Business

Matthew Bidwell of the Wharton School spoke about corporate efforts to train workforces. “U.S. corporations actually paying to train people is somewhat unorthodox because it's something they've historically resisted,” he said. “But saying, ‘This is a government or university problem to solve,’ means there's probably nothing that's going to happen for five or 10 years. Waiting for the government or education isn’t going to fill jobs by next quarter.”

Gad Allon of the Wharton School said second-stage companies may struggle to grow without a strategic approach to expansion. “The opportunistic approach that brought them to where they are doesn’t work as the firm grows,” he said.

Jonah Berger of the Wharton School spoke about the consumer appeal of loyalty programs. “It feels good to be treated differently,” he said.

Mauro Guillén of the Wharton School wrote an op-ed about how dating apps can lead to lasting, satisfactory romantic relationships. “This Valentine’s Day, whether you are a user of dating apps or not, you should consider becoming a shareholder,” he wrote.

Research by Maisy Wong of the Wharton School finds that real estate brokers tend to direct buyers away from lower-commission properties in order to keep their fees high.

Sigal Barsade of the Wharton School shared her research on workplace loneliness, which can make employees less committed to their organizations. “This is not just the individual employee’s problem,” she said. “This is the whole company’s problem.”

Allison Elias of the Wharton School commented on Goldman Sachs’ efforts to diversify its board of directors, which could encourage other companies to do the same. “I think that this Goldman decision is symbolic of the strength of the business case and the belief people have in it,” she said.

Chris William Sanchirico of the Law School and Wharton School wrote an op-ed about comparatively low U.S. taxes on foreign profits of U.S. multinational enterprises, which he argues are effectively export subsidies.

Thomas Robertson of the Wharton School spoke about the types of people who would use furniture-rental services. “They’re moving a lot. They’re changing jobs a lot,” he said. “Why would you want to be saddled with furniture?”

Karl Ulrich of the Wharton School said the quality of execution contributes significantly to an entrepreneurial venture’s success. “That factor should be pretty consistent for a given entrepreneur over his or her career,” he said. “This would be one explanation for why some entrepreneurs—those with great skills—are consistently successful.”