Best Rice Biz Podcasts (2025)

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Making Venture Capital More Accessible feat. Emmanuel Yimfor '20 41:28

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8d ago41:28

41:28

At a time when startups are primarily funded by private market investors, who you know has become a critical factor in gaining access to that venture capital. But how does the reliance on alumni and professional networks create barriers for startups from historically disadvantaged groups? Emmanuel Yimfor ’20 is a finance professor at Columbia Busin…

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Bringing Clarity to Women’s Healthcare feat. Monique Pourkarimi ’25 31:04

22d ago31:04

31:04

After navigating a challenging endometriosis diagnosis, multiple surgeries, and a complex healthcare system, Andria “Monique” Pourkarimi ’25 decided to tackle a gap she experienced firsthand. While pursuing an online MBA at Rice, an idea born in the classroom grew into Dr. Clara, LLC — a women’s health startup focused on closing the communication g…

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Connecting Investors and Veteran Entrepreneurs feat. Mike Tatz ’14 and Corban Bates ’15 38:29

1M ago38:29

38:29

During their time at Rice Business, Mike Tatz ’14 and Corban Bates ’15 saw an opportunity to connect veterans with capital and the network needed to start a business. As veterans themselves, they understood how important it is to have the right connections and platform to pitch an idea. With that, the Veterans Business Battle was born. But Mike and…

1
Lab-Grown Organs and a $900k Win feat. Charlie Childs and Madeline Eiken 29:29

2M ago29:29

29:29

Like the discovery of penicillin, it started with an unexpected moment in the lab. Charlie Childs and Madeline Eiken didn’t set out to revolutionize drug testing — but a surprise breakthrough led them to create the world’s first lab-grown human intestine and win the 2025 Rice Business Plan Competition's grand prize. Their startup, Intero Biosystems…

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How a Disney Skater Became a Startup Founder feat. Becky Jackson ’25 32:02

2M ago32:02

32:02

As the first figure skater to play Elsa in Disney On Ice’s Frozen and now a pioneer in the private security industry, Becky Jackson knows a thing or two about creating something from scratch. Before earning an MBA at Rice and becoming an entrepreneur, Becky had an illustrious figure skating career with Team USA and Disney. Now, she’s revolutionizin…

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Shaping The Future of Retail feat. Ramon Marquez ’25 and Taylin Luzcando 36:37

3M ago36:37

36:37

Retail executive Ramon Marquez can point to virtually every store in a shopping mall and explain how he helped that brand grow. With a passion for retail dating back to his childhood, he’s built a career as a leader in merchandising, product management and retail operations for major retailers like JCPenney, Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, and is no…

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Transforming AI Literacy in the Classroom feat. Corey Layne Crouch ’13 38:39

3M ago38:39

38:39

Despite entering college as a pre-med major, Corey Layne Crouch ’13 found her calling in the classroom after working as a teacher’s aide for a kindergarten class. Switching majors, she set out on a path to transform the education system from within. Corey’s entrepreneurial mindset in her work as a high school English teacher and school principal le…

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Investing in Ideas You Believe in feat. Ben Mayberry ’76 32:40

4M ago32:40

32:40

As a seasoned entrepreneur, investor and mentor, Ben Mayberry ’76 has seen a lot of change in the Houston business sector over the last 50 years. Beginning his career in the technology sector, Ben went on to co-found companies like BSG and Winston Sage, and has been deeply involved in the Rice Business community through mentorship and recruiting. B…

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Work Smarter With AI feat. Summer Husband ’02 26:46

4M ago26:46

26:46

With a Ph.D. in computational and applied mathematics from Rice, Summer Husband ’02 has been at the forefront of AI and data innovation for years. From transforming how the U.S. Navy uses machine learning to now leading data products and applied intelligence at Worley, her career bridges complex tech and real-world impact. Following her workshop, U…

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Why Smart Failure Wins feat. Michelle Lewis '05 29:48

4M ago29:48

29:48

What’s worse than failing in your career? For Michelle Lewis ’05, it’s not trying at all. That fearless mindset propelled her from a fine arts degree to a global career as a C-suite leader, board director, and private equity principal. Over the years, Michelle has helped drive $10 billion in acquisitions across 30 countries and guided companies thr…

