June 2020
Social Impact
Podcast: “I’m Looking for Systemic, Permanent Change Right Now”
Anti-Black racism is deeply embedded in corporate culture. On this special episode of The Insightful Leader, Professor Nicholas Pearce and Google’s Ginny Clarke discuss the moral responsibility of leaders to finally address that.
Marketing
How Have Top Marketers Responded to the Pandemic? With Rapid Innovation.
Leaders in industries from healthcare to casual dining are fast-tracking changes to the customer experience. Here are four of their stories.
Social Impact
What Will It Take to Alleviate Global Poverty?
We asked Kellogg experts what they wish NGOs and policymakers knew about poverty reduction. Their answers touched on everything from climate change to local bankruptcy laws.
Social Impact
Some Companies Actually Do See Financial Returns on Their Social Investments. Here’s What They Have in Common.
A new study finds that ESG investments—when paired with high employee satisfaction—boost stock performance.
Careers
Exhausted by Working from Home? Anxious about Going Back?
Tips from a clinical health psychologist on managing the work-related stressors that may be affecting your mental health.
Careers
How to Coach Your Sales Team through the Pandemic (and Beyond)
The founder of the Kellogg Sales Institute offers tips for adapting to this high-stakes moment.
Innovation
Want Your Employees to Innovate? Trust Them.
R&D teams take more risks—and do better work—when their CEOs have faith in them.
Strategy
Tired of People Invading Your Six-Foot Bubble? Game Theory Has a Solution.
Well, not exactly. But it does offer a new way of thinking about the problem.
Careers
Your Professional Development Doesn’t Need to Be Put on Hold
You can still seek out ways to stretch yourself or test out a new career path—even during a pandemic.
Careers
Younger Workers Lose Out When Their Coworkers Delay Retirement
But at fast-growing companies, the outlook is more promising.
Marketing
A New System for Getting Your Kids to Eat Healthier Foods
They tend to prefer variety. Here’s how to use that instinct to get more fruits and veggies on their plates.
May 2020
Policy
The Wrong Way to Ramp Up COVID-19 Testing
Robust testing is key to safely reopening the economy. But a new model shows that if testing is not paired with “smart containment,” it could backfire.
Leadership
Podcast: Now’s the Time to Hone Your Moral Decision-Making Skills
Dilemmas are rarely black-and-white. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we hear what fictional characters can teach us about today’s real-world quandaries.
Leadership
Easy Hacks to Improve Your Virtual Meetings
From “speed-storming” to building a team charter, these ideas boost creativity and comfort on video calls.
Operations
Having a Far-Flung Supply Chain May Lead to More Product Defects
When firms have to collaborate over long distances, the final product suffers.
Innovation
3 Strategies to Transform Your Business for the Pandemic Economy
You know you need to adapt. But how?
Organizations
Too Much Cross Talk. Too Little Creativity. How to Fix the Worst Parts of a Virtual Meeting.
Six tools from an unlikely place—improv comedy—to use on your next Zoom call.
Economics
The Treasury’s Former Chief Economist Takes Stock of the Pandemic’s Economic Impact
Kellogg’s Janice Eberly zeroes in on a few data points that demonstrate the massive challenge policymakers face.
Innovation
The U.S. Is Full of Innovative Thinkers. The Government Needs to Marshal All of Them to Fight Covid-19.
Here’s how we can accelerate efforts to reduce the spread, develop treatments, and find a vaccine.
Policy
What Can the Federal Government Do to Get the Economy Back on Track?
A former White House economist weighs the pros and cons of job-retraining programs, aid for states, and universal basic income.
Finance & Accounting
Taking on Debt Can Help a Company Grow—Until a Crisis Hits
A new study shows how highly leveraged companies have less flexibility to innovate in a downturn.
Economics
Here’s How Americans Are Spending Their Stimulus Checks
Real-time data pinpoints what we’re buying, and who’s spending the fastest.
Organizations
This Isn’t Their First Crisis: Many Family Businesses Are Uniquely Prepared for the Looming Recession
Even so, one of their core strengths could become a liability.
