

The Parlor Room
Harvard Business School Online
Join host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane as he sits down with HBS faculty to discuss business education in a way that’s both entertaining and insightful. The Parlor Room is your key to breaking down academic theory without sacrificing depth—all while gaining practical takeaways for navigating the business world.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 11, 2023 • 27min
Nien-hê Hsieh on Ethical AI, Decision-Making, and Investing
Harvard Business School Professor Nien-hê Hsieh joins host Chris Linnane in The Parlor Room to discuss preserving work's human element with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and how Theranos' story imparts vital lessons about ethical decision-making and investing. GUESTNien-hê Hsieh, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business AdministrationRESOURCESProfessor Hsieh's HBS Online course, Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability (https://hbs.me/377p8ckr)Related HBS Online blog posts:What Are Business Ethics & Why Are They Important? (https://hbs.me/mvark2d)7 Ways to Improve Your Ethical Decision-Making (https://hbs.me/2pxebw5w)How to Create a Culture of Ethics & Accountability in the Workplace (https://hbs.me/3k4pn32r)Leadership in Big Tech: How to Make Ethical Decisions (https://hbs.me/mwbv39y3)Watch this episode on YouTube: https://hbs.me/3cmcwecp

Nov 27, 2023 • 27min
Jeff Bussgang on the Rise of AI & Raising Venture Capital
This week on The Parlor Room, Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer Jeff Bussgang, a former entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, joins host Chris Linnane to discuss the rise of generative AI, why experimentation is vital to finding product-market fit, and how to raise venture capital successfully. He also goes over how to come up with good business ideas and critiques some of Chris's in real time.GUESTJeff Bussgang, Senior Lecturer of Business AdministrationRESOURCESProfessor Bussgang's HBS Online course, Launching Tech Ventures (https://hbs.me/mtmshtbv)Professor Bussgang's books:Entering StartUpLand: An Essential Guide to Finding the Right Job (https://hbs.me/yckuc6ec)Mastering the VC Game: A Venture Capital Insider Reveals How to Get from Start-up to IPO on Your Terms (https://hbs.me/3w35mxdk)Related HBS Online blog posts:How to Effectively Pitch a Business Idea (https://hbs.me/39vpenn4)How to Find Product-Market Fit in the Tech Industry (https://hbs.me/64sjjkpu)5 Skills Needed to Launch a Successful Tech Business (https://hbs.me/2p8jpmam)How to Develop a Go-to-Market Strategy for Your Tech Venture (https://hbs.me/2p8dk3tc)5 Strategies for Securing Tech Startup Funding (https://hbs.me/2p9d32d7)Watch this episode on YouTube: https://hbs.me/37s3c2sn

Nov 13, 2023 • 29min
Jill Avery on Building a Winning Brand Portfolio
What can you learn about brand portfolio strategy from Marriott's $13.3 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts? Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer Jill Avery joins host Chris Linnane in The Parlor Room to answer that question and discuss how Marriott overcame the challenge of managing its robust 30-brand portfolio.GUESTJill Avery, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration, C. Roland Christensen Distinguished Management EducatorRESOURCESCredential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB) program, HBS Online's most comprehensive offering featuring Avery's Personal Branding course (https://hbs.me/2x4kp65m)"The Marriott-Starwood Merger: Navigating Brand Portfolio Strategy and Brand Architecture" (HBS case co-authored by Avery) (https://hbs.me/2p92p27a)Related HBS Online blog posts:What Are Mergers & Acquisitions? 4 Key Risks (https://hbs.me/2p9dyyz8)3 Business Strategy Examples to Inspire Your Own (https://hbs.me/4unctjjj)CORe vs. CLIMB: Which HBS Online Credential Program Is Right for You? (https://hbs.me/yb9js7eu)Watch this episode on YouTube: https://hbs.me/5yaat7mw

Oct 30, 2023 • 23min
Mike Wheeler on the Jazz of Negotiation
In this episode of The Parlor Room, Harvard Business School Professor Mike Wheeler speaks with host Chris Linnane about how negotiation's improvisational nature makes it much like jazz. He also shares stories about a former president's photo and the acquisition of a television system to illustrate strategies for succeeding at the bargaining table.GUESTMike Wheeler, MBA Class of 1952 Professor of Management Practice, RetiredRESOURCESProfessor Wheeler's HBS Online course, Negotiation Mastery (https://hbs.me/2p8ummfx)Professor Wheeler's books:The Art of Negotiation: How to Improvise Agreement in a Chaotic World (https://hbs.me/2f58xam5)What's Fair? Ethics for Negotiators (https://hbs.me/yckrx9c3)Related HBS Online blog posts:How to Become a Good Negotiator (https://hbs.me/mrx5v4kj)4 Examples of Business Negotiation Strategies (https://hbs.me/mr2zx8bh)How to Prepare for a Negotiation (https://hbs.me/2p98p9sz)3 Ways to Create Value in a Negotiation (https://hbs.me/2p9bwdrx)6 Strategies to Improve Your Negotiation Skills (https://hbs.me/3fkuvtpf)Watch this episode on YouTube: https://hbs.me/ycyet9p9

Oct 16, 2023 • 25min
Mihir Desai on Apple's Powerful Financial Model
In this debut episode of The Parlor Room, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane sits down with HBS Professor Mihir Desai to discuss how Apple's financial model contributes to its success and illustrates a critical lesson about risk management.GUESTMihir Desai, Mizuho Financial Group Professor of Finance, Harvard Business SchoolRESOURCESProfessor Desai's HBS Online course, Leading with Finance (https://hbs.me/2p93vdeb) Professor Desai's books:The Wisdom of Finance: Discovering Humanity in the World of Risk and Return (https://hbs.me/5y7cbtz2)How Finance Works: The HBR Guide to Thinking Smart About the Numbers: (https://hbs.me/3ut4p3zw)International Finance: A Casebook (https://hbs.me/4jjzrkdr)Related HBS Online blog posts:What Jane Austen and Mel Brooks Can Teach Us About Finance (https://hbs.me/2y6syh8s)3 Financial Principles Every Professional Should Know (https://hbs.me/5n7p896h)The Importance of Financial Literacy in Business (https://hbs.me/2p8nwpur)How to Learn Finance without a Finance Background (https://hbs.me/2dvx8eta)Which HBS Online Finance & Accounting Course Is Right for You? (https://hbs.me/59mujadt)Watch this episode on YouTube: hbs.me/yckp4nhp

Oct 4, 2023 • 1min
Trailer: Introducing The Parlor Room
Harvard Business School Online is excited to introduce The Parlor Room, a new podcast featuring entertaining, insightful conversations with HBS professors that demystify vital business concepts and provide practical takeaways for your career.Follow HBS Online
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