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Finance Can Be a Noble Profession (Yes, Really)

Harvard Business Review

When I ask students graduating from Harvard Business School what they’re doing next, I often get some version of “I’m going into finance but…” Then they quickly explain that finance is just a way station on the route to nobler goals. And it is truly fascinating.

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Small and Young Businesses Are Especially Vulnerable to Extreme Weather

Harvard Business Review

These threats change the risk management calculus of firms hoping to succeed in a more turbulent world. Start-ups are particularly at risk today because of both their size and age. The survey methods stratified firms by industry, age, and size so that our sample reflects the characteristics of businesses in the region.

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Managing Risks Means Managing Arguments

Harvard Business Review

Which is why managing those arguments, as Ina Drew appears to have done brilliantly during the financial crisis but wasn't around to do for the past couple of years, is so important. The words "risk management" usually evokes less subjective, more data-driven pursuits. MORE ON MANAGING RISKY BEHAVIORS.

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Social Media Compliance Isn't Fun, But It's Necessary

Harvard Business Review

For highly regulated sectors like finance, social media can be a legal minefield. "Follow us here for updates on our work, our research, and our people.". 132 characters for Goldman; one giant leap for the Twitterverse. So why did one of the planet's biggest investment banks — and its 33,300 employees — hold out so long?

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7 Charts Show How Political Affiliation Shapes U.S. Boards

Harvard Business Review

But affiliation doesn’t guarantee enthusiasm, as this sample of survey comments reveals: “On sabbatical from the Democratic party”; “Republican, unless they keep acting like goofballs”; and “Independent (especially this year!).