Healthcare
How to Craft Public-Health Messages That Work
The key? Understanding how fear and confidence shape healthy choices.
April 2020
Finance & Accounting
What Happens When Private-Equity Firms Start Making Deals Again?
There will be more buyout opportunities, but fewer on-site visits will make due diligence more difficult.
Leadership
Podcast: You Can Lead through a Crisis. But Can You Coach through One?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: three ways to help your employees arrive at their own answers to difficult questions.
Careers
Under Quarantine, It’s Not Marriage-as-Usual
A relationship researcher offers advice for cooped-up couples. Plus, how to preserve your work friendships.
Finance & Accounting
What the Current Crisis Means for Private Equity
Access to capital will likely buoy some PE firms and the companies they back. Others will be less lucky.
Leadership
A Pastor (and Management Professor) on Taking Care of Your Team during the COVID-19 Crisis
Share in their sacrifice. Don’t preach. And ask these three questions.
Social Impact
Uncertainty. Loss of Control. Why COVID-19 Is a Perfect Storm for Conspiracy Theories.
And how policymakers can help make them less appealing.
Finance & Accounting
The COVID-19 Crisis Reveals How Short-Term, Shareholder-First Thinking Still Rules the Day
From questionable buybacks to overly restrictive M&A clauses, a recent pledge to consider other stakeholders is ringing hollow.
Leadership
Podcast: Sure, Take That Zoom Call in Your Sweatpants. It Might Make You a Better Person.
When we stop compartmentalizing our home and work selves, we tend to act more ethically. Find out why on this episode of The Insightful Leader.
Economics
Companies Need to Prepare Today to Survive the Next 18 Months
An economist explains how leaders can try to lower fixed costs, retain workers, and mind their brands.
Leadership
How to Lead Your (Suddenly Virtual) Team through a Crisis
It’s going to require a shift in management style—and a healthy dose of overcommunication.
Economics
A Closer Look at Consumer Stockpiling During the Coronavirus Crisis
Researchers examined how households responded to shelter-in-place orders. They uncovered some surprises.
Marketing
Four Steps Marketers Can Take to Navigate the Pandemic
Step one: Press pause. Step two: Rethink everything.
Organizations
How Infectious-Disease Testing Can Improve Employee Performance
A new study on malaria prevention shows that employees who know their health status become more productive at work.
Leadership
Your Organization Needs a Coronavirus “War Room”
And other advice on making tough choices during a pandemic.
Marketing
When Building Your Brand, First Find Your Purpose
A conversation with the CMO of online bank Ally about staying committed to your company’s purpose as the organization grows.
Leadership
What Strong Crisis Leadership Looks Like during the Pandemic
COVID-19 is providing a crash course in crisis management. Leaders who display empathy, transparency, and aspiration will stand out.
The Latest: Our Faculty on the Coronavirus, Business, and the Economy
Finding a job during a pandemic. Plus, the fate of the 1918 “flu babies.”
Innovation
A New Product Release Often Sets Off a Customer Frenzy. But How Long Does It Last?
When consumers replace the old with the new, surprising trends emerge. A new mathematical model can better predict long-term sales.
Economics
The Unprecedented Stock-Market Reaction to COVID-19
A new analysis explains why this pandemic really is different.
March 2020
Social Impact
Podcast: Designing Social Impact Programs That (Really) Work
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: if a business is to survive in the long run, it’s no longer enough to make small changes to address inequality and climate change.
Policy
Containing COVID-19 Will Devastate the Economy. Here’s the Economic Case for Why It’s Still Our Best Option.
The death toll from failing to contain the virus will be far more costly to society.
Policy
How to Shore Up State and Local Budgets during a Coronavirus Recession
State governments are responsible for implementing much of the social safety net. They’ll be looking to the federal government for extra help.
Economics
Take 5: What Previous Recessions Can Teach Us about the Coronavirus Crisis
From stimulus strategies to how businesses will fare, research on past downturns can help inform our outlook today.
Operations
The Coronavirus Has Upended Supply Chains. Here’s How Companies Can Prepare for the Next Disruption.