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Professor, Ex-Bar Owner and Snoop Dogg’s Business Partner feat. Senior Associate Dean James Weston 37:10

5M ago37:10

37:10

In this special live episode of Owl Have You Know, James Weston, the senior associate dean for degree programs and Harmon Whittington Professor of Finance, reflects on his 25 years at Rice Business. Join James and host Maya Pomroy ’22 as they explore his journey from the Federal Reserve to Rice Business, the evolution of the school over the past tw…

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Striking the Right Chord feat. Shai Littlejohn '26 17:38

5M ago17:38

17:38

Rice Executive MBA student Shai Littlejohn is no stranger to reinvention. From law to music — and now, corporate counsel for one of the world’s most recognizable brands — she has built a career on embracing challenges and following her passions. As director and corporate counsel for global supply chain & innovation at Starbucks, Shai recently spoke…

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Where Big Ideas Take Flight feat. Dr. Paul Cherukuri 32:35

6M ago32:35

32:35

A great idea is just the beginning. How do you turn it into something bigger? Dr. Paul Cherukuri, Rice University's first vice president for innovation and chief innovation officer, works with academics and industry titans to remove roadblocks for budding entrepreneurs and help cement Houston and Rice as top hubs for innovation. Paul joins Owl Have…

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Fixing Healthcare, One Bottleneck at a Time feat. Professor Tolga Tezcan 36:23

6M ago36:23

36:23

Have you ever wondered why the wait times in emergency rooms are so long? Or what dictates the cost of healthcare and it seems so high? Professor Tolga Tezcan has studied healthcare systems around the globe, collaborating with hospitals and researching questions involving access and business operations. He has continued that work at Rice University…

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Transforming Everyday Products feat. Tanu Grewal ’05 39:49

7M ago39:49

39:49

Tanu Grewal ’05 knows that you can learn a lot about a person’s buying habits based on what brands are in their cabinets at home. Tanu is a global marketing leader. In her roles at Coca-Cola, Whirlpool, and Kohler, she helped revolutionize iconic products used by millions of consumers in their homes everyday. She has continued this work as the Vice…

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Remembering Scott Gale '19 26:05

7M ago26:05

26:05

In this episode, we pay tribute to our dear friend, colleague and co-host of the Owl Have You Know podcast, Scott Gale '19. Join us as we revisit some of Scott’s favorite episodes and hear from the Rice community about Scott’s lasting impact. Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM. Show Links: Transcript…

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Shaping The Future of Energy Infrastructure feat. Andrea Edmundson Bryan ’20 30:38

7M ago30:38

30:38

Andrea Edmundson Bryan wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do with her liberal arts undergrad degree. But one thing she did know? She had a strong curiosity to learn more about the business world. To Andrea's surprise, this curiosity led her to a career in oil and gas and an MBA at Rice University. Andrea is now the Chief Administrative Officer …

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AI Is Making Us Better Problem Solvers feat. Professor Jaeyeon Chung 37:05

8M ago37:05

37:05

How is AI enhancing our creativity and problem solving and how does that compare to other digital tools we use everyday, like search engines? Through controlled lab experiments and field studies, William S. Mackey Jr. Distinguished Assistant Professor Jaeyeon (Jae) Chung spends her time at Rice Business researching questions just like that. Her rec…

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Three Lessons to Live By feat. Mindy Smith ’13 44:39

9M ago44:39

44:39

It takes grit for a history major to walk into a job fair for business students and convince the rep from Kraft Foods that she’s the right person for the position. But that’s exactly what our guest, Mindy Smith '13 did. Landing that job with Kraft spring-boarded Mindy into a marketing and sales career where she held positions with companies like Co…

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Pivoting with Purpose feat. Will Eldridge '17 26:50

9M ago26:50

26:50

Owl Have You Know is pleased to welcome Twice-Rice grad Will Eldridge – a consultant at Bain & Company and the president-elect of the Rice Business Alumni Association Board. Will earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering at Rice in 2017. But after an unforgettable experience in MAcc program director Ben Lansford’s class, h…

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Keep a Founder’s Mentality feat. Dan Tinker ’04 40:08

