ONLINE: The UW Now

press release: Stream at the WAA YouTube channel.

July 14: Ingenuity has always been an essential ingredient in business, but the pandemic has forced many businesses to get even more creative about the way they operate. From figuring out how to manage their workforces safely to rethinking how they deliver goods and services, industries are transforming before our eyes. What lessons should we keep in mind as we navigate the new economic climate? How can businesses keep up with changing consumer needs? What long-term changes might we see on the other side of this experience — and which of those changes are already underway?

Our Guests:

Hart Posen, the Richard G. and Julie J. Diermeier Professor in Business at the Wisconsin School of Business will discuss the future of retail. Hart studies strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship from a behavioral perspective.

Scott Cook, cofounded the financial software company Intuit, which created TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Mint. He is the current chairman of Intuit’s executive committee. Prior to founding Intuit, he managed consulting assignments in banking, food service, and technology for Bain & Company, a corporate strategy consulting firm. He also spent four years with household products giant Procter & Gamble. Cook also sits on the advisory board of the Center for Brand and Product Management at UW–Madison.

The talk will be moderated by Mike Knetter, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association.

Where: The UW Now Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6IDNqqoTHc

WFAA plans to host The UW Now Livestream weekly, featuring UW–Madison faculty and staff with unique expertise.

The pandemic has changed consumer spending habits practically overnight. From a surge in demand for baking ingredients and masks to the sudden halt of brick-and-mortar shopping, these changes have dramatically impacted our retail and service landscapes — and the jobs that go with them. What trends can we expect to see as the situation progresses? How might changes in consumerism during the pandemic reflect a larger shift in our social values?

The pandemic has changed the way many people and businesses think about the spaces we occupy. Many are also struggling to hold on to the spaces they have amid major economic changes. What could all this mean for the future real estate market? Will we need more commercial space to ensure safe distance between workers — or will the market for office space crash as more companies opt to have employees work remotely? Will people flee high-density lifestyles and urban areas that rely on public transit? Or will a vaccine get us back to normal?