There are strategies that both large and small companies can implement to make their manufacturing more agile.
Social Impact
What Your Business Can Do to Help the Community during the Coronavirus Crisis
Want to take action but don’t know how? Answering these three questions can get you started.
Leadership
Two Principles for Leading Your Organization Through the COVID-19 Crisis
A former Fortune 500 CEO offers a way forward during this time of unprecedented uncertainty.
Finance & Accounting
Many Funds Have Committed to Socially Responsible Investing—But Few Are Following Through
As money flows into ESG funds, new evidence shows that most asset managers aren’t actually changing their investment behaviors.
Leadership
Podcast: Is Management Training Worth It?
And which managers stand to benefit most? Find out on this episode of The Insightful Leader.
Social Impact
How a “Hypocrisy Intervention” Could Reduce Hostility toward Muslims
People are often hypocritical in how they assign blame for terrorist attacks. Highlighting this could help change attitudes.
Policy
When Do Open Borders Make Economic Sense?
A new study provides a window into the logic behind various immigration policies.
Marketing
When Do We Identify with the Bad Guy?
What started as research into consumer psychology led to deeper questions about human nature.
Leadership
Take 5: What Business Leaders Can Learn from the World of Sports
Specialists and scrappy underdogs can be just as indispensable in the office as they are on the playing field.
Organizations
Is Your Company’s Code of Conduct Encouraging … Misconduct?
Using words like “we” and “us” can signal to employees that they won’t be severely punished.
Finance & Accounting
Yes, Investors Care About Gender Diversity
By recruiting more women, tech and finance companies stand to add millions to their stock value.
Finance & Accounting
Why Financial-Market Pioneer Richard Sandor Is Building “the Most Boring Benchmark in America”
A conversation with the creator of AMERIBOR about interest-rate benchmarks in a post-LIBOR world.
Finance & Accounting
How to Pick a Loser
A hedge-fund manager explains what most traders get wrong about short selling and when to go long on a diamond in the rough.
Entrepreneurship
Is Your Company Culture on Autopilot?
Three tips for guiding your business through rapid growth.
February 2020
Innovation
Podcast: When AI Leaves the Lab
AI is now being used to serve customers. On this episode of The Insightful leader, we discuss trends and potential pitfalls that should be on companies’ radars.
Operations
Podcast: The (Surprisingly Muddy) Case for Transparency
Economists prize sharing information. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we ask if that’s always the right move.
Organizations
Why Anger Gets in the Way of Employee Activism
Moral outrage can be a powerful recruiting tool for social causes. But a different tactic is needed to motivate insiders.
Careers
Take 5: The Upside of Failure
A look at the surprising benefits of striking out, and how to make the most of your mistakes.
Organizations
Are You Giving All of Your Employees an Equal Chance to Succeed?
Make sure your organization is truly inclusive by following these three steps.
Operations
As Supply Chains Move Faster, Businesses Have an Opportunity to Cut Shipping Costs
How companies can make the most out of information gleaned during the delivery window.
Strategy
How to Design Financial Incentives in Professions That Are Highly Territorial
A study of doctors shows that the best incentive schemes harness a desire to expand and protect professional turf.
Marketing
How B2B Companies Can Up Their Customer Experience Game
Most companies focus on their own sales targets. They should be focusing on their clients’.
Organizations
Why Companies Shouldn’t Necessarily Fear Higher Employee Turnover
In private equity, team stability has long been prized. But new research shows that higher turnover leads to better performance.
Organizations
Do Manager Training Programs Boost Companies’ Productivity?
The answer has been surprisingly elusive. A new study tackles the question, and highlights the outsized value of HR training.
January 2020
Leadership
Podcast: How to Give Feedback That’s Actually Helpful
Forget the “feedback sandwich.” On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we’ll tell you how to up your game.
Leadership
Podcast: Do Bosses Who Trust Their Employees Deliver More Innovation?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, learn when you should—and shouldn’t—give your team room to fail.
Entrepreneurship
5 Tips for Pitching Your Startup to Investors
“Make your first 30 seconds count,” and other advice from a seasoned venture capitalist.
