- 15 Feb 2023
- Climate Rising
Accelerating Climate Solutions for Food & Agriculture
This special episode features a discussion on solving the challenges climate change poses to food & agriculture, recorded as part of the HBS Short Intensive Program on Accelerating Climate Solutions. HBS Senior Lecturer Eleanor Laurans interviews Alex Bondar, partner at Acre Venture Partners, and Rebekah Moses, Vice President of Impact Strategy at Iron Ox. They discuss climate tech and venture capital and the roles played by consumers, farmers, investors, and corporations. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Host/Guests: ● Eleanor Laurans, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School ● Alex Bondar, Partner, Acre Venture Partners ● Rebekah Moses, Vice President, Iron Ox
- 14 Feb 2023
- Cold Call Podcast
Does It Pay to Be a Whistleblower?
In 2013, soon after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had started a massive whistleblowing program with the potential for large monetary rewards, two employees of a US bank’s asset management business debated whether to blow the whistle on their employer after completing an internal review that revealed undisclosed conflicts of interest. The bank’s asset management business disproportionately invested clients’ money in its own mutual funds over funds managed by other banks, letting it collect additional fees—and the bank had not disclosed this conflict of interest to clients. Both employees agreed that failing to disclose the conflict was a problem, but beyond that, they saw the situation very differently. One employee, Neel, perceived the internal review as a good-faith effort by senior management to identify and address the problem. The other, Akash, thought that the entire business model was problematic, even with a disclosure, and believed that the bank may have even broken the law. Should they escalate the issue internally or report their findings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission? Harvard Business School associate professor Jonas Heese discusses the potential risks and rewards of whistleblowing in his case, “Conflicts of Interest at Uptown Bank.”
- 14 Feb 2023
- Research & Ideas
When a Vacation Isn’t Enough, a Sabbatical Can Recharge Your Life—and Your Career
Burning out and ready to quit? Consider an extended break instead. Drawing from research inspired by his own 900-mile journey, DJ DiDonna offers practical advice to help people chart a new path through a sabbatical.
- 14 Feb 2023
- HBS Case
Is Sweden Still 'Sweden'? A Liberal Utopia Grapples with an Identity Crisis
Changing political views and economic forces have threatened Sweden's image of liberal stability. Is it the end of the Scandinavian business-welfare model as we know it? In a case study, Debora Spar examines recent shifts in Sweden and what they mean for the country's future.
- 10 Feb 2023
- Research & Ideas
COVID-19 Lessons: Social Media Can Nudge More People to Get Vaccinated
Social networks have been criticized for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, but the platforms have also helped public health agencies spread the word on vaccines, says research by Michael Luca and colleagues. What does this mean for the next pandemic?
- 08 Feb 2023
- Managing the Future of Work
Skills engine: An update on Google’s role as training provider
What’s the strategy behind the tech giant’s expanding portfolio of certificate programs and partnerships? Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, on boosting prospects for workers with and without college degrees, coordinating with employers to address the skills gap, and enhancing post-secondary institutions’ career-launching capabilities.
- 08 Feb 2023
- Op-Ed
Building an Inclusive Workplace? Prepare to Shield It from Economic Fears
Mixed economic signals have many worrying about what's to come. Distracted leaders could lose sight of their inclusion and belonging goals to the detriment of future innovation. But it doesn't have to be this way, say Hise Gibson and Nicole Gilmore.
- 07 Feb 2023
- Research & Ideas
Supervisor of Sandwiches? More Companies Inflate Titles to Avoid Extra Pay
What does an assistant manager of bingo actually manage? Increasingly, companies are falsely classifying hourly workers as managers to avoid paying an estimated $4 billion a year in overtime, says research by Lauren Cohen.
- 02 Feb 2023
- Research & Ideas
Why We Still Need Twitter: How Social Media Holds Companies Accountable
Remember the viral video of the United passenger being removed from a plane? An analysis of Twitter activity and corporate misconduct by Jonas Heese and Joseph Pacelli reveals the power of social media to uncover questionable situations at companies.
