Walton Biz Talk

Welcome to Season 11 of Walton BizTalk! This season, we're tackling company culture and the many hats it wears across different industries. In this episode, our host Savannah and co-host Gracie introduce the season together by discussing company culture trends, the numbers behind them, and how TikTok has been a catalyst for change in the corporate environment.

In the season finale of Walton BizTalk, Savannah and Jackie form the dream team with former sports anchor, GM of #TeamMusselman, and fellow Hog fan Danyelle Musselman to explore the empathy gap in sports. Tune in to hear about Danyelle's brief stint on Comedy Central, what business culture can learn from team culture, and how she's building community on and off the court.

On this episode, Savannah and Gracie sit down with Madison DesMaisons of CVS Health to discuss the importance of corporate social responsibility. Tune in to hear about how CVS has become a pioneer in both the retail and healthcare industries, which CVS health zone may be coming to you, and what their General Management Corporate Internship program (GMCIP) can offer college students looking for a summer internship!

In this in-house episode, Gracie and Savannah investigate how generational differences shape our experience in the workplace. Tune in to hear what a Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z consider cultural defining moments, whether a buzzfeed quiz can predict your age, and to settle the greatest debate of our time: the millennial side part vs. the Gen Z middle part.

In this episode, Savannah, Sungmin and Billy Admire continue the conversation around the bounds of the metaverse, this time delving into the digital currencies and networks that support it. Tune in as they define popular crypto jargon, examine the pros and cons, and forecast the future of digital monetary systems.

In this episode, Savannah and Sungmin chat with Billy Admire, a software sales representative at Puppet, to explore the metaverse, a network of virtual realities that companies like Walmart, Meta (formally Facebook), and Microsoft are taking bets you'll work and play in one day. Listen as they uncover the bounds of the metaverse, who controls it, and its relationship to digital empathy.

This week, Gracie and Savannah sit down for a "coffee chat" alongside Onyx Coffee Lab co-founder and co-owner, Jon Allen to discuss the ripple effect of their sustainability initiatives here locally in NWA as well as across the globe. Tune in to hear how the world renowned wholesale company has become an industry pioneer through sourcing integrity, price transparency, their Relationship Coffee model, and more!

Often coined the astrology of the workplace, the Myers Briggs Personality test has been a popular tool among Fortune 500 companies for decades to "sort" their employees into roles that best suit them. In the first episode of Season 10, Savannah and Gracie (two INFJs) explore the unusual history of the MBTI, how it transformed into a must have tool for corporations, and what role it plays in displaying empathy in the workplace-our theme for the season.

In this episode, we sat down with Walton Supply Chain professor and Executive Director of the Women In Supply Chain Excellence (WISE) Stephanie Thomas to chat about the infamous toilet paper crisis, Christmas shopping woes, and representation in the industry. Tune in to hear why "supply chain" has become a buzz word and how the industry has evolved!

In honor of Halloween this weekend, the BCL gathered around the microphone and shared their favorite halloween stories, spooky memories, and costume ideas for this Halloweekend. Enjoy the special episode!!!

In this episode we talked to Megan Null, Study Abroad Advisor, on the importance of being adaptable when studying abroad. We discussed the many different opportunities students can receive through their time abroad and the many programs the university has to offer. In addition, we also shared some personal stories about our own studying abroad experiences and how adaptability played a huge role in it!

This week we met up with Luke Vammen, Microsoft Sales Director, on the topic of adaptability in the workforce and how mastering this skillset can benefit you in your career. We will also be discussing Microsoft's adaptability strategies and learn more about their sales and tech business techniques. Tune in for more!!

Walton Biz Talk is back and better than ever! Join us this week for a brand new season as we introduce the topic of adaptability in the workforce. Host Kiara Lozano, and co-hosts Savannah Rubino and Sung-Min Park discuss the importance of adaptability in their professional and personal lives as the world continues to rapidly change. We are looking forward to this new direction as the podcast team continues to grow and adapt! 

As we finish Season 8, we reflect on what innovation means to our local start-up community and the tremendous impact it makes. For this final episode, we sit down with John Harmon, founder of ObiiGo, as he explains to us how the auto repair app was developed, how the company's mission is supported, and the company's overall involvement with both the University and the NWA area. Make sure to subscribe as we will be back next semester!

This week, we have guest Julia Nall, ASG President, give us insight on how the pandemic has impacted the student body. ASG has managed to find new way of connecting with the community over this past year through innovation and adaptability. From hosting virtual events, actively promoting mental health, and advocating  voting there is no surprise when we say... ASG puts students first!

In this weeks episode, we had Andrew Lipson, Vice President of Operations at Chartwells, talk to us about innovation in the food industry, Covid-19 impact on combating food waste/insecurity on campus, and update us on new developments within Chartwells. We also discussed the importance of student feedback in the development of these projects. Listen now to hear a sneak peak on what is coming soon to campus dinning!

