Faculty Research Videos
Christina Lacerenza
Gordon and Susan Trafton Faculty Scholar
Assistant Professor
Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics
The Hidden Influence Behind Strong Leadership Teams
Christina Lacerenza explores how “right‑hand partners” help leaders see beyond their blind spots through a process called heedful challenging. Drawing on interviews with more than 70 chiefs of staff and executives, her research reveals how trust, perspective‑taking, and behind‑the‑scenes influence shape stronger organizational outcomes. The findings highlight how intentional partnerships between leaders and trusted advisors can elevate decision quality and strengthen organizations.
Based on "Becoming a Right-Hand Partner: How Lower-Power Employees Heedfully Challenge Organizational Leaders"
Nathan Marshall
Myrtle and Tony Tisone Estate Memorial Business Fellow
Accounting PhD Program Co-Director
Associate Professor
Accounting
Who Gets Investigated? Unpacking SEC Enforcement
Nathan Marshall breaks down new research using FOIA data that reveals how signals of noncompliance, private‑sector scrutiny, and public trigger events shape early-stage regulatory decisions. The work shows how resource constraints influence which leads are pursued, why some investigations are far more likely than others to result in enforcement actions, and how internal career incentives within the SEC affect case selection.
Based on "When are firms on the hot seat? An analysis of SEC investigation preferences"
Scott Shriver
Craig and Cynthia Smith Faculty Scholars Fellowship
Dean’s Faculty Scholar
Associate Professor
Faculty Director, MS in Marketing Analytics
Marketing
How the GDPR Reshaped Europe’s Digital Economy
Scott Shriver traces the digital footprints to uncover the real economic impact of Europe’s privacy law. Using billions of pageviews and significant e-commerce data, the research shows measurable declines in traffic, revenue, and personalized marketing performance, with smaller firms hit the hardest. This evidence‑driven analysis reveals how the GDPR's strict data limits can shift online behavior, highlighting the trade‑offs that come from modern privacy regulation.
Based on "Privacy and market concentration: Intended and unintended consequences of the GDPR."
Sentao Miao
Ruegg Family Faculty Scholar
Assistant Professor
Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Operations
Cracking the Code to Walkable Cities
While urban planners have long chased the "15-minute city," proximity alone doesn't always lead to more pedestrians. Sentao Miao and his co-authors used data from millions of travel records in Beijing reveals that the arrangement of facilities—not just their distance—is the true driver of walkability. By applying advanced discrete choice modeling and optimization algorithms, this study provides a blueprint for cities to transition from car-centric designs to vibrant, pedestrian-first neighborhoods.
Based on "Data-Driven Facility Layout for Enhancing Walk Appeal in Walkable Neighborhoods."
Dan Zhang
MediaOne Professor
Professor
Associate Dean of Research and Academics
Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Operations
The Future of Online Shopping
Retailers face an ongoing challenge of varying prices while tailoring product recommendations at scale. Dan Zhang explores this issue in a co-authored study, demonstrating how advanced algorithms and data analytics can revolutionize retail strategies to enhance efficiency, customer experience and profitability.
Based on "Joint Optimization of Pricing and Personalized Recommendations in Online Retailing."
Rebecca Mitchell
Stone Family Faculty Scholar
Assistant Professor
Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics
How Inclusive Teams Help Everyone Thrive
Rebecca Mitchell is driven by intellectual curiosity and real-world experience. Her research explores how organizations can create environments where everyone thrives by recognizing how diverse emotional and gender characteristics shape team dynamics, and how leaders can foster inclusive cultures that amplify every voice—helping teams perform at their best.
Jason Bennett Thatcher
Tandean Rustandy Esteemed Endowed Chair
Professor
Information Systems PhD Program Director
Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics
Research Excellence for Real-World Impact
Jason Thatcher explains how Leeds information systems faculty are tackling some of today’s most urgent digital challenges, like AI transparency, cybersecurity and misinformation, especially in high-stakes business environments.
Kai Larsen
Professor
Faculty Director, MS Business Analytics
Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics
The New Prometheus: Validity at Scale
Today’s researchers must ensure their designs are valid and reliable. Kai Larsen discusses his work to introduce a structured way that scholars can validate claims made about their technological innovations.
Gloria Urrea
Assistant Professor
Faculty Director for Graduate Distance & Online Learning
Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Operations
How Operational Transparency Amplifies Social Impact
Nonprofits play a vital role in global crises but struggle to engage donors and volunteers. Gloria Urrea reveals how operational transparency can foster trust, loyalty and deeper involvement.
Based on "The role of volunteer experience on performance on online volunteering platforms" and "Operational transparency on crowdfunding platforms: Effect on donations for emergency response."
Phil Fernbach
Salim Family Endowed Esteemed Professor
Professor
Chair of the Marketing Division
Marketing
Overconfident Investors Fall Prey to Biased Memory
Phil Fernbach explores how biased memory and "selective forgetting" fuel overconfidence, leading to costly mistakes. Learn how investors can recalibrate and make smarter decisions.
Based on "Investor memory of past performance is positively biased and predicts overconfidence."
Jeff York
MRB Professorship
Professor
Faculty Director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship
Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Operations
How Entrepreneurs Can Shift the Climate Change Narrative
Drawing on his groundbreaking research using the LEED green building standard, Jeff York explores how progress on climate solutions can transcend political divides. His findings reveal how entrepreneurial action and business innovation can reshape the conversation, drive sustainability and break through partisan barriers to deliver urgent solutions.