Matters of Business Fri, 29 May 2026 11:05:40 -0400 https://mattersofbusinessfau.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 Matters of Business yes 1b7521a7-f6dd-55bd-9ad0-5c08664029f2 ea1df230-5b6d-11f1-b9d9-cdce510d22b4 Florida Atlantic University - College of Business episodic false 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.


]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Florida Atlantic University - College of Business https://storage.buzzsprout.com/7qnnl4v8x94iiveiagmd72m4kpkq?.jpg Matters of Business The Business of Behavior: Inside FAU's Behavioral Insights Lab 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 chances, your options, your worth. And that story has consequences. 

That's the kind of question FAU's Behavioral Insights Lab was built to answer. This week we talked to the lab's director and one of its lead researchers about how the lab works, what they're finding, and why understanding the psychology behind business decisions matters a lot more than most people realize. 

Recorded April 21.

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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 chances, your options, your worth. And that story has consequences. 

That's the kind of question FAU's Behavioral Insights Lab was built to answer. This week we talked to the lab's director and one of its lead researchers about how the lab works, what they're finding, and why understanding the psychology behind business decisions matters a lot more than most people realize. 

Recorded April 21.

Business.fau.edu

]]> Florida Atlantic University - College of Business Buzzsprout-19177212 Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 1938 full false Checking In on AI: What South Florida's Hospitality Industry Needs to Know Now Checking In on AI: What South Florida's Hospitality Industry Needs to Know Now Recorded 4.10.26

South 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 Dr. Anil Bilgihan, professor of marketing and hospitality management at FAU's College of Business, to break down what AI is actually delivering for hotels and restaurants right now — and what it means for the workforce and the jobs most at risk.
If you're a South Florida operator who hasn't started thinking seriously about AI, this one's for you.

Business.fau.edu

]]> Recorded 4.10.26

South 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 Dr. Anil Bilgihan, professor of marketing and hospitality management at FAU's College of Business, to break down what AI is actually delivering for hotels and restaurants right now — and what it means for the workforce and the jobs most at risk.
If you're a South Florida operator who hasn't started thinking seriously about AI, this one's for you.

Business.fau.edu

]]> https://business.fau.edu/newsroom/podcasts/matters-of-business/ Florida Atlantic University - College of Business Buzzsprout-19021416 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400 1804 hospitality full false The "It" Factor: One Entrepreneur's Research Into What Makes Investors Say Yes 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 Executive PhD program, Akhil is researching the answer to that question. We talk about what brought a serial entrepreneur back to the classroom, the courses that changed the way he thinks about business, and the surprising direction his dissertation research is heading. 

Recorded 3.2.26

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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 Executive PhD program, Akhil is researching the answer to that question. We talk about what brought a serial entrepreneur back to the classroom, the courses that changed the way he thinks about business, and the surprising direction his dissertation research is heading. 

Recorded 3.2.26

Business.fau.edu

]]> Florida Atlantic University - College of Business Buzzsprout-18908062 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400 1814 full false What Is the K-Shaped Economy? An FAU Economist Breaks It Down 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 Florida Atlantic University's College of Business, to unpack the forces driving economic divergence in the U.S. and what it means for businesses and consumers right here in South Florida. 

If you're navigating today's fast-moving financial landscape, this is a conversation you don't want to miss. 

Recorded 2.26.26

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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 Florida Atlantic University's College of Business, to unpack the forces driving economic divergence in the U.S. and what it means for businesses and consumers right here in South Florida. 

If you're navigating today's fast-moving financial landscape, this is a conversation you don't want to miss. 

Recorded 2.26.26

Business.fau.edu

]]> Buzzsprout-18867882 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400 2018 economics,economy full false Building Smarter with Lean Six Sigma: How Executive MBA Students Transformed a Construction Startup 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 diagnose process breakdowns, reduce cycle time, and reposition the business for more sustainable growth.
Listen for practical lessons that translate beyond construction, offering tools that entrepreneurs and professionals can use across industries.

