rather than false beliefs.
- 29 Aug 2024
- Research & Ideas
Shoot for the Stars: What to Know About the Space Economy
Outer space has come a long way since the 1960s. Matthew Weinzierl explains the current state of the space economy, highlighting the various opportunities for businesses hidden among the stars.
- 28 Aug 2024
- Managing the Future of Work
Marshall Goldsmith outlines the humble path to better leadership
The noted executive coach on the value of letting go of the past, taking candid and anonymous 360-degree feedback, and playing it forward. Also, spreading the word via a generative AI avatar.
- 28 Aug 2024
- Climate Rising
CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir: Media's Role in Shaping Climate Action
This episode is the first of our latest series on climate in media and entertainment, where we explore and understand the role of storytelling in shaping climate actions. Today we have Bill Weir, Chief Climate Correspondent at CNN who shares his expertise on how CNN integrates climate narratives into their news coverage, the power of storytelling, and the strategies they employ to highlight both the urgency of the climate crisis and the innovative solutions emerging worldwide. Host and Guest Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative (LinkedIn) Guest: Bill Weir, Chief Climate Correspondent, CNN
Choosing Passion: A Founder’s Mission to Meet a Need for Obesity Care
Early in her career Brooke Boyarsky Pratt enjoyed considerable success in roles at McKinsey and Berkadia, a Berkshire Hathaway portfolio company. But a routine visit to the doctor in 2020, where she experienced weight stigma yet again, led her to address the problem of obesity care. Boyarsky Pratt had struggled with her weight since she was young. So when she started Knownwell, an integrated weight and primary care provider that was designed to support people with obesity, it was a huge step for her both personally and professionally. In the spring of 2023, Knownwell opened its first weight-inclusive clinic in the Boston area. But Boyarsky Pratt had to make a fundamental decision on how she wanted to grow the company. Should she grow slowly and build a small footprint of clinics in the Boston area over the next few years? Or should she scale fast to potentially help millions of people across the US? Boyarsky Pratt joins Harvard Business School assistant professor Jon Jachimowicz to discuss what it means to pursue your passion in the case, “Choosing the Course of Passion: Brooke Boyarsky Pratt at Knownwell.”