Harvard's Hidden History

Bird’s eye view of Harvard University, Cambridge, MA | Drawn by Kyes and Woodbury. Harper’s Bazaar, 1895.

News from Harvard Business School

“Harvard Square is just a short walk over the bridge from Harvard Business School campus and has countless restaurants, shops, and plenty to do. On a recent Harvard Square burrito run, one of my section mates remarked that he wished he knew more about the history of the Cambridge side of Harvard’s campus and its environs.

“I played impromptu tour guide and pointed out four of my favorite historic sites around the Square – many of which HBS students pass by each day.”

Dean Edward Snyder. Yale SOM photo

SOM Reflects On Long-Time Dean’s Final Year

News from Yale SOM

“Even before Edward Snyder took on the School of Management deanship in 2011, he had a vision for what the school could be like.

“’I knew that business schools were good at essential competencies related to cooperation and competition,’ Snyder told Yale News. ‘But I had recognized that business schools should be positioned differently given the changes in the overall landscape of business and society. Yale was the perfect place to work on further integrating SOM with other academic units and making it distinctively global.’”

“Snyder announced last year that he will step down from his position as SOM dean in July 2019 and will return to full-time teaching and research at the school. His successor is yet to be named.”

David Booth shakes hands with President Robert J. Zimmer after receiving the University Medal from Joseph Neubauer, MBA’65, chairman of the University Board of Trustees. Photo by John Zich

David Booth Awarded University Of Chicago Medal

News from University of Chicago Booth School of Business

“The Board of Trustees has awarded the University of Chicago Medal to David Booth, MBA’71, for the profound impact of his philanthropic support and deep commitment to the University and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

“The University of Chicago Medal, which was awarded to Booth on Nov. 7, was established in 1976 by President John T. Wilson. It recognizes distinguished service of the highest order to the University by an individual or couple. Since its creation, it has been awarded to 23 individuals.”

Christmas Without Toys R Us: Who Will Fill Its Stockings?

News from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

“This year will mark the first holiday shopping season in decades without Toys R Us, the venerated toy store that shuttered after mounting financial problems and sliding sales. Amazon has already made steps toward filling the void, mailing glossy holiday toy catalogs — complete with QR codes for easy scanning — to millions of its customers in an effort to compete for shoppers that could go to Walmart, Target or other outlets for gifts. But don’t completely discount Toys R Us just yet: The brand, which decided in October not to liquidate all of its assets, has partnered with Kroger to put seasonal merchandise inside supermarkets in pop-up stores branded ‘Geoffrey’s Toy Box.’

“Knowledge@Wharton invited two retail experts to discuss what the Christmas shopping season will be like without Toys R Us: Wharton marketing professor Barbara Kahn, author of the book The Shopping Revolution: How Successful Retailers Win Customers in an Era of Endless Disruption, and Mark A. Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia Business School and former chief executive officer of Sears Canada. Following are key points from their conversation.”

LBS

How Transparency Is Damaging Social Media Marketing

News from London Business School

“A dog is the unlikely inspiration for an upcoming paper by Andrea Galeotti, Professor of Economics at London Business School. The Italian chihuahua named Miami, whose Instagram feed has 13,600 followers, is one of a growing breed of social influencers. Miami’s claim to fame is as ‘the world’s most travelled dog’, according to Condé Nast Traveller.

“What interests an economist such as Professor Galeotti, other than Miami’s quirky yet glamorous photoshoots, is the market he is engaged in as a social influencer.

“Miami is not an A-list celebrity but one of hundreds of micro-influencers, a new phenomenon made possible by platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Marketers want to place products with Miami, because his recommendations and endorsements reach followers increasingly missed by traditional media and they can see the engagement in the hundreds of ‘likes’ and reposts.”