- 01 Feb 2023
- Managing the Future of Work
Good jobs as good cause: The philanthropy of upward mobility
Rachel Korberg, Executive Director of the Families and Workers Fund, on the collaborative philanthropy model, public-private partnerships, defining good jobs, and the business case for creating more of them
- 01 Feb 2023
- Climate Rising
Climate Tech Investing in Deep Decarbonization
This bonus episode features Harvard Business Review’s Exponential View podcast, where Azeem Azhar interviews climate tech investor Shayle Kann, a partner at Energy Impact Partners. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of investing in the net zero economy and why Shayle prefers to frame it as deep decarbonization. They also cover what metrics venture capitalists should consider when investing in climate tech and how net zero electricity fits into solutions. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest/Host: ● Azeem Azhar, entrepreneur, investor, and host of Exponential View ● Shayle Kann, Partner, Energy Impact Partners
- 01 Feb 2023
- What Do You Think?
Will Hybrid Work Strategies Pull Down Long-Term Performance?
Many academics consider remote and hybrid work the future, but some business leaders are pushing back. Can colleagues working from anywhere still create the special glue that bonds teams together? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 31 Jan 2023
- Cold Call Podcast
Addressing Racial Discrimination on Airbnb
For years, Airbnb gave hosts extensive discretion to accept or reject a guest after seeing little more than a name and a picture, believing that eliminating anonymity was the best way for the company to build trust. However, the apartment rental platform failed to track or account for the possibility that this could facilitate discrimination. After research published by Professor Michael Luca and others provided evidence that Black hosts received less in rent than hosts of other races and showed signs of discrimination against guests with African American sounding names, the company had to decide what to do. In the case, “Racial Discrimination on Airbnb,” Luca discusses his research and explores the implication for Airbnb and other platform companies. Should they change the design of the platform to reduce discrimination? And what’s the best way to measure the success of any changes?
- 31 Jan 2023
- Research & Ideas
It’s Not All About Pay: College Grads Want Jobs That ‘Change the World’
Many college graduates will accept lower salaries for roles that have the potential to give back to society, says research by Letian Zhang. Could trading pay for altruism help shrink the income gap?
- 31 Jan 2023
- Op-Ed
Can Insurance Technology Solve the Uninsured Driver Problem?
High fees prevent many drivers from buying auto insurance—often with catastrophic consequences. Raymond Kluender offers a novel way to make coverage affordable and roads safer: Let drivers pay for only the days they drive.
- 27 Jan 2023
- Op-Ed
Have We Lost Sight of Integrity?
Elizabeth Holmes. Sam Bankman-Fried. George Santos. The list of leaders caught trying to con the public keeps getting longer, often with dire consequences, says Bill George. Do we no longer value the truth?
- 25 Jan 2023
- Managing the Future of Work
Extra credit: Reach University’s apprenticeship-to-degree model
In combining upskilling through on-the-job training with tailored online courses, Reach helps school districts develop faculty internally. Founder and chancellor Mallory Dwinal-Palisch breaks down the approach, which offers flexible degree programs to existing employees. Could this be a template for other in-demand professions?
- 24 Jan 2023
- Research & Ideas
Passion at Work Is a Good Thing—But Only If Bosses Know How to Manage It
Does showing passion mean doing whatever it takes to get the job done? Employees and managers often disagree, says research by Jon Jachimowicz. He offers four pieces of advice for leaders who yearn for more spirit and intensity at their companies.
- 23 Jan 2023
- Research & Ideas
After High-Profile Failures, Can Investors Still Trust Credit Ratings?
Rating agencies, such as Standard & Poor’s and Moody's, have been criticized for not warning investors of risks that led to major financial catastrophes. But an analysis of thousands of ratings by Anywhere Sikochi and colleagues suggests that agencies have learned from past mistakes.
Gregory Washington on the relevance of George Mason
The crisis in higher education argues for a more expansive approach to academics, workforce, and business development, according to the head of Virginia’s largest public university. The school’s first African American president talks about leading through Covid, promoting opportunity, and wrestling with the legacy of the institution’s namesake.