In an October 31 article in the Christian Science Monitor, Professor Ella Bell says invisibility—not being heard or seen—remains an issue for women of color in the workplace. Bell is a member of the hidden Brain Drain Task Force, whose mission is to advance women and minorities in the workplace. In a November article in The New York Times, this task force reported that minority professionals are more likely to play active leadership roles in their communities but are less likely to receive credit for the work they do outside the office. Bell says these findings summarize a long tradition of giving back in the African-American culture. "It is part of the way we are socialized and how we keep the African-American community surviving," adds Bell, who says she is the exception, having achieved enough status at work that she feels comfortable sharing the news of her activities.

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On December 13, the Associated Press reported that ConocoPhillips Co., the third largest oil and gas producer in the U.S., had proposed a $35.6 billion acquisition of Burlington Resources, Inc., another oil and gas producer, making this the largest transaction in the energy industry in several years. Strategy Professor Constance Helfat said ConocoPhillips was importantly gaining Burlington's expertise at operating in hard-to-reach Western gas fields as an alternative to operation in risky places such as Russia. "Not every oil and gas company has this sort of expertise," Helfat said, "so Burlington was an obvious target if you're looking to bulk up your reserves."

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In the Fall 2005 issue of CFA Magazine, Professor Ken French participated in a Q&A discussion on equilibrium, asset-class investing, and momentum, an anomaly that he views as "one of the biggest embarrassments for the efficient markets hypothesis." French, a finance expert, is well known for his groundbreaking research (with coauthor Eugene Fama of The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business) on the value effect and the three-factor model. French's most recent research focuses on tests of asset pricing and the trade-off between risk and return in financial markets. A September article in Forbes titled "The Problem With Indexes" referenced French as a well-regarded academic.

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According to an August 27 article in The Boston Globe, there's a national trend of MBA students interested in real estate. Associate Dean Dave Pyke and Tim Walsh T'06 comment in the article, and Professor John Vogel's Real Estate course and the Real Estate club at Tuck are mentioned. An August article in The Wall Street Journal said despite warnings that the housing bubble might burst, MBA students are packing real-estate finance, strategy, and investment courses. About 200 of the 240 second-year MBAs at Tuck signed up for the real-estate elective during the last school year, prompting Tuck to add more sections.

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In an October 27 article in The Wall Street Journal, Professors Colin Blaydon and Fred Wainwright of the Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship commented on the changing power dynamics on Wall Street between big corporations and private equity firms. Skilled deal makers that they are, the private equity firms also know how to spread their influence for maximum effect. But Wainwright doesn't see much of a power struggle going on. "It's more of a symbiotic relationship," he said. Consultants says structural and market-related challenges are to blame for deals going sour. "If financial risk begins to look too high and the lenders begin to tighten up, the engine that created all these returns is going to vanish in front of your eyes," said Blaydon.

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Last fall, three of Tuck's renowned professors were featured on the New Hampshire Public Radio program "The Exchange." Center for Digital Strategies Director Eric Johnson addressed the eBay phenomenon and e-business trends, Center for International Business Director Joe Massey commented on China as a leading global manufacturer, and Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship Director Colin Blaydon discussed the problems with pensions. Across the river, Professor Koen Pauwels was a guest on Vermont Public Radio's "Switchboard" program, sharing his expertise on advertising and marketing strategies. And Paul Argenti was a guest on NPR's All Things Considered, commenting on Wal-Mart's plans to trim the cost of employee benefits.

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Samsung Electronics Ltd., the world's largest memory-chip maker by revenue, pleaded guilty to a U.S. criminal price-fixing charge. An October 13 article in The Wall Street Journal reported that this case shows how a government amnesty program is being used against corporate conspirators. Micron was the first to abandon the cartel and agree to cooperate in the investigation, providing evidence against other conspirators. Because of its cooperation in the case, Micron won't face government fines for its conduct. But it isn't shielded from damage claims by computer makers. Professor Robert Hansen, Tuck's senior associate dean, said the penalty for Samsung could give customers leverage in price negotiation and deliver a severe blow to the company's image.

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International football—a.k.a. soccer—matches have a significant influence on stock markets, according to results of a study conducted by Professor Diego García, Øyvind Norli of the Norwegian School of Management, and Alex Edmans of MIT. This is the first large-sample study to find a direct link between a leisure activity and stock trading. The results were published in an October 28 article on the Bloomberg financial site. According to the report, stock returns are significantly lower after the national team loses a match in an international football competition. International news outlets in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom also published the results.

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In an October 1 article in CFO Magazine, Professor Amy Hutton advised companies to regularly disclose metrics that demonstrate performance. "All investors want to hear a compelling strategy for success" from a company's management, said Hutton. "How are they going to compete and create a sustainable competitive advantage in their industry?" Hutton suggested that management should teach investors about what they do and share facts and figures to make it tangible.

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In a December Q&A with The Boston Globe, Paul Danos fielded questions on B-school admissions, the job market, and MBA rankings, saying, "We see a significant turnaround in applications this year: 25-plus percent. Last year we had a slight bump of about 5 percent, but that was after a couple of years of decline at all schools. Tuck is leading the pack. We've done so well in the rankings and things like that lately." Danos also reported that Tuck has seen an increase in recruiting and that the basic starting salaries for Tuck graduates are up across the board.

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