The Parlor Room

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. GUEST Jeff Bussgang, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration RESOURCES Professor Bussgang's HBS Online course: Launching Tech Ventures Professor Bussgang's books: Entering StartUpLand: An Essential Guide to Finding the Right Job Mastering the VC Game: A Venture Capital Insider Reveals How to Get from Start-up to IPO on Your Terms Related HBS Online blog posts: How to Effectively Pitch a Business Idea How to Find Product-Market Fit in the Tech Industry 5 Skills Needed to Launch a Successful Tech Business How to Develop a Go-to-Market Strategy for Your Tech Venture 5 Strategies for Securing Tech Startup Funding Watch this episode on YouTube: https://hbs.me/37s3c2sn

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. GUEST Jill Avery, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration, C. Roland Christensen Distinguished Management Educator RESOURCES Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB) program (HBS Online's most comprehensive offering featuring a module on personal branding taught by Avery) "The Marriott-Starwood Merger: Navigating Brand Portfolio Strategy and Brand Architecture" (HBS case co-authored by Avery) Related HBS Online blog posts: What Are Mergers & Acquisitions? 4 Key Risks 3 Business Strategy Examples to Inspire Your Own Watch this episode on YouTube: https://hbs.me/5yaat7mw

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. GUEST Mike Wheeler, MBA Class of 1952 Professor of Management Practice, Retired RESOURCES Professor Wheeler's HBS Online course: Negotiation Mastery Professor Wheeler's books: The Art of Negotiation: How to Improvise Agreement in a Chaotic World What's Fair? Ethics for Negotiators Related HBS Online blog posts: How to Become a Good Negotiator 4 Examples of Business Negotiation Strategies How to Prepare for a Negotiation 3 Ways to Create Value in a Negotiation 6 Strategies to Improve Your Negotiation Skills Watch this episode on YouTube: https://hbs.me/ycyet9p9

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. GUEST Mihir Desai, Mizuho Financial Group Professor of Finance, Harvard Business School RESOURCES Professor Desai's HBS Online course: Leading with Finance Professor Desai's books: The Wisdom of Finance: Discovering Humanity in the World of Risk and Return How Finance Works: The HBR Guide to Thinking Smart About the Numbers International Finance: A Casebook Related HBS Online blog posts: What Jane Austen and Mel Brooks Can Teach Us About Finance 3 Financial Principles Every Professional Should Know The Importance of Financial Literacy in Business How to Learn Finance without a Finance Background Which HBS Online Finance & Accounting Course Is Right for You?  Watch this episode on YouTube: hbs.me/yckp4nhp

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 LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok X