Advertise on podcast: VSB Inspiring Minds Podcast

How can students and professionals keep pace with a workplace that’s evolving faster than ever? In this episode, Wen Mao, PhD, The Helen and William O'Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business, joins Senior Associate Dean Jonathan Doh, PhD, for a timely conversation on the future of work. Together, they explore the forces reshaping today’s professional landscape—from emerging technologies to shifting skill demands—and share practical insights on how to adapt and stay competitive. They also highlight how VSB is preparing students to thrive amid constant change. Whether you’re a student, alumnus, or employer, this episode offers valuable perspective on navigating what’s next.

What happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond generating content and begins acting independently to complete tasks? In this episode, Nitin Joglekar, PhD, explores the rapidly emerging field of agentic AI and its implications for the workplace. Drawing on ongoing research and collaborations with faculty and students at the Villanova School of Business, Dr. Joglekar discusses how agentic AI systems could transform how organizations operate—from decision-making and workflow management to innovation and productivity. At the same time, he examines the important ethical and societal questions these technologies raise: How much autonomy should AI systems have? What guardrails are needed to ensure responsible use? And how should business leaders prepare for these changes?

Can good intentions alone close the gender pay gap? In this episode, David Anderson, PhD, associate professor of Economics, joins host Jonathan Doh, PhD, for a thoughtful conversation on how data analytics can reveal — and help fix — one of the workplace’s most persistent inequities. Dr. Anderson unpacks why some well-intentioned strategies for pay equity often fall short and how a more mathematical, evidence-based approach can lead to meaningful progress. Discover how data analysis can inform better policy, improve organizational practices, and ultimately advance equity in the modern workplace.

What happens when brands take a stand? In this episode, Professor Beth Vallen, PhD, and Tyler Milfeld, PhD, explore the complexities of purpose marketing—when brands take a stand on social or political issues. Based on Dr. Milfeld’s research, they discuss the unique challenges emerging brands face when they engage in purpose-driven marketing, why established brands often get more leeway and how consumers respond differently to activist messaging from established versus emerging brands. Tune in for an insightful conversation about the psychology behind brand activism and what it means for marketers trying to balance purpose and profit.

Is the “glass cliff” a myth? New research by Associate Professor Xiaoxiao Li, PhD, and Olivia Pfeiffer ’22 CLAS says yes. Listen as they dive into their groundbreaking findings that challenge the “glass cliff” phenomenon—the idea that women are more likely than men to be appointed to leadership roles in organizations facing crisis or decline. Their discussion unpacks the complexities of leadership selection, organizational context, and the persistence of assumptions in management which have important implications for both policymakers and executive leadership teams.

Can the private sector alone tackle climate change? No, says Dr. Jonathan Doh, associate dean of Research and Global Engagement at the Villanova School of Business, and the Herbert G. Rammrath Endowed Chair in International Business. It will take partnerships with governments and individuals, either personally or as a collective civil society. And all of us will need to both innovate and adapt to a changing world. In this episode of Inspiring Minds, Doh tells VSB student Alice Ke that each of us can make a difference in big and small ways.

In the first part of this conversation, Bernadette Goratowski talked with Dr. Steve Andriole, the Thomas G. Labrecque Endowed Chair in Business, about the role artificial intelligence could play in the business world. Here, they continue the conversation, discussing the future of professions like accounting, and how people should prepare for what’s to come.

It’s possible that some of the tasks that now take a business professional could soon be handed over to artificial intelligence systems, like Chat GPT. Dr. Steve Andriole, the Thomas G. Labrecque Endowed Chair in Business, talks about what that would look like, why emerging professionals should learn their way through this new world, and why businesses shouldn’t wait to prepare.

This episode of Inspiring Minds is about corporate social responsibility, how companies pay taxes, and whether there’s any relationship between the two. But it’s also about the value of returning to a question long after the research papers have been written, to see if the ideas hold true – and how Villanova’s mission demands that business leaders look at how their actions affect the communities around them. Luke Watson, PhD, The Kevin Tedeschi ’71 Assistant Professor of Accounting & Information Systems at VSB, talks with Justin Bagin ’22 MAC.

Economics doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s also about human rights, environmental rights, and people’s expectations of living a safe and prosperous life. Chris Jeffords, PhD, associate teaching professor, Economics, studies how these areas overlap. In this episode of Inspiring minds, he talks with Austin Glass ’22 VSB about his research and how to balance policies and ideas on paper, with their practical applications in the real world. They also discuss what the next generation of economists can do to prepare for a changing world.

Millions of people have been working from home for many months due to the pandemic. The shift has drastically altered commuting habits, spending patterns and --for many -- workplace communication. People feel disconnected from their colleagues and cranky about perceived slights. In this episode of Inspiring Minds, Jake Galgano ‘21 VSB talks with Manuela Priesemuth, PhD, Associate Professor, Management & Operations, about the ways companies can support their WFH employees while continuing to set expectations and effectively manage for success. NOTE: This podcast was recorded at the height of the pandemic and references events from March through September of 2020.

In this episode of Inspiring Minds, alumni Chris Josephs '18 VSB and Ryan Mazzie '18 VSB talk with Assistant Professor of the Practice Keith Wright, Accounting & Information Systems, about their highly successful tech start-up and the mindset of younger investors, who are used to sharing their entire lives online, including what stocks they buy and how much they pay. In January of 2021, Wall Street hedge funds bet that they could drive down GameStop’s stock price. The Reddit “hivemind” had other ideas. This is perhaps the best example of the way social media has changed the day trading landscape, as zero-commission trades and apps like IRIS have altered the Millennial and GenZ trading landscape forever.

For many people, the path to success can seem hard to follow. Even high-achieving students and employees can find themselves unsure about which choice to make when they reach a fork in the road. Critical decisions can be easier to make with the help of a mentor. In this episode of Inspiring Minds, Patrick Haley ‘21 VSB talks with Joyce E. A. Russell, PhD, The Helen and William O’Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business about the positive benefits of mentoring -- not just for the person seeking advice, but also for the mentor.

Payday lenders have few friends in the financial world. But without them, people who are unbanked would lose access to cash for necessary expenses. In this episode of Inspiring Minds, Kelsea Wong ‘21 VSB talks with Father Craig McMahon, Assistant Professor, Economics, about the complicated realities of the payday loan market, including the viability of alternative lenders and the effects of economic crisis on borrowers and lenders.

When your flight arrives at gate K, how long will it take you to walk to gate C, where your connecting flight departs? What about a walk from your hotel on 37th street to a park on 45th? Cities and businesses label our journeys in myriad ways, and those labels have an effect on how we perceive distance. In this episode of Inspiring Minds, Liz Ford ‘21 VSB talks with Shelly Rathee, PhD, Assistant Professor, Marketing & Business Law, about the expectations people have when destination labels use letters or numbers, and how businesses can use those expectations to drive consumer behavior.