Careers
Take 5: How to Start Off Strong
Tips for plotting your first move, whether you’re negotiating a deal, paying off debt, or starting your workday.
Organizations
The Psychology Behind Conflict—and When It Can Be Harnessed for Good
A conversation about the role conflict plays in organizations and communities.
Organizations
Your Work Friends and Enemies Are Affecting Your Performance
A look at social triangles among day traders shows that profits increased under certain combinations of friend and foe.
Healthcare
Do Doctors Who Supervise Residents Spend Less Time with Patients?
Data from two ERs suggest that patients at teaching hospitals aren’t losing out on face time with senior physicians.
Finance & Accounting
Predicting Exchange Rates Is Hard. Could Dusting Off an Old Technique Help?
Investors take note: the “real exchange rate” may be a more accurate long-term forecaster than economists thought.
Finance & Accounting
How a Cash Crunch in India Led to the Widespread Adoption of E-Pay Technology
The rapid spread of a fintech app offers lessons for companies and policymakers.
Operations
How a Change to Food Inspectors’ Schedules Can Make Our Food Safer
Yes, they try to be objective. But seemingly small quirks in their schedules can affect their judgment.
December 2019
Careers
Podcast: When Teams Mess Up, Who Takes the Fall?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: how to make sure you’re not blaming the wrong person.
Organizations
How One Colorado Tech Firm Is Helping to Shape the Cannabis Industry
The key has been serving growers and retailers—as well as regulators.
Marketing
Take 5: How to Be a Savvy Holiday Shopper
Kellogg researchers explain the psychology of consumer decision-making.
Organizations
Podcast: How You Should Divvy Up Work between People and Machines
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: strategies for building a happier, more productive workplace.
Social Impact
Which Charity Will Do the Most Good with Your Donation? This Simple Tool Can Tell You.
Step one: choose a cause you care about. Step two: find out who’s having the most impact per dollar. Step three: donate with confidence.
Data Analytics
How Companies Can Mine Online Reviews for Product-Development Gold
The right techniques can uncover valuable insights in user-generated content.
Economics
Two Ways the Economy Could Have Recovered Faster after the Great Recession
Doubling down on these monetary policies could help combat future financial crises.
Operations
A Simple Way to Make Your Customers More Satisfied with Their Deliveries
Hint: It comes down to when you send status updates.
Economics
What’s Causing Wage Stagnation in America?
Previous explanations pointed to globalization and automation. But research shows that employer concentration is also to blame.
Leadership
Why Your Next Brainstorm Should Begin with an Embarrassing Story
This counterintuitive exercise can spark creativity.
November 2019
Careers
Podcast: Be Bold and Get What You Want
Done playing it safe? On this episode of The Insightful Leader, a three-time CEO offers advice on how to make difficult requests.
Leadership
Building Great Teams
Assembling and managing successful teams is a core leadership skill, whether you are convening a temporary task force, managing a full department, or running a school fundraiser.
Leadership
Podcast: Can a Little Embarrassment Make Your Team More Creative?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: new research suggests an unusual icebreaker to try at your next brainstorming session.
Policy
Dozens of New Terrorist Organizations Emerge Each Year. Which Ones Will Become Most Dangerous?
A new tool gets at the answer using the same techniques that investors use to evaluate startups.
Marketing
Entrepreneurs, Don’t Let Branding Become an Afterthought
Start defining your brand strategy on day one. Your future self will thank you.
Organizations
Why You Should Skip the Easy Wins and Tackle the Hard Task First
New research shows that you and your organization lose out when you procrastinate on the difficult stuff.
Careers
Take 5: How to Be Prepared for Important Career Moments
Expert advice on getting ready to network, negotiate, or make your case to the CEO.
Leadership
How Business Leaders Can Prepare for a Cyberattack
The former head of U.S. Cyber Command explains why any company can be a target.
Organizations
In an Era of Easy Outrage, When Should Brands Take a Stand?
A Kellogg professor explains how companies can navigate boycotts while staying connected with customers.