Darden in the Media

Darden professors remain sought-after experts to comment on leading global business issues in top publications. Read a few of their insights from recent features in the media.

Super Bowl Ads Keep It Light by Using Nostalgia and Stars

Associated Press

Professor Kimberly Whitler has become an annual go-to for the Associated Press as it seeks to dissect the best and worst ads aired during the Super Bowl, one of the most watched live events in the world. While many of this year’s favorite ads leaned into nostalgia, Whitler noted how first-time Super Bowl advertisers tend toward stunts and gimmicks that may or may not pay off with better sales results. “People want to do stunts because stunts get attention,” she said. “But at the end of the day, the ad has to communicate something that’s unique or better about the brand.”

What Can You Do When Your Company Reverses on Remote Work?

Quartz

Quartz recently examined the friction between employees and employers over return to the office and remote work policies. Professor Melanie Prengler said employees have leverage to negotiate if employers demand a return to the office, and cautioned employers about the backlash they could face. “Just like you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube, you can’t demand remote workers return to the office, at least without making a big mess,” said Prengler. “Having that taken away is painful. I would not be surprised if people felt a loss of trust and respect in their organization.”

How to Complain at Work the Right Way and Get Ahead

The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal quoted Professor Jim Detert’s advice on how to lodge effective complaints at work. Detert emphasized that the words you choose when making a complaint matter. He cautioned against making overly definitive statements, such as “It’s obvious we should fix this,” which could alienate someone who doesn’t share that view. He also advised against using absolutes, such as “you never do this” or “you always do that.” With absolutes, Detert said, “You lose credibility because now you’ve sort of exposed yourself as exaggerating or ignoring inconvenient data.”

On The Bookshelf

The Rise of Corporate Feminism: Women in the American Office, 1960–1990 (Columbia University Press)

Professor Allison Elias

From the 1960s through the 1990s, the most common job for women in the United States was clerical work. So how did feminism in corporate America come to represent the individual success of the executive woman and not the collective success of the secretary? Professor Allison Elias argues that feminist goals of advancing equal opportunity and promoting meritocracy unintentionally undercut the status and prospects of so-called “pink-collar” workers. The book charts the trajectory of modern feminism at work, following the political, legal, societal and cultural changes that influenced the nature of secretarial work from 1960 to 1990.

Strategy in the Digital Age: Mastering Digital Transformation (Stanford Business Books)

Professor Mike Lenox

Digital transformation is much more than building the digital infrastructure to gather and process data. It is about understanding how technologies enable the creation of innovative services and products. Covering major topics such as big tech, data analytics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, autonomy, cybersecurity, data privacy and antitrust, Professor Mike Lenox outlines a set of original frameworks to help leaders devise their strategies for digital transformation. Readers will learn how to navigate the human dimensions of the transformation and tackle the numerous social and policy challenges raised by digital technology.