March 2026
Innovation
The 4 Stages of AI Adoption—and Why Most SMBs Are Still Stuck at Level 1
The question is no longer whether AI will affect small and mid-sized businesses. It’s how—and how fast.
Operations
Podcast: Automation, Answers, and Advice—a Playbook for AI Adoption
So you’ve tinkered with AI, but now you want to level up. Here are tips from Kellogg faculty on using the tech more effectively.
Careers
How to Quash Your Fear of Messing Up
FOMU can lead to an overabundance of caution. Read tips from a Kellogg expert on embracing risk and owning mistakes.
Policy
4 Ways Government Subsidies Can Curdle
The return of full-fat dairy to school menus illustrates how government protection of struggling industries can backfire for companies and consumers.
Marketing
Cashing In on Cute
Marketers, take note: there’s a strong connection between one’s political leanings and a preference for “cute” product aesthetics.
Finance & Accounting
How International Investing Still Pays
Globalization causes world markets to move in sync. But a data-driven strategy shows that there’s still an edge in looking beyond U.S. stocks.
Marketing
What Lures Netflix Viewers?
A new model disentangles the appeal of the platform’s shows and movies from the influence of its recommendation system.
Economics
The Slow Drip of Price Increases
An economic model helps explain why starting low and slowly increasing prices often leads to the highest profits over time.
Innovation
The Recipe for Innovation? An Alliance Between Art and Science.
Three tips to help organizations build bridges between creative and systematic thinkers.
February 2026
Economics
The New Global Order
As the post–Cold War era recedes, new spheres of influence are emerging.
Economics
Podcast: The Global Trends Shaping the Way We Do Business
Uncertainty is everywhere. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we examine the effect of geopolitics on everything from Barbies to Sharpies.
Organizations
Can AI Help Humans with Empathy?
Large language models are surprisingly good at recognizing empathic communication—and can teach people how to better connect with others.
Organizations
Take 5: We Can Work It Out
Office disputes can be stressful and disruptive. Kellogg faculty offer strategies that can help.
Operations
Podcast: How Do Those Valentine’s Day Roses End Up in Your Bouquet? It’s Complicated.
Millions of blooms. Two continents. One day. And a very busy airport. On this (rerun) episode, we hear how our favorite symbol of love gets from point A to point B.
Careers
3 Signs It’s Time for Your Next Chapter
To keep your career on track, it’s better to make a job change early than to overstay your welcome.
Politics & Elections
Bucking the Party Line May Not Be as Perilous as People Think
Republicans and Democrats overestimate backlash from their own party for voicing dissent. It could be making polarization worse.
Operations
The Vicious Cycle of Long Wait Times
The longer customers wait, the longer they take when it’s their turn. That can gum things up further.
Economics
Is AI Turning Back the Clock on the Job Market?
Historically, new technologies have replaced jobs requiring more manual tasks. But AI is doing the opposite, with big implications for workers.
Marketing
In Price Negotiations, Every Second Counts
A study of millions of eBay transactions shows who benefits when buyers and sellers take longer than usual to respond.
Economics
4 Trends to Watch in China’s Economy
The challenges go beyond tariffs and trade wars. A Kellogg expert discusses real-estate anxieties, youth unemployment, and other factors clouding the nation’s outlook.
January 2026
Marketing
Take 5: Rewriting the Ad Playbook
The marketing world is always evolving. Here are research-backed insights on AI, success metrics, and other advertising trends.
Leadership
Podcast: The Authentic Appeal of Influencer Marketing
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, learn why companies should embrace the social-media testimonial, warts and all.
Organizations
To Grow, Businesses Should Look to Family Firms for Inspiration
Family-run companies find success by taking a long-term view and staying nimble in uncertain economic times.
Politics & Elections
How Does Education Shape Our Voting Habits?
The cutoff date for starting kindergarten can make a difference in people’s long-term education levels—and voting behavior.
Innovation
Can a New GPT Accelerate Human–AI Collaboration in Science?
SciSciGPT takes on the tedious tasks so scientists can dream bigger.
