An upcoming Smith School conversation on diversity pinpoints how the Fortune 500 can achieve racial diversity on corporate boards. The Diversity Fireside Chat event will feature John W. Rogers, Jr., CEO and chief investment officer for Ariel Investments, and hailed as “one of the most powerful” African Americans on Wall Street by Black Enterprise. 

What makes someone an effective and strong leader? Is this a skill that can be acquired? These are questions that are often asked about leadership. There are varying perspectives on leadership at the fringes, but at the core there are qualities that are absolutely necessary to be an effective leader. In this issue of Smith Business Close-Up with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, host Jeff Salkin sits down with Gary Cohen to talk about what makes a good leader and how to become one.

U.S. multinational corporations (MNCs) hoard approximately $2 trillion in cash, the majority of which is kept overseas, and are required to pay U.S. corporate income taxes upon repatriation of foreign earnings earned in lower tax jurisdictions. New research provides evidence that MNCs facing higher repatriation tax costs are more likely to engage in acquisitions of both U.S. targets and foreign targets.

Though the gender gap in the corporate world has narrowed over the last few decades, women still have a lot of ground to cover before they are equally represented in top positions in business. A big step toward closing the gap starts with business schools. The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business outlined its commitment to closing the gap in March, announcing its 50/50 by 2020 Pledge.

How much confidence should you have in the findings published in the top strategic management journals? Less than you might think, according to new research. In this issue of Smith Business Close-Up with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, host Jeff Salkin sits down with Brent Goldfarb to talk about his new research, that estimates that 24 to 40 percent of the findings in five top strategic management journals are likely the result of chance.

Tata Group acquisitions such as Jaguar Land Rover may finally have American consumers taking notice of the Indian company as a global force. The company has been a subject of an in-depth study on how to transform large corporations by Sunil Mithas, professor of information systems at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

In early February, President Obama proposed a 14 percent tax on U.S. multinationals’ overseas earnings, plus a 19 percent minimum tax rate on future foreign profits. The proceeds would fix roads, bridges and other infrastructure. But this plan is contentious: "Raising taxes on our most innovative companies to fund ever greater unsustainable federal budgets is a recipe for disaster,” says Michael Faulkender, associate professor of finance and director of the Masters Program in Finance at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Students are increasingly interested in using business principles to do good in the world. The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business has made a commitment to teaching students how to do so. In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up, host Jeff Salkin sits down with Christine Beckman, associate professor of management and organization, to talk about her new roles as academic director of the Smith School’s Center for Social Value Creation. 

Thursday, January 15, 2015, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, January 18, 2015, 7:30 a.m. With the start of the new year, many people’s resolutions include setting career goals. Staying focused and setting a plan can make 2015 the year you land your dream job or that big promotion.

Thursday, October 16, 2014, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 19, 2014, 7:30 a.m. Digital technology is changing everything these days, including the face of marketing and retailing. How is this impacting consumer behavior and what’s up next?