Thought Leadership
The lifeblood of a business school is its faculty, and at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business our faculty members are inspiring, supportive and world-class. We are attuned to a marketplace that values innovation, entrepreneurialism, analytical thinking and hard work. Our teaching and research equips students with the wisdom of business scholarship rooted in the experiential lessons of the marketplace.
July 24, 2025
AI for Customer Journeys: A Transformer Approach
Zipei Lu and P.K. Kannan’s forthcoming Journal of Marketing Research study introduces a Transformer-based AI model that accurately predicts digital customer behavior and delivers personalized marketing insights across complex, multi-touchpoint journeys, outperforming traditional methods in both…
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AI for Customer Journeys: A Transformer Approach
July 15, 2025
Study Shows EPA’s Unintended Effect on Voluntary Climate Disclosures by Public Firms
Public firms disclose significantly less about environmental risks when under EPA scrutiny, new research by Mark Zakota shows. His study highlights how such oversight may undermine SEC climate-transparency efforts—unless firms improve governance or agencies better coordinate enforcement.
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Study Shows EPA’s Unintended Effect on Voluntary Climate Disclosures by Public Firms
July 15, 2025
A Way to Minimize the Pension Problem
Public pensions face mounting pressure amid economic uncertainty and legal battles. The Smith School’s T. Leigh Anenson offers a legal framework for reform, advocating “contract minimalism” to balance state budget constraints with fair protections for employee retirement benefits.
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A Way to Minimize the Pension Problem
June 27, 2025
Why Managers Reject Great Ideas
Managers often overlook employee innovations due to risk aversion. Smith researchers Vijaya Venkataramani and Kay Bartol found diverse networks—both managerial and employee—help ideas gain credibility and traction, fostering an environment where innovation is more likely to succeed.
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Why Managers Reject Great Ideas
June 26, 2025
Smith Students Assess How Deeply Federal Spending Impacts the State of Maryland
A joint report from Maryland’s Comptroller and Smith School researchers reveals $150 billion in recent federal spending in the state. Students, guided by professors Liu Yang, Vojislav Maksimovic and Kislaya Prasad, gained valuable experience in data analysis and government collaboration.
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Smith Students Assess How Deeply Federal Spending Impacts the State of Maryland
May 30, 2025
Summer Reading List 2025
Get ready for summer with the 22nd Annual Summer Reading List for Business Leaders—featuring Smith School faculty picks on investing, neuroscience, human connection, and more, including a novel inspired by a radio show turned TV series.
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Summer Reading List 2025
May 14, 2025
The Language of Buying: Deciphering AI Conversations
Marketing PhD student Ziting Liao, with faculty Liye Ma and Wendy Moe, developed a model predicting purchase intent from AI assistant interactions. By analyzing language patterns, the tool helps advertisers better target consumers and optimize strategies based on intent.
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The Language of Buying: Deciphering AI Conversations
May 14, 2025
The Tax Revenue and Problem-Gambling Balancing Act
Research co-authored by associate professor Dan McCarthy finds that online sports betting legalization has led to a rise in irresponsible gambling, especially among lower-income individuals. The study highlights financial risks and calls for safeguards to mitigate potential societal harm.
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The Tax Revenue and Problem-Gambling Balancing Act
May 14, 2025
Are You Ready for the Future? AI Can Help
Joseph Reiff, assistant professor of marketing, co-invented The Retirement Visualizer™, an AI tool using GPT and DALL·E to help individuals vividly imagine retirement goals. By making the future feel tangible, it aims to boost motivation and increase retirement savings.
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Are You Ready for the Future? AI Can Help
April 24, 2025
“The Future is Not What it Used to Be”
Ambiguity arises when choices must be made despite unclear outcomes, says Professor J. Gerald Suarez. In today’s fast-paced world, discernment, flexibility, and embracing uncertainty—not rigid control—are key to navigating change, complexity, and an unpredictable future.
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“The Future is Not What it Used to Be”