Organizations
Beware AI’s Very Human Biases
Two experts discuss what you need to know about the technology’s limitations and how to avoid unforeseen consequences.
Operations
Do You Really Need All That Data?
Not always. An algorithm helps decision-makers figure out precisely which data they need to find an optimal solution.
Finance & Accounting
Why It’s So Hard to Battle Corporate Debt with Policy
A 2017 tax bill reduced the amount of loan interest that companies could write off. It barely made a dent on borrowing.
Operations
Say Hello to Your New AI Study Buddy
As students continue to use generative AI for their homework, professors have found a way to enrich rather than combat the experience.
Innovation
When It Comes to Creativity, AI Doesn’t Always Have the Answer
A classroom experiment shows why you shouldn’t short-circuit the brainstorming process.
Leadership
How to Set the Most Effective New Year’s Resolutions
It’s time to think about what you want to do, try, and change in 2026. Here’s a plan for making your resolutions a success.
December 2025
Economics
Can America Win the New Race for Scientific Leadership?
If the U.S. has truly entered a second Cold War, it should repeat the strategy that helped it win the first one: expanding the scientific frontier at home.
Policy
Should I Feel Guilty about Using AI?
While AI queries have a modest carbon footprint, power-hungry data centers need more transparency and regulation.
Operations
When Supply-Chain Disruptions Strike, Preparation Is Everything
“Disruptions expose the difference between firms that merely survive and those that gain strategic ground.”
Careers
Podcast: Focus on Your Story, Not Your Résumé
As your career progresses, it can be easy to get stuck in a narrow professional lane. Learn how to break free on this episode of The Insightful Leader.
Leadership
3 Tips for Ethical Decision-Making
As a leader, you often have to make morally complex choices. Here’s how to do so when there’s no single right answer.
Marketing
As AI Eats Web Traffic, Don’t Panic—Evolve
An SEO expert offers three tips for adapting to “zero click” searches and chatbots.
Marketing
When It Comes to Giving, People Value Time over Money
Monetary donations are generally more helpful for charities. So why do people prefer to donate their time instead?
Organizations
Take 5: Ways to Kindle Workplace Creativity
From brainstorming a little longer to incentivizing risk, these ideas can help your organization think differently.
Finance & Accounting
Can Email Reminders Help Fix the Savings Crisis?
A megastudy finds that a simple nudge can make a meaningful difference.
Organizations
Houston, We Have a Solution
Kellogg researchers reveal a set of best practices—based on simulated missions to Mars—to keep teams working together effectively.
November 2025
Leadership
Podcast: I Respectfully Disagree
From ketchup on hot dogs to politics, it can be hard to talk constructively about polarizing issues. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we play a game to recognize the traps we often fall into and learn how to avoid them.
Economics
The Economic Price We Pay for War
A study of armed conflict in the post–World War II era finds that no matter the outcome on the battlefield, economies suffer on all sides.
Strategy
The Growth Factor Fueling Industry Behemoths
Standardizing production has helped massive companies like IKEA, Starbucks, and Coca-Cola outscale their competitors.
Leadership
Podcast: In Workplace Negotiations, Put the Relationship First
It’s not just about salary. On this episode of The Insightful Leader’s “Ask Insight,” we hear how to approach some common work tensions by finding common ground.
Organizations
What Does It Mean to Be Rational?
It’s more than just being logical and analytical, research shows. But misperceptions can affect how people are treated and how much they are paid.
Operations
Sure, AI Can Automate. But How Can You Use It to Innovate?
A Kellogg professor’s experience deploying AI in the classroom shows how domain knowledge and experimentation can lead to true breakthroughs.
Politics & Elections
When Campaigns Backfire
A leaflet campaign during the 2023 Argentine presidential election was expected to hurt an outsider candidate but had the opposite effect. What went wrong?
Marketing
Political News? Not in My Feed.
A new study of smartphone habits reveals that, in the runup to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, political content was mostly an afterthought.
Leadership
Why Your Network Is the Answer to Everything
The people you meet over your career can be an invaluable resource for discovering what you needed to know.