10M ago40:08

40:08

How do you take a business from bankruptcy to an $18 billion acquisition? Today’s guest is Dan Tinker, CEO and President of SRS Distribution and Rice Business alum. When Dan took over SRS, the company was bankrupt. But under his steadfast and visionary leadership, SRS profits grew rapidly over 16 years, culminating in an acquisition deal with Home …

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Professors by Day, Partners for Life feat. Professor Lee Ann Butler & Professor Alex Butler 43:12

10M ago43:12

43:12

Today’s guests bring a unique blend of expertise and personal connection to the show. Lee Ann Butler and Alex Butler are not only esteemed faculty at Rice Business, but also a married couple! Lee Ann Butler, a senior lecturer in management, has been teaching business law and related courses since 2001, joining Rice in 2010. She also served as the f…

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Engineering the Future through Synthetic Biology feat. Shalini Yadav ’24 38:38

11M ago38:38

38:38

In this episode, we welcome Shalini Yadav, a 2024 Executive MBA graduate and visionary leader in the field of synthetic biology. With over 22 years of research experience, including a decade in leadership, Shalini has a deep expertise in synthetic biology, immuno-oncology, and therapeutics. She now serves as the Executive Director of Rice's Synthet…

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The Flexible Morals of American Voters feat. Professor Minjae Kim & Professor Ezra Zuckerman Sivan 41:26

11M ago41:26

41:26

Why do American voters support divisive misinformation? That’s the question driving our guests' latest research, and the focus of today's episode. Minjae Kim and Ezra Zuckerman Sivan are experts in sociology, and organizational behavior. In this episode, they dive into their latest collaboration, exploring moral flexibility and why some voters are …

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Change Is The Only Constant feat. Pooja Talreja ’08 30:10

12M ago30:10

30:10

From Dubai to Houston, Pooja Talreja’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and discovery. Her story is about more than just crossing continents—it's about breaking through personal and professional barriers to find her true passion. After a pivot from accounting to HR, Pooja is now the senior vice president of people at Ironclad Environmental Sol…

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Fail Fast, Learn and Innovate feat. Tim Okabayashi ’05 33:47

12M ago33:47

33:47

When it comes to alumni engagement, few Owls are as deeply connected as Tim Okabayashi. A proud Rice Business alum, Tim not only earned his MBA here but also served as president of the Rice Business Student Association, volunteered with the admissions office, and played a key role in the consulting club. In October 2020, Tim and fellow alum Karen C…

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Healing Veterans Through Beekeeping feat. Steve Jimenez ’22 40:38

1y ago40:38

40:38

Interested in learning the key to a peaceful transition from military to civilian life? For many veterans, it's found in an unexpected place: beekeeping. Meet Steve Jimenez '22, a veteran and Rice Business alum, who discovered an unexpected passion when a friend introduced him to beekeeping. In 2018, this passion became a mission when he founded Hi…

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A Recipe for Success feat. Krissy White ’23 40:52

1y ago40:52

40:52

Krissy White '23 caught the hospitality bug after graduating from Northeastern University in 2006. She put her undergraduate degree in public & organizational communications to work immediately by joining the front office team of the St. Regis Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Krissy spent the next eight years living and breathing the luxury hospitalit…

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From Boxing to Business School feat. DeRae Crane ’22 53:27

1y ago53:27

53:27

Our guest is an Army veteran, a world-class boxer, a father, a strategic credit advisor at BP, and on top of all that, a Rice Business alum. DeRae Crane '22 was raised in Davenport, Iowa by a single father, and began boxing at the age of 9. He was awarded the Bart Stupak Scholarship to attend Northern Michigan University (NMU) for boxing, which is …

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What Practicing DEI in the Workplace Really Means feat. Professor Mikki Hebl 38:31

1y ago38:31

38:31

Mikki Hebl, an industrial organizational psychologist and the Martha and Henry Malcolm Lovett Chair of Psychology – Professor of Management at Rice University, has been studying workplace discrimination and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for 30 years, well before DEI became the widely discussed topic it is today. In March of this year, Mikki…

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From Nepal to Nanotech feat. Suman Khatiwada ’13 35:59

