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Disney+ and its Infiltration of the Streaming Monopoly

Broadway musical Hamilton was released on Disney+ at the start of July, which put the streaming service into the limelight as Disney+ took an initial step away from solely original Disney content. With this new rollout, Disney’s overarching aim was to infiltrate the streaming monopoly made up of Netflix and Amazon Prime. Come COVID-19, the pandemic has confined people to their homes and given the streaming industry an unexpected boost - especially for Disney+. Summer Journalism Fellow Joe Strong analyzes the stock value, market capitalization, and competitive advantages of Disney+ alongside one of its biggest competitors: Netflix.

It’s Time to Put the Discussion on Electric Cars to Rest

Electric vehicles have been experiencing unprecedented growth, yet their promise of revolutionary change has drawn skepticism from many who argue they are not only less climate friendly than touted but also pose a danger to the livelihoods of workers. Despite this, Summer Journalism Fellow Dean Lee Sammanthan argues, we should embrace this transition for an enriching quality of life.

Apple vs. Spotify: Through the Lens of Those who Consume and Create

In the past, many were often opposed to the idea that they were being tracked online. However, as Summer Journalism Fellow Ashleigh Fields observes, recent additions to music platforms have given users a different perspective. With their wealth of analytics, Spotify and Apple Music have given both listeners and artists a chance to better understand the content they are consuming and creating, enhancing their overall streaming experience.

The Surge in Solar: A Conversation with Thomas Leyden, Senior Director at EDF Renewables

Summer Journalism Fellow Jeremiah Thoronka speaks with Thomas Leyden, Senior Director at EDF Renewables, a leading producer of wind and solar power in over 20 countries. Leyden discusses his pioneering efforts in photovoltaics, the roles of the public and private sectors in financing developments, and the efficacy of various policy frameworks adopted by different nations in confronting the shift towards sustainable resources.

Acing the Space at the Onset of 5G

Reliance Jio has been riding a wave of success as it eyes strategic partnerships for the 5G era in its urge to be self-sufficient and independent of network equipment vendors. With its overwhelming support from both investors and political figures, Jio is well-positioned to plant the Indian flag near the top of the telecom industry. Here, Summer Journalism Fellows Peyush Karel breaks down its unique strategy in the expansion game.

The Rise and Rise of Ed-tech: Is it Finally Here to Stay?

Today, ed-tech is an umbrella term that refers to any technological initiative designed to streamline learning. Despite this, startups in the space have had a rocky ride over the past half-decade with investors and skeptics raising questions about their cash burn, business models, and even their crown jewel: content. The black swan event that is COVID-19 has seen educational institutions and students flock to ed-tech platforms during the transition to online learning, but this begs the question: is ed-tech here to stay once the dust settles?

Tailwinds and Turbulence: The Rise of Vestas

In these times of upheaval and uncertainty, we can be certain of one thing: the world must continue moving towards sustainable energy sources. Summer Journalism Fellow Dean Lee Sammanthan describes how one Danish company rose to the top against all odds in the wind power market and is now preparing for the global pivot to renewables in the wake of COVID-19.

How to Find Success at Your Internship

So you’ve just landed an internship – congratulations! What are the steps you can take to succeed in your role? While this piece is relevant for remote internships during the summer of 2020, the advice can be widely applied to any internship. Business Today explains how students and recent graduates can define their goals for the summer, get to to know the people around them, communicate with their managers, attend as many social and career events as they can, and connect with fellow interns.

A Conversation with Miri Rodriguez, Head of Global Internship Program at Microsoft: Part II

In part II of Grace Hong’s podcast with Miri Rodriguez, Head of the Global Internship Program at Microsoft, Miri explains how to connect with potential mentors on LinkedIn by showing up with grace, reaching out with the intention to gain insight and relate via compassionate empathy, and coming out of a space of learning. She also explains a storyboarding exercise, where she challenges others to describe their brand story using colors or paint, but not words, in only six panels.

Discrimination in the Digits: A Conversation with Ruha Benjamin, Author of “Race after Technology”

Dr. Ruha Benjamin, Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, challenges the dominant narrative that technology always equals progress in her latest novel “Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code,” examining how the heavy impact of COVID-19 on minority communities has exposed default settings of inequity in innovation that have been historically present.