Marketing
What Happens When a Luxury Brand Loses Its Iconic Founder?
Whoever inherits the role must strike a balance between remaining true to the founder’s vision and not getting stuck in the past.
October 2025
Leadership
Podcast: Managing Layoffs without Compromising Your Morals
There’s no “correct” approach to laying people off, but on this episode of The Insightful Leader, we discuss how you can maintain your integrity through the process.
Careers
Take 5: Feeling Stuck? Try a Career Makeover.
Whether you’re considering a job change or looking for a hot streak, research and insights from Kellogg faculty can help.
Organizations
Agree to Disagree? 5 Tips to Cool Down a Heated Argument.
A new game helps people find common ground on divisive issues. But you don’t need to play to practice its principles.
Leadership
Podcast: When We Get Too Comfortable, It’s Tough to Take Flight
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, an executive coach offers three tales of leaders who let complacency get in the way of success.
Innovation
Do Scientific Prizes Reward Innovation or Reputation?
Scientists who receive the Nobel Prize and other accolades do more-novel work both before and after winning, new research finds.
Strategy
Free or Paid Subscription? For Online Platforms, It's a Dance.
Whether they are selling your data or selling you the product, companies have to wrestle with competition and privacy concerns.
Strategy
Work First or Family First?
A new model shows why women lag behind in leadership roles—and how two policies could help narrow the career gender gap.
Marketing
In the Legalized Drug Industry, Stereotypes May Drive Sales
Conventional wisdom says that minority-owned branding limits your audience. That’s not the case for cannabis and psychedelics.
Politics & Elections
Strong-Arm Leaders Often Get the Minority Vote
A study of voter preferences in the U.S. and Europe—across a wide range of races, ethnicities, and political affiliations—reveals why.
Organizations
Does Your Company Need a Chief AI Officer?
It’s the hot new C-suite role, but not every business needs the same strategy.
Leadership
Leaders, It’s Time to Stop Being Cozy
Four tips from a CEO to get out of your comfort zone and help your company fly.
September 2025
Policy
Which Political Party Provides More Funding for Science?
Though both Republicans and Democrats have historically supported federal funding of research, one party has spent more.
Finance & Accounting
Take 5: Personal Finance Isn’t Just Personal
Research and insights from Kellogg faculty show that our financial decisions can have ripple effects.
Finance & Accounting
Ready to Buy a House? Beware the Online Calculators.
Affordability and rent-vs-buy tools are easy to use but can be misleading. Here’s a holistic approach to making your decision.
Marketing
When a Rebrand Meets Backlash
Cracker Barrel’s attempt to modernize overlooked how the world of marketing has changed.
Leadership
Succession Is the Top Responsibility of a Board—Yet Many Avoid It
Boards need to view potential CEO successors as a priority and offer them opportunities for substantial board interaction.
Finance & Accounting
Big Goals, Small Steps—Why Most Corporate Green Initiatives Fall Short
Despite making commitments to cut emissions, many companies are acting in the short term and underfunding projects.
Strategy
When People Game the System, It Helps to Shake It Up
Can introducing a lottery for organ transplants discourage line jumpers and give everyone a better chance?
Social Impact
How Durable Design Can Save Lives
Kellogg researchers partnered with UNICEF on target product profiles for newborn medical devices for low-resource settings.
Organizations
Why Big Problems Can Feel Small
When people hear a problem is widespread, they are less likely to consider it serious—and less inclined to act.
Marketing
Customers Are Taking a Shine to Eco-friendly Products
Sustainable alternatives were once viewed as inferior to their standard counterparts. But now, consumers equate “ecological” with “reliable,” easing industry fears.
August 2025
Innovation
Take 5: AI’s Past, Present, and Future
Artificial intelligence is transforming business, science, marketing, and labor. Kellogg faculty tell us how we got here and what could be next.
Social Impact
To Align Purpose and Profit, Company Culture Matters
An Italian energy firm’s climate campaign illustrates how to tackle social problems without sacrificing the bottom line.
