Rotman Executive Summary

With challenges including continued upheaval from the pandemic, political and global instability, a changing workforce, new technology, and more, the makeup of the board of directors — and it's ability to shape and influence organizational responses when things go wrong — is more important than ever. And it's crucial to ask: do boards have the right talent at the table, and what it will take to bu...

What role should the office play, and can companies create equitable and sustainable WFH policies that work for all employees? Rotman's Sarah Kaplan and Carmina Ravanera weigh in on the future of hybrid work.  Show notes [0:00] In 2020, the world embarked on the great work-from-home experiment. And while as of 2022, businesses have called people back to the office, a big question mark remains [0:4...

Pre-2020, the sharing and gig economies were thriving. Then the pandemic changed the game. While Uber's food delivery was up, its ride sharing plummeted. Airbnb saw a wave of cancellations. The entire space stumbled. As we emerge from lockdowns and restrictions, new challenges face these Silicon Valley darlings. With ongoing rights over worker classification, and increased pressure to turn a profi...

The state of innovation wasn't great, even before you threw a pandemic or recession into the mix. And while it's too early to tell the long-term implications that team isolation and rising interests rate might have on the research and development process, associate professor Kevin Bryan explores why our process of innovation might be in crisis, and what might be done to solve the problem.  Show no...

Giving feedback is like a hand grenade. No matter how positive a spin you put on it, criticism is still hard to hear. So what can we do differently in tough conversations for a better outcome? Assistant professor Rachel Ruttan shares best practices from her research on advice-giving...and getting.  Show notes  [0:00] “I read this book called difficult conversations. And they use this analogy, any...

From social media to AI to celebrity endorsements — brands interact with us on a more personal level than ever. But how does that change our relationship with the products we buy and the companies that serve us? In the latest episode of the Rotman Executive Summary, professor Pankaj Aggarwal explores how the way we anthropomorphize brands is changing, and why that matters. Show notes  [0:00] “Thin...

Blockchains and cryptocurrencies went into a spectacular meltdown in 2022. Professor Andreas Park — an expert of finance innovation at the University of Toronto — says that despite the ill tidings, businesses should keep an eye on the space...or risk missing out on a game-changing technology.  Show notes:  [0:00] “So I think there's a disconnect between what people are building on the blockchain a...

What are the dos and don'ts of improving employee engagement in 2022? Professor Alan Saks, a human resources expert from the University of Toronto Scarborough/Rotman School, explains why it's time for a different approach to HR management.   Show notes [0:00]: "When you don't care about your employees, they will not care about the organization, they will not be engaged, and they may quit." Profess...