Eccles Business Buzz

Despite the rise in scrutiny of bachelor’s degrees, research shows that having access to college is a key indicator of future economic and financial success as well as physical and emotional well-being. 

Studies show that people with bachelor's degrees have 57% more job opportunities than people with high school diplomas, and 60% of workers with bachelor’s degrees reported being highly satisfied at work, while only 38% of workers without college degrees reported being highly satisfied. 

If a degree can play such a pivotal role in someone’s overall future success, how can...

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, small businesses employ nearly half of the American workforce and represent 43.5% of the country's GDP. However, not everyone in the American economy has the same access to the tools and resources needed to launch and sustain a new business successfully. 

The Master of Business Creation (MBC) program at the David Eccles School of Business is working to address some of these gaps by offering a degree program committed to helping entrepreneurs grow their startup companies. 

Paul Brown and Rena Vanzo will jo...

In today's episode, we're focusing on the role of higher education in creating lifelong economic opportunities. Research shows that the average college graduate is 24% more likely to be employed than their peers who have only completed a high school degree. 

At the same time, college is not accessible to everyone. According to the National Center for Education statistics, over 85% of college students receive some form of financial aid. Here to talk about the role of scholarships in increasing college access and lifetime economic opportunity is Mbe Agbor.

Mbe spent h...

As we continue exploring the topic of economic equality and the different factors that influence a fair and equitable economic experience, today we are tackling the topic of student loan debt. 

Americans owe $1.77 trillion in federal and private student loan debt as of the second quarter of 2023, and questions about whether and how borrowers should be required to repay that debt have become part of an ongoing national conversation.  

Here to help us unpack all of this is Adam Looney. Adam is a professor and executive director of the Mar...

When it comes to creating more equitable access to economic opportunities, like buying a house or getting a loan to start a small business, financial technology innovations are moving the needle faster than almost anything else. 

Joining us today to talk about FinTech and the role it plays in economic equality are Ryan Christiansen and Steve Smith. Ryan Christiansen is the Executive Director of the Stena Center for Financial Technology at the University of Utah. In this role, Ryan directs and coordinates the labs, venture fund, incubator, and student programs at the center.

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We are exploring economic inclusion this season, and today we are diving into the history of banking and financial structures in the United States and how they have often excluded minority groups.

Ashley Bell is the co-founder and general counsel of the National Black Bank Foundation, which provides nonprofit expert legal, regulatory, and operational support to Black-owned banks. And Sui Ling Panoke currently serves as Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Zions Bank.

In this episode, Ashley and Sui Lang sit down with host Frances Johnson...

We are exploring economic inclusion this season, and today we are focusing on the intersections of gender inequality and finances. 

Here to talk a little bit more about this is Jacki Zehner. Jacki refers to herself as an enthusiastic and dedicated financial feminist. In 1996, she became the youngest woman and first female trader to be made partner of Goldman Sachs. 

Today, she works to provide women with the tools to grow social capital and achieve financial freedom through her companies ShePlace and SheMoney. 

She cha...

Welcome to Season Six of the Eccles Business Buzz podcast. We are so glad to have you back as we kick off another series of great conversations with our Eccles Community. This season, we are continuing our discussion of equity, diversity, inclusion, and empathy by focusing on economic inclusion. 

A key part of building an economically inclusive experience for ourselves and others is understanding what is actually happening in the economy. We all hear economic terms and forecasts in the news, but do we really know what they mean and how they should impact o...

The countdown is on to season six of the Eccles Business Buzz podcast. In this new season, we are focused on economic and financial inclusion and how economic and financial empowerment contribute to opportunity in our personal, professional, and academic lives. I'm your host, Frances Johnson. Join me to get an Economy 101 crash course and learn what all those terms you hear on the news really mean for your economic future and decision-making.

We'll hear from one of the nation's foremost experts on student loan debt and from a self-proclaimed financial feminist. We'll learn a...

We’ve been talking this season about the challenges women face in the workplace, especially here in Utah. But today, we are going to pivot to talk