Business and Society with Michigan Ross

Episode 408 – Crypto Kleptocracy with Will Thomas

On the season four finale of Business and Society, we’re pulling back the curtain on the "Crypto Kleptocracy" and diving deep into how digital assets are reshaping the U.S. political landscape. Guest Will Thomas, assistant professor of business law at the Ross School of Business, explains how crypto ventures are being used to eclipse traditional wealth-building and sidestep current definitions of “quid pro quo.” Our discussion covers: * The Quid Pro Quo Gap: How transactions are being structured to bypass traditional paper trails and corruption laws. * The Supreme Court Factor: Analyzing how recent judicial narrowing on public corruption definitions has inadvertently paved the way for automated self-dealing. * The Trump Case Study: A look at how the shift from brick-and-mortar assets to digital ventures has created a new playbook for political fortune. * Regulatory Roadmaps: Evaluating the proposed solutions, from aggressive securities law enforcement to the creation of a specialized federal task force. * This shift toward digital assets is blurring the line between political influence and personal wealth. We examine how the automation of self-dealing, combined with the narrowing of legal guardrails, makes modern oversight a necessity, not an option. This raises an important question: Is a technology designed to democratize finance destined to become a tool for corruption at scale? CREDITS * Executive Producers: Judi Melena Smelser and Jeff Karoub  * Host: Jeff Karoub * Guest: Will Thomas * Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman * Theme Music: “Lost Einsteins” by Jeff Karoub ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 407 — Michigan Model of Leadership with Gretchen Spreitzer, Monica Worline and Mike Barger

For business leaders, modern work often asks them to pull off a balancing act that can seem nearly impossible. Innovate while maintaining stability; drive for results while being empathic to your team. Researchers at the University of Michigan realized these aren't just frustrating contradictions—they are four essential 'gears' of management, which they named the Michigan Model of Leadership. On this episode of Business and Society, Gretchen Spreitzer, Michigan Ross associate dean for executive and corporate relations, Monica Worline, lecturer in management and organizations, and Mike Barger, clinical assistant professor and area chair in business administration, discuss the Michigan Model of Leadership and its relevance, particularly in times of great change and volatility.  Based on 50 years of research and the Competing Values Framework—cited by the Financial Times as one of history's 40 most important business models—learn how this system helps leaders at all levels navigate the complexity of modern business. Key Takeaways: * Leadership as a "Flex" Between Competing Values * Overcoming "Natural Hard-Wiring" and Blind Spots * The Enduring Need for Human-Centric Leadership in the Age of AI CREDITS * Host: Jeff Karoub * Guests: Gretchen Spreitzer, Monica Worline and Mike Barger * Executive Producers: Judi Melena Smelser and Jeff Karoub  * Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman * Theme Music: “Lost Einsteins” by Jeff Karoub BONUS CONTENT Learn more about the Michigan Model of Leadership. [https://sanger.umich.edu/our-model/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 406 — Sports, Entertainment, and Culture with Marcus Collins and Gregg Latterman

Between the Grammy Awards, the Super Bowl, and this year’s Winter Olympics, this season has been buzzing with live entertainment.  On this episode of Business and Society, Michigan Ross professors Marcus Collins and Gregg Latterman sit down with Jeff Karoub to discuss the entertainment industry. Topics covered include the human connection that synchronous viewing experiences provide, the evolution of live production design for the sake of at-home audiences, and the ways music reflects the zeitgeist.  Collins and Latterman delve into the inner workings of the music industry and the impact of AI, exalting the power of novelty in successful music and discussing the artist’s crucial role in finding, building, and maintaining an audience.  Listen to Marcus Collins’s podcast From The Culture on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7mYFUlY2MBMuGz6FMk2P1n?si=2a9fbd5fbaad44b1], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-culture/id1867436851], or Youtube [https://youtube.com/@fromtheculturepod?si=T0xokZxIMd-YCf0d]. * Host: Jeff Karoub * Guests: Marcus Collins and Gregg Latterman  * Executive Producers: Jeff Karoub and Matt Trevor * Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman * Editorial Production: Mads Henke  Special thanks to Ashley Birch and Judi Melena Smelser. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 405 — "Big" Policy Changes, Big Impact on Healthcare

On this episode of Business and Society, Michigan Ross Professor Tom Buchmueller and Professor Anand Parekh from the School of Public Health sit down with Jeff Karoub to discuss healthcare changes taking effect. Topics covered include the introduction of work requirements for Medicaid starting in 2027, the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, the Healthcare Marketplace, and the damage dealt to the Affordable Care Act.  The guests speak to the link between health insurance coverage and decreased mortality, the importance of community health centers, and their experiences seeking bipartisan solutions to healthcare crises. Relevant Links: “The Impact of Health Insurance on Mortality” [https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-061022-042335] by Helen Levy and Thomas C. Buchmueller “How Cuts to the Insurance Marketplaces Will Harm Entrepreneurs” [https://www.briefingbook.info/p/how-cuts-to-the-insurance-marketplaces] by Vani Agarwal, Tom Buchmueller, Helen Levy, and Wesley Yin * Host: Jeff Karoub * Guests: Tom Buchmueller and Anand Parekh * Executive Producers: Jeff Karoub and Matt Trevor * Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman * Editorial Production: Mads Henke  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 404 — Tariffs, Inflation, and the Holidays

This November, tariffs are in effect and in flux, the job market is unstable, and AI continues to impact the way business is done. Consumers and businesses alike are looking out for these trends in the economy as the holiday shopping season approaches. On this episode of Business and Society, Ross professors Ari Shwayder and Michael Speigl discuss the current state of the economy, unpacking the macroeconomic data and the uncertainty surrounding it. Topics covered include the bifurcated nature of today’s economy, the ways tariffs are gradually being passed on to consumers, changes in the labor market, AI, and predictions for the upcoming holiday shopping season. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.