Epiode Recorded January 29, 2026

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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 diagnose process breakdowns, reduce cycle time, and reposition the business for more sustainable growth.
Listen for practical lessons that translate beyond construction, offering tools that entrepreneurs and professionals can use across industries.

Epiode Recorded January 29, 2026

Business.fau.edu

]]> Buzzsprout-18620040 Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0500 2834 lean six sigma full false From Realtor to Researcher: Unpacking the Hidden Costs in Real Estate 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 professional background with academic research in FAU's Executive Ph.D. programs.

Recorded November 7, 2025

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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 professional background with academic research in FAU's Executive Ph.D. programs.

Recorded November 7, 2025

Business.fau.edu

]]> Buzzsprout-18231351 Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500 1339 real estate full false ESG Explained: Why It Matters for Businesses and Investors 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 sustainable finance, this conversation will help you understand why ESG is shaping the future of business and how companies can build trust through transparency and storytelling. 

Recorded September 2025

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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 sustainable finance, this conversation will help you understand why ESG is shaping the future of business and how companies can build trust through transparency and storytelling. 

Recorded September 2025

Business.fau.edu

]]> Buzzsprout-18068225 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400 1423 ESG full false From Waste to Wins: How Lean Six Sigma Drives Impact Across Industries 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 government can use these tools to solve big problems. We talk about the importance of leadership buy-in, the role of training, and how even small process changes can lead to major results. 

Recorded September 12, 2025

https://business.fau.edu/newsroom/podcasts/matters-of-business/


Business.fau.edu

]]> 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 government can use these tools to solve big problems. We talk about the importance of leadership buy-in, the role of training, and how even small process changes can lead to major results. 

Recorded September 12, 2025

https://business.fau.edu/newsroom/podcasts/matters-of-business/


Business.fau.edu

]]> Buzzsprout-17898145 Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 1646 Lean Six Sigma, process improvement, executive education programs full false What’s Next for Travel? AI, Cruises & Cost-Conscious Getaways 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 reservations to dynamic cruise pricing and the new no-tax-on-tips provision, Peter shares insights on how businesses and travelers can navigate the evolving landscape.

https://business.fau.edu/podcasts

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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 reservations to dynamic cruise pricing and the new no-tax-on-tips provision, Peter shares insights on how businesses and travelers can navigate the evolving landscape.

https://business.fau.edu/podcasts

Business.fau.edu

]]> https://business.fau.edu/podcasts Florida Atlantic University - College of Business Buzzsprout-17587616 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400 1805 full false Navigating Downside Risks: Is Now a Strategic Time to Invest in the Market? 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. 

This episode was recorded June 5, 2025.

https://business.fau.edu/podcasts

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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. 

This episode was recorded June 5, 2025.

https://business.fau.edu/podcasts

Business.fau.edu

]]> https://business.fau.edu/ Florida Atlantic University - College of Business Buzzsprout-17360562 Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2593 full false Supply Chains and Risk Management in the Age of Tariffs 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. 

https://business.fau.edu/podcasts

Business.fau.edu

]]> 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. 

https://business.fau.edu/podcasts

Business.fau.edu

]]> https://business.fau.edu/ Florida Atlantic University - College of Business Buzzsprout-17086580 Fri, 02 May 2025 11:00:00 -0400 2129 full false Unpacking Inflation, the Economy and Tariffs Unpacking Inflation, the Economy and Tariffs FAU’s William J. Luther and Amber Bonefont sit down to discuss the current state of inflation, how tariffs might affect the economy and the job market.

business.fau.edu/podcasts

Business.fau.edu

]]> FAU’s William J. Luther and Amber Bonefont sit down to discuss the current state of inflation, how tariffs might affect the economy and the job market.

business.fau.edu/podcasts

Business.fau.edu

]]> Florida Atlantic University - College of Business Buzzsprout-17037823 Mon, 24 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500 1968 full false