In this week's episode we are joined by Diana Brown, Director of Production at the Walton Arts Center along with Joanna Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications at TheatreSquared to talk more about innovation in the performance arts business. In addition, we also covered the effects of Covid-19 in the industry and what innovative measures they have taken to keep the theatre's open and the audience engaged. Innovation has always been a constant factor in the industry and both the Walton Arts Center and TheatreSquared highly embrace it. Go check them out!

Join past and current BCL staff members and Walton College students for a career panel discussion on how the internships experience and job searching process has changed due to the pandemic. Panelists include Mia Norton (Audit & Assurance Assistant at Deloitte), Ryan Decker (Senior, interned at Walmart), and Sam Lipson (Senior, interned at Texas Instruments). Listen for tips and advice on how to make the most out of your remote work experience!

In this new episode, we talk to Permjot Valia, Fund Manager, Entrepreneur, and Mentor in Residence, about the importance of investing in your network, cultivating valuable relationships, and the true meaning of being a mentor. He shares with us many personal stories and offers our listeners tips on how to cultivate their innovative ideas and become a more knowledgeable individual.

Join us for Season 8, as we unfold the importance of cultivating innovation in a world facing many new challenges. We start off this season's first episode talking to senior, Gabi Gifford, and junior, Lara Wyatt, on their experiences as student leaders, innovators, and members of entrepreneurial organizations. They share insights on the significance of innovation and it's role in students professional development. 

We finish up Season 7 and say goodbye to Ryan Decker and Jessi Brewer as they wrap up their time with Walton Biz Talk. We reminisce on the last few years and discuss the importance of adaptability in our personal and professional lives. More importantly, we discuss our plans for the future. As for the future of Walton Biz Talk, we will see you in 2021 with Kiara Lozano as our new host!  P.S. If you want to learn more about how Ryan visualizes music, check out @keyofsee.art on Instagram.

We talk to siblings Collin and Alyssa Macias about their experience as college students during COVID-19. As a Walton College senior, Collin shares how his college experience has changed and what he has learned to value most. Alyssa gives us her take on college life as a Walton College freshman, how her expectations have changed, and what she hopes to experience in the coming years. Listen to find out more about how COVID-19 has changed the college experience.

Are you down for whatever (DFW)? We talk to Savannah Baber, Senior Corporate Trainer at Peek Consulting Firm, about the importance of saying yes, taking opportunities, and learning to adapt to any situation. She shares her personal and professional journey through stories of adaptability and the important takeaways she’s learned every step of the way.

As we continue to work in a virtual environment, many companies have had to adapt to new ways of recruiting students. We are joined this week by Stephanie Fielder, Campus Recruiter at Walmart, to talk about virtual career fairs, what recruiters are looking for, and advice for students navigating the virtual job search and hiring process.

Join us for Season 7 as we explore the importance of adaptability in this time of uncertainty. We start this season off by sharing our own experiences with COVID-19, the effects it had on our personal lives, and how we learned to adapt to change! Leave a suggestion at bizcomm.uark.edu/biz-talk-podcast.

Global pandemics cause massive change, and we may never be the same as we were before the pandemic. To conclude Season 6, we are joined by Mark Zweig, entrepreneur of two 500/5000 Inc. companies and executive-in-residence at the Walton College. Mark shares his thoughts on the effects of this life-altering experience and the importance of being strategic during uncertainty. We discuss topics such as working from home, navigating the job market, building relationships, and seizing opportunities. 

As we shift to working from home, learning from home, or even just staying at home, we are relying a lot more on digital forms of communication. Listen to learn how we can use this time to improve our communication skills and how the pandemic has impacted the future of work and communication.

There's no denying that COVID-19 has taken a toll on the global economy, but how much more should we expect? We talk to Dr. Xi Li and Dr. Kris Allee from the Walton College of Business about the future of the U.S. economy, how financial markets are responding to the pandemic, and if there are any silver linings in the dark economic clouds.

Join BCL staff members and Walton College students for a career panel discussion that helps students navigate the internship process from beginning to end. Panelists include Ryan Decker (Junior, interned at Walmart and has accepted an internship with PwC), Mia Norton (MAcc student, interned at Edward Jones and Deloitte), and Garrett Bronn (Senior, interned at Gartner and Consumers Credit Union). Listen to hear stories and tips from these students with internship experience!

COVID-19 is severely impacting many industries, and innovative strategies can be used to accommodate these changes. We talk to Dr. John Kent about the effects of COVID-19 on supply chains and the global economy, how companies are being agile during the pandemic, and what the future of supply chain management looks like. 

As the new coronavirus, COVID-19, causes disruptions around the world, we at Walton Biz Talk want to make sure you stay informed throughout the process. This situation is changing rapidly, so stay informed by visiting www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Ryan Decker shares some tips on how to prevent the spread of the virus and what Walton Biz Talk will look like in the future. If you have questions or concerns, send Ryan an email at rpdecker@uark.edu.

