Matters of Business
Matters of Business is the podcast where academic research meets the real world of business.
Brought to you by the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University, each episode we sit down with FAU faculty, researchers, and industry leaders to go deeper than the headlines.
Whether we're unpacking consumer behavior, supply chains, economic trends, or what it means to pursue an executive education, this is your guide to navigating today's fast-moving business landscape, right here in South Florida.
Episodes
12 episodes
The Business of Behavior: Inside FAU's Behavioral Insights Lab
Most people assume they know what drives business decisions. The data, the market, the numbers. But behavioral science researchers will tell you something different — it's perception. It's the story you tell yourself about your chan...
Checking In on AI: What South Florida's Hospitality Industry Needs to Know Now
Recorded 4.10.26South Florida's hospitality industry is booming, but with labor costs up, margins thinning, and operators being told AI is the answer, the question is where to actually start.In this episode, we sit down with D...
The "It" Factor: One Entrepreneur's Research Into What Makes Investors Say Yes
For decades, Akhil Agrawal has been building companies, allocating capital, and making bets on founders. And every time he met the right one, he'd say the same thing: "this person's got it." But what is "it," exactly? Now five years into FAU's ...
What Is the K-Shaped Economy? An FAU Economist Breaks It Down
You've probably heard the term "K-shaped economy," but what does it actually mean, and why should business leaders care? In this episode of Matters of Business, host Amber sits down with Dr. Bryan Cutsinger, faculty economist at Flo...
Building Smarter with Lean Six Sigma: How Executive MBA Students Transformed a Construction Startup
A classroom capstone turned into a published case study, and real operational change for a budding South Florida construction company.Florida Atlantic Executive MBA students and Dr. Tres Bishop walk through how Lean Six Sigma was used to di...
From Realtor to Researcher: Unpacking the Hidden Costs in Real Estate
What happens when you bring deep academic research to the market's day-to-day realities for a real estate agent? This episode follows Dr. Trishanna Gifford, a real estate agent and owner of a construction company, who blended her extensive prof...
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ESG Explained: Why It Matters for Businesses and Investors
We sit down with Anna Agapova, finance professor at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business, to unpack the world of ESG, Environmental, Social, and Governance. Whether you’re a business leader, investor, or simply curious about ...
From Waste to Wins: How Lean Six Sigma Drives Impact Across Industries
Lean Six Sigma has helped manufacturers cut costs and boost efficiency for decades, but its real power lies in its adaptability. In this episode, Dr. Tres Bishop shares how service industries like healthcare, education, and governme...
What’s Next for Travel? AI, Cruises & Cost-Conscious Getaways
In this episode of Matters of Business, we sit down with hospitality and tourism management director Peter Ricci to explore how the industry is adapting to economic uncertainty and rapid technological change. From AI-powered restaurant reservat...
Navigating Downside Risks: Is Now a Strategic Time to Invest in the Market?
This week's episode features David Fang, associate professor of accounting in the College of Business. He's diving into the complexities of downside risks, stock market volatility and how to think strategically about the timing of investing.&nb...
Supply Chains and Risk Management in the Age of Tariffs
This week, we are joined by Steven Carnovale, associate professor of supply chain management here in the College of Business. We're exploring the tricky world of supply chains and how firms are navigating the uncertainties with tariffs.
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