Ripple Effect

What do successful retailers do when the strategies that once fueled their growth stop working? Wharton Professor Marshall Fisher discusses how successful retailers adapt when traditional growth opportunities begin to disappear. Drawing on research into the strategies of Costco, Walmart, and Dillard’s, he explains why retailers move through different phases of growth, from opening new stores to ex...

David Reibstein, Wharton Marketing Professor and lead researcher behind the Best Countries Report, discusses how a nation’s reputation influences investment, tourism, trade, and global influence. Drawing on data from more than 15,000 respondents worldwide, Reibstein explains why Switzerland continues to rank among the world’s most respected countries, why the United States fell out of the top 10 f...

Why does someone else’s vacation sometimes make our own feel less satisfying? Maurice Schweitzer, Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions at the Wharton School, explains the psychology behind vacation envy and why we instinctively compare our experiences to those of others. From social media-fueled comparisons to unrealistic travel plans and dynamic pricing, Maurice explores the hidden...

Jerry Wind, Lauder Professor Emeritus and Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, joins Dan Loney to discuss how political polarization in the United States has evolved beyond traditional party lines into a deeper ideological divide. Drawing from a marketing and segmentation perspective, Jerry explores why the country is increasingly defined by pro Trump and anti-Trump alignment rather than...

Katherine J. Klein, Edward H. Bowman Professor of Management at The Wharton School, discusses new research on leadership succession and how employees respond when a new leader takes over an organization. Drawing from a large-scale study of public schools, she explains why successors often have a unique window of influence, how coaching impacts organizational performance, and why leaders must under...

Olivia S. Mitchell, Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, joins The Ripple Effect to discuss the current state of financial literacy in the United States. While more states are introducing financial education requirements, progress remains uneven across schools and communities. Mitchell explains why starting earlier is critical, how parents and educators can bett...

Matthew Bidwell, Professor of Management at the Wharton School, explores how the job search process is evolving for today’s graduates and what it takes to break into the workforce. As hiring has slowed across traditional pipelines like consulting and tech, the path to a first role has become more competitive and fragmented. In this episode, Bidwell explains how AI is transforming applications, mak...

Wendy De La Rosa, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, explores how people think about tax refunds and why those decisions often don’t align with their financial goals. She explains why many treat refunds as “extra money,” leading to overspending and missed opportunities to save or pay down debt. The conversation also highlights inefficiencies in the tax system, where 20 to 30 p...

Wharton’s Eric Orts talks about his new book, The Ethics of ESG: Critically Assessing the Environmental, Social and Governance Movement . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When organizations face disruption, men and women respond differently to protect their professional networks. New research from Wharton reveals that women intensify their focus on existing relationships with other women during mergers and acquisitions, creating denser, more supportive networks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is becoming a significant part of our daily lives, shaping how we work, think, and make decisions. But as we increasingly rely on AI tools, we must ask: How does this impact our decision-making processes? Wharton professor Gideon Nave and postdoctoral researcher Steven D. Shaw discuss the concept of cognitive surrender and its implications for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Wharton’s Annie Wilson explains how the Olympics and the Super Bowl, which happened at the same time this year, are a boon for brands that know how to capitalize on the moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joao Gomes, senior vice dean at Wharton, joins Itay Goldstein, chairperson of the Finance Department, to discuss key takeaways from the 2026 Future of Finance Forum , an event that convened academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss digital assets, central banking, the U.S. federal debt, artificial intelligence, geopolitics, and private markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Wharton marketing professor Pinar Yildirim explores what research reveals about modern romance, dating apps, and long-term relationship success in an era of digital connection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As AI-generated content becomes increasingly sophisticated and more indistinguishable from authentic work, how should brands deploy these tools ethically and differentiate themselves in a market where everyone has access to the same technology? Wharton marketing professor Americus Reed breaks down the current landscape, from early AI adoption to emerging best practices. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Wharton real estate and finance professor Benjamin Keys explains why the problems plaguing the residential and commercial real estate markets are likely to persist in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton management professor Mike Useem explains how leadership has evolved in recent years and how leaders can better handle economic uncertainty, social change, and innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton professor Katy Milkman explores the psychology behind goal-setting, why we fail, and the research-backed strategies that can help sustain new habits. She also discusses how businesses can leverage resolution mindsets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, listen to curated excerpts from this year’s Ripple Effect podcast, where Wharton professors discuss a range of trending business topics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton’s Ethan Mollick is part of a research team determining the outer limits of what AI will do when prompted, including whether it will hurl insults or help with illegal activity. This episode is part of the “Research Roundup” series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The best way to stop disinformation from spreading on social media is to prevent sites from sharing aggregate data, says Wharton’s Eric Clemons. This episode is part of the “Research Roundup” series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOMO is real, and so is the research behind it. Wharton’s Barbara Kahn explores the business implications of the “fear of missing out.” This episode is part of the “Research Roundup” series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton’s Philip Nichols explains why AI isn’t useful for combatting corruption, at least not yet. This episode is part of the “Research Roundup” series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book Creativity in the Age of AI , Wharton’s Jerry Wind explores ways to use AI to unlock creativity for personal and professional success. This episode is part of the “Meet the Authors” series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wharton’s Judd Kessler shares insights from his new book Lucky by Design , which helps readers strategize how to get more of what they want out of life. This episode is part of the “Meet the Authors” series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.