1y ago35:59

35:59

In this episode of Owl Have You Know, we explore the journey of Suman Khatiwada, from his roots in Nepal to becoming a trailblazing force in the chemical manufacturing industry. Suman is the co-founder, chief technology officer (CTO), and board director at Syzygy Plasmonics, focusing on using light-driven chemistry instead of combustion to power a …

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A Mother-Daughter MBA Journey feat. Misty Fehler ’24 & Alexis Weaver ’24 33:55

1+ y ago33:55

33:55

We have plenty of Rice families in our history. But it's rare to see a mother and daughter earn their Professional MBAs at the same time. Misty and Alexis graduated in May and co-founded La Mer Macaron, offering an assortment of homemade macarons for home delivery. Misty is the CEO of La Mer Macaron. She spent most of her career as an independent p…

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Innovating Out of a Crisis feat. Professor Scott Sonenshein & John Mangum 40:37

1+ y ago40:37

40:37

Eager to learn how organizations can innovate their way out of a crisis? You may be surprised that the key to this comes from an arts organization. Tune into a special live recording of our podcast, with John Mangum, the executive director/CEO of the Houston Symphony, and Scott Sonenshein, the Henry Gardiner Symonds Professor of Management – Organi…

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Innovation Across Generations feat. Adrian Trömel ’18 & Klaus Trömel ’85 32:24

1+ y ago32:24

32:24

For Adrian and Klaus Trömel, getting an MBA from Rice Business was a family affair. Klaus Trömel served as the secretary general of the European Investment Bank (EIB) until his retirement in March 2018. He began his career as an analyst at Hewlett-Packard’s European headquarters in Geneva before working as a trade and pre-export finance officer. Ad…

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Swapping Lab Coats for Lip Gloss feat. Ashley Henry ’22 34:56

1+ y ago34:56

34:56

From an early age, Ashley Henry was interested in beauty. Despite getting her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and working for the CDC in epidemiology, her childhood dreams never faded. After her stint in public health, Ashley went on to work as a hairstylist before getting her MBA and fully committing to beauty and luxury goods. Ashley is now the gl…

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Beyond Branding 101: How to Leverage Your Stories to Grow Your Company with Elizabeth Lewis 21:40

1+ y ago21:40

21:40

We all know that a powerful story can move a follower from casual onlooker to repeat customer – but how do you get started building a brand that attracts and converts raving fans? Digital Ready instructor Elizabeth Lewis joins us to share her insight. 0:54 – Answering an audience question 1:45 – Introducing the guest 3:54 – The difference between a…

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Setting Up Your Business for Profit-First Success 17:03

1+ y ago17:03

17:03

On today's episode, Susanne Mariga shares how we can set up the financial side of our businesses for success – including tips for how to work with a bookkeeper, and how to stick with your budget. 1:38 – Not being on top of finances can cost you 2:28 – Meet Susanne 3:04 – Using physics to create a profit 7:01 – Starting small 8:03 – First steps 11:2…

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I Learned the Most at My Lowest feat. Brian Jackson ’21 27:55

1+ y ago27:55

27:55

Brian Jackson is an expert when it comes to challenging himself in unchartered waters. Brian is the manager of renewables origination at TransAlta Corporation, where he oversees the company's renewable energy power purchase agreement origination activities in the United States. Brian has a well-rounded roster of degrees from Texas institutions, beg…

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How to Build Your Dream Team 28:04

1+ y ago28:04

28:04

Almost every business needs a team to scale. In this episode, Surabhi Lal shows us the power of fractional team members and how to build trust with our team. 1:43 – Answering an audience question 3:45 – Intros 6:14 – How to prepare to hand off work to a team member 8:49 – Setting expectations 11:24 – How to find your new team member 16:00 – Your fi…

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Price to Thrive, not just Survive with Austin L. Church 26:37

1+ y ago26:37

26:37

Deciding what to charge for your service or product is at the core of your business –– so why does it feel so complicated? Austin L. Church joins Terry to walk through his pricing framework. 1:50 – Being an entrepreneur in the internet age 5:20 – Introductions 7:56 – Handling the mindset piece that makes you lowball your prices 12:10 – Start with w…