Spring 2020, Technology, Culture, InterviewsArjun JagjivanMay 15, 2020Diversity, hiring, tech, inequality, Zoom, algorithms, COVID19, stem, leadership, r5

“Zoom University": An Agent of Disequilibrium in the Education Economy

When students enroll in college, they sign up to sharpen their minds, not to attend virtual “discussion” sessions. With learning and extracurricular/social opportunities reduced to a fraction of their on-campus levels in the wake of shutdowns prompted by COVID-19, the value of a college degree starts to fall far below the tuition costs.

A Conversation with Alex Kennedy, Global Head and Director of Partnership Strategy and Operations at Twitter

Alex Kennedy, Global Head and Director of Partnership Strategy and Operations at Twitter, emphasizes the necessity of unconscious bias training, Twitter’s role in reflecting their online user constituency through employee representation at all levels, breaking up the homogenous “tech/innovator/creator” set, and how companies can be intentional about diversity by supporting their workforce as they enter and ascend the ranks.

HireVue CEO Kevin Parker Explains How Technology is Democratizing Hiring

HireVue CEO Kevin Parker discusses the benefits and challenges with harnessing the power of AI and other technologies to facilitate and democratize the hiring process, from carefully incorporating aspects of organizational psychology to bolstering internal mobility in HR, and highlights the company’s focus on the candidate experience.

Hatching a Great Idea on Campus: How a business born at USC is paving a path to better financial health for low-income students

Michael Broughton might have seemed like an unlikely candidate to launch a finance business when he arrived at USC, barely able to cover his freshman tuition. Today, thanks to support from the university community and the Blackstone LaunchPad, a national network promoting student entrepreneurship, Broughton and his diverse team have come up with a unique solution, Hatch Credit, to help students improve their credit scores.

The Exciting Future of Medicine with Pablo Lapuerta

Pablo Lapuerta, the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, focuses heavily on genetics and drug development. He discusses the messaging that the pharmaceutical industry needs to do in order to help the public understand the extensive processes behind bringing new drugs to market, improvements that could be made in the FDA’s drug approval process, and a novel drug that he and Lexicon have developed to treat Type I diabetes.

Dirty Lemon's Zesty Marketing

In 2015, a sleek, aesthetically designed bottle was strategically placed in the photos of prominent social media influencers like actress Minka Kelly and fashion designer Pia Arrobio. The company behind the trend was Dirty Lemon, a luxury health beverage firm. Since then, Dirty Lemon has sold over 2 million bottles and now has over 100,000 monthly customers. CEO Zak Normandin believes the company’s rise to popularity has a lot to do with its unconventional marketing techniques.

Brad Smith, President of Microsoft and Author of "Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age"

President of Microsoft, Brad Smith, shares his thoughts on his recent novel Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age, which grapples with the uncertain future of technology in a world increasing driven by data-centered software, and argues for a careful, comprehensive approach.

Automobile and Domestic Consumption in China

In a time where the Chinese export is challenged by US tariffs, it appears logical that the government will seek to strengthen its economy by growing the domestic consumption sector, yet the automotive industry has been experiencing fewer buyers despite historically upwards trends in car sales. While the trade war does impose a culture of spending less, however, there are other factors that can explain the decline in automobile purchases.

Hungry for More: Snackpass’s Focus on Students and Plans for Expansion

In a crowded market of food delivery, Snackpass has cracked the code in marketing to their college audience with a social experience of ordering food, and investors have taken notice. Business Today speaks with Claudia Haimovici, Growth Marketing Manager, to learn about their plans for further expansion and the student founder experience.

Winner of the Writing Competition: The Child Consumer by Grace Chuan

It is commonly said that the world is becoming a “smaller place” as communicative technologies become increasingly more accessible. While the world itself is not actually shrinking, it feels as if the practical barriers of traveling, retrieving information, and consuming entertainment are minimizing for everyone—including children. Children are now, more than ever, an increasingly reachable audience for digital services. A growing number of online businesses and industries are creating platforms that specifically target younger audiences to capitalize on their growing profitability.