Marketing
Are Your Ads Truly Paying Off?
Inconsistent methods make it hard to know if a campaign is working. New approaches to measuring return on ad spend can help companies make better decisions.
Economics
The Crisis of the Chinese Family
Declining fertility rates in China might prove particularly destabilizing—and difficult to reverse.
Economics
Is It a Coin Flip or Is It Justice? It Could Be Both.
Game theory shows that it often makes sense for judges to rule at random.
Strategy
How Trade Secrets Fuel the International Auto Industry
To expand into China, companies like Toyota, Volkswagen, and BMW were required to work with local manufacturers, who then gained access to crucial knowledge.
Finance & Accounting
When Banks Get Picky about Lending, the Economy May Suffer
Being too restrictive about who can borrow has ripple effects that can prolong economic downturns.
Marketing
When AI Thinks Too Much Like a Human
Generative AI models are susceptible to the same errors that humans make when interpreting statistical results.
Operations
Surge Pricing in Aisle Five?
Despite concern, the use of digital price tags in grocery stores hasn’t moved the needle on costs for consumers.
Organizations
5 Questions to Consider When Deciding Whether to Start a Family Office
Ask better questions to understand the purpose, costs, structures, and your family’s alignment.
July 2025
Organizations
Is Tenure a Golden Age for Research?
A large study finds that there’s a trade-off. While tenured researchers may publish less, they often come up with more novel ideas.
Organizations
How Peace Can Be Good for Business
Expanding ESG strategies to include conflict reduction can benefit both companies and the regions in which they operate.
Organizations
Take 5: Making Communication Work … at Work
Embrace vulnerability, know when to keep silent, and other strategies from Kellogg faculty.
Organizations
Does an Athletic Past Give Job Applicants a Lift?
The competitive edge athletes get in the job market may come at the expense of candidates with other life experiences.
Entrepreneurship
5 Tips for Preparing to Scale Your Startup
Before hitting “go” on a growth strategy, founders need to make sure they are ready. Here’s a pre-flight checklist for entrepreneurs.
Leadership
Why "I’m Sorry" Are Two of the Strongest Words for Leaders
Sincere apologies show those around you that you understand and are willing to learn from your mistakes.
Economics
When Memory Leads to Wrong Moves
In new situations, we tend to rely on past strategies to guide our decisions—even when a fresh approach may be better.
Marketing
Knock Knock. Who’s There? Generative AI.
Learning that a joke, a story, or art came from AI boosts our confidence in our creativity.
Economics
Fixing a Market Mismatch
Nurturing markets in areas where products or services are needed but conspicuously absent is about more than supply and demand.
Finance & Accounting
Investment Transparency Encourages Copycats—and Creates Risks
While regulations nudge insurance companies toward prudent portfolios, they may also increase systemic fragility.
June 2025
Careers
New Job, Different Industry. How to Succeed When You Make the Leap.
When you don’t just switch companies but entire sectors, you need to do your homework, focus on the culture, and build credibility fast.
Organizations
Slowing AI’s Domino Effect on Workplace Inequality
Choices we make during model design and implementation can ease AI’s downstream damage—and amplify its benefits.
Finance & Accounting
What Makes the U.S. Dollar So Special?
Despite its ups and downs, the dollar has maintained global dominance for years. New research shows why that is—and why it might not last forever.
Operations
How Your Business Can Adapt to Tariffs—and Come Out Ahead
Start by finding alternative sourcing locations. And if you don’t have them, build them now.
Careers
Podcast: How to Stay Resilient in the Face of a Major Setback
When Kellogg’s Craig Wortmann lost a portion of his leg to cancer, he felt like he lost part of his identity, too. On this episode of The Insightful Leader podcast, he offers a guide to “bouncing back better.”
Organizations
Nepotism Can Be a Good Thing in Family Business—If You Get These 4 Things Right
Here’s a cautious promotion of strategic nepotism in the family business.
Organizations
The Upside of Recruiting Your Rivals
Teams that acquire players from their competitors gain an advantage that goes beyond pure skill.