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The Fundamental Principles of Disruption feat. T. Canady Barton ’10 30:49

1+ y ago30:49

30:49

Looking at T. Canady Barton’s resume, she has some of the biggest company names on the list. After a few years doing chemical engineering, oil and gas, T. pivoted to consulting, tech and entrepreneurship for the bulk of her career. In 2014, she moved to the U.K., where she was the vice president of portfolio management, digital strategy and transfo…

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Creating a Roadmap for Your Life and Business with Vishal Joseph 30:06

1+ y ago30:06

30:06

Effort is only part of building a compelling business – first, you need a strong direction. In this week's episode, Terry does some live coaching with guest Vishal Joseph. They discuss vision-building, journaling, and the brain-altering effect of setting goals. 2:00 – Introduction 3:09 – Who is an entrepreneur? 7:40 – Working in your business vs. w…

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Sales Made Simple (even for introverts) with Matthew Pollard 31:01

1+ y ago31:01

31:01

Sales is not just a skill for extroverts. Matthew Pollard has literally written the book on sales for introverts – he joins us today to share the story of how he went from awkward introvert to top salesman. He’ll also let you in on his system for selling, key do’s and don’ts, and share how good storytelling is a key element of sales. 3:56 – How to …

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The Pancake Princess Talks Building Authenticity Online feat. Erika Kwee ’16 26:38

1+ y ago26:38

26:38

Rice Business is known for producing top industry leaders and 2016 full-time MBA graduate, Erika Kwee is no exception. Erika Kwee is the creator, photographer and writer behind The Pancake Princess, where her colorful, mouthwatering “bake-off” blog compares popular baking recipes side-by-side to help readers and aspiring bakers find recipes that ar…

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Why You Need a Personal Brand (and How to Build One) 24:52

1+ y ago24:52

24:52

A personal brand is what helps you stand out from the crowd. If we’re being honest, there are probably a lot of people with your expertise – your biggest differentiation factor is you. Today’s guest, Victoria Tollossa, walks us through the basics of personal branding, and how you can get started, even if sharing personal stories still feels uncomfo…

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Navigating the Energy Transition feat. Diana Khandilyan ’20 28:52

1+ y ago28:52

28:52

Diana Khandilyan is an energy industry expert who dedicated more than 20 years to the international oil and gas exploration industry, focusing on emerging technologies, process optimization and corporate sustainability. The energy transition motivated her to pursue an MBA degree from Rice Business to explore the business viability of emerging trend…

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How to Start a Consulting Business (Without Sales Gimmicks or a Fancy Website) 21:53

1+ y ago21:53

21:53

Ready to turn expertise into revenue? In today's episode, Terry speaks with Kellee Williams about how to start a consulting business, including how to pick your niche, what not to do in your first year, and how to set up an audit that will bring in recurring clients. ***** 2:00 – Introduction 5:10 – How to get started as a coach or consultant 7:15 …

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How Community Built and Sustained This Business with Yudelka Carrera 27:48

1+ y ago27:48

27:48

When Yudelka Carrera started her catering business, she says she didn’t know what a W-9 was. What she did have was the ability to attract a loyal team – in today's episode, Yudy shares her experience of growing a business, even through the pandemic. ***** 2:25 – Introductions 4:05 – The importance of community support 6:13 – First few months of bus…

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From Soloporeneur to Acquired by Fiverr: Sharon Lee Thony Shares Her Journey to Success 25:56

1+ y ago25:56

25:56

In our inaugural episode, Terry talks to Sharon Lee Thomy about the process of building a boutique marketing agency that was eventually acquired by Fiverr. Sharon shares what made her make the leap into starting her own business, how she scaled, and mistakes she made along the way. ***** 2:37 – Meet our guest 5:00 – Journey from starting her own bu…

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The Misconception of Constructive Conflict feat. Professor Daan van Knippenberg 54:27

1+ y ago54:27

54:27

Conventional wisdom says that conflict and dissent among an organization’s top leaders can improve strategy and performance. But new research indicates the opposite is true. In fact, dissent at the top often damages working relationships, communication and decision quality. In this episode of Owl Have You Know, Daan van Knippenberg joins host Scott…