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The ‘Equal-Opportunity Jerk Defense’: When Rudeness Protects Prejudice

Sexism and rudeness: not mutually exclusive. New research shows that rudeness can hide sexism, as observers may dismiss perpetrators as “equal-opportunity jerks.” Darden professors explain how the phenomenon not only turns bad behavior into plausible deniability, it can also serve as a barrier to addressing sexism in the workplace.

Can Venture Capital Attract Human Capital? The Role of Investors’ Reputations

One of the key challenges facing fledgling ventures is recruiting talent. Darden Professor Ting Xu shares findings from his recent study on how investors’ reputations can attract in-demand employees to their portfolio companies.

Reactions to a Public Health Crisis: National Identity and Prevention

The WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic two years ago. In one of the largest health psychologies studies ever, a Darden professor researched factors related to adherence to public health measures, including: national identity — different from nationalism — political affiliation, and consistent messaging from leaders across the political spectrum.

Identity-Based Alienation: How Marketing Can Backfire

What if a product is marketed to you based on one part of your identity? What if you consider that identity marginalized or the marketing is based on a stereotype, whether good or bad? In new research, a Darden expert examines when identity-based appeals are effective — and the importance of really knowing your customer.

Climate Change: The Window Is Closing to Take Action

The U.N.’s report on climate change reflects a more dire situation than the world may have anticipated in the 2015 Paris Agreement. We need multistakeholder action — across industries — including government policies and the private sector’s commercialization of clean technologies. Here, Darden experts delve into practical action companies can take.

Women at Work: The Past, Present and Future

As we celebrate Women’s History Month throughout March, Allison Elias, assistant professor of business administration and author of the book The Rise of Corporate Feminism: Women in the American Office 1960–1990, asks whether all women benefit from efforts to advance gender equity in the workplace, as well as where we've been and where we're going.

Actionable Tactics Toward Racial Justice

People agree that racism is real and wrong, but what can they do about it? With actionable advice, a new book in the Giving Voice to Values series explores how we can move from examining the causes to actively being part of the solution. For example: realistic influence, practically addressing structures, and effectively promoting diversity.

The Stakeholder Podcast: The Real Impact of Climate Change

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its assessment report on the increasing urgency of addressing climate change. Here Ed Freeman connects with Mike Lenox on the urgency around climate change and why stakeholder engagement is vital to solving one of the toughest political, engineering and technological problems.

Go Time: How Leaders Can Learn to Manage Crises and Uncertainty

Leading in the face of crisis and uncertainty is a different practice from daily management and decision-making. But good managers can learn to anticipate and manage through such high-stress experiences and embed lessons learned in the enterprise. A Darden expert shares best practices — do’s as well as don’ts — for successful crisis management.

Spotlight on Spotify: Scandal, Governance and the Potential for Prevention

Spotify is under scrutiny for content on Joe Rogan’s podcast and talent compensation. Darden experts explain how crises can be tempered with good governance — who’s on the board, how it thinks about risk, the business model, strategy, process and culture. Ultimately, “Governance is the way a firm organizes around and executes on its purpose.”