We talk to Sabra Ivey about her experiences as a nursing student in the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. Sabra explains how she became interested in nursing, the role of nurses in the healthcare system, and what nurses and others can do to serve the community and act without fear.

In this episode, we talk with Olga Khokhryakova and Samia Ismail about inclusion, equity, and our perceptions of these topics in the field of health and health care. We talk about the difference between equity and equality and how misconceptions keep us from engaging with each other. Both Olga and Samia are working on projects that address these issues in our community

We explore global healthcare through the lenses of economics and the humanities with Katrina Erickson and Dr. Casey Kayser. We discuss global healthcare systems and their differences, the importance of storytelling in the healthcare setting, economic development and human-centered design, and portrayals of healthcare in popular culture and media.

Join us for Season 6 as we explore the topic of health. We start this season by talking to Dr. Mengfei Guan, assistant professor of communication at the University of Arkansas, about health communication. We examine the differences between health and healthcare, how the communication of health can affect behavior, and how healthcare has changed over time.

Winners of the 2019 University of Arkansas Social Innovation Challenge are working to solve the world's water problem. As resources deplete and water conservation becomes increasingly important, Suelo utilizes machine learning technology to provide real-time data on soil conditions to farmers and users. Carlos Diaz, Lindsey Jetton, and Peter Feinberg talk about their experiences creating Suelo and finding common ground. This concludes season 5 and our exploration of sustainability. We are excited to announce we will be discussing healthcare in season 6, starting after the holiday break. If you have any suggestions about what you want to hear about next season, email Ryan at rpdecker@uark.edu. Thanks for listening!

Northwest Arkansas is home to many large companies who are focused on sustainability on a global scale. This week, we talk to Laura Phillips, Senior Vice President of Global Sustainability at Walmart, about what sustainability means to Walmart and how they are integrating sustainability across all business functions. Listen to learn how Walmart is taking steps to make a net positive impact on the environment using sustainable business practices.

The fashion and apparel industry is the second-largest polluter behind oil and gas, but the negative impacts of this industry are largely unknown to consumers. The rise of fast fashion and lack of regulation in production methods has caused significant damage to our planet. Dr. Lance Cheramie and Jacob Reynolds discuss the problems in the industry and what is being done to solve them.

The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design (FJSOA+D) at the University of Arkansas is making innovative strides to develop sustainable materials derived from wood to create beautiful structures. Professor Frank Jacobus and students Lucy Goldman and Hassan Suwaileh talk about their experiences pioneering the future of wood. Listen to hear about this process, the pros and cons of building with wood, and how this impacts the environment.

More food waste ends up in landfills than any other material in our everyday trash. Despite being the most biodegradable waste product, food harms the environment by sitting in a landfill. We discuss solutions with Andrew Lipson from Chartwells and Tom Rohr and Michael Kraus from Food Loops. Listen to learn what these companies are doing to decrease food waste and what you can do to help.

Sophie Hill and William Motazedi, students at the University of Arkansas, discuss their experiences with sustainability through organizations, projects, and courses. Listen to learn how you can get involved in sustainability in your community!

Companies have the opportunity to enact major change to improve sustainability on a global scale. Dr. Sarah E. Lewis, Senior Director of Innovation at The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), discusses how TSC is driving meaningful change in business by partnering with powerful corporations to improve supply chain sustainability and ecological integrity.

Join us for Season 5 as we talk to Dr. Marty Matlock, Executive Director of the Resiliency Center and Professor of Ecological Engineering at the University of Arkansas, and Eric Boles, Director of the Office for Sustainability at the University of Arkansas. They explain what sustainability really is, why it is important, and what can be done to help.

Summer Stallbaumer, Senior in the Walton College and Head Tutor of the Business Communication Lab, bids farewell and reflects on her recent past.

Tune in for a five-part conversation about leading through research with current and former Business Communication Lab tutors: Alshaatha Al Sharji, Courtney Wilson, Luis Paganelli Marin, Mia Norton, and Raquel Romero. 

Kaylie Mitchell and Elizabeth Alspach, MFA students at the University of Arkansas, explain the importance of combining art and business, having multidisciplinary knowledge in a leadership role, and working with a community and not just for one.

Listen to Melody Taylor, Executive Director and Founder of Beautiful Lives Boutique, and Emily Dunn, U of A student and employee at Beautiful Lives, as they share the journey of improving the lives of women in the community and around the world

Listen to a conversation with Evan Addison Payne, Account Executive and Producer for Intercut Productions. A recent graduate of the Walton College, Evan shares stories about connecting communities through multimedia and marketing.

Listen to an engaging conversation with Eric Jones, Founder and CEO of LFLS Shoes.

Listen to a conversation with Dean Matthew A. Waller of the Walton College of Business. He talks to us about a day in the life of a dean, about decision-making, and about how to really overcome challenges.

Biz Talk season 4 #1. Tune in to hear lessons learned from sophomore Gabe Galster. Gabe joins us again in season 4 to share his views on leadership and lessons learned from his first year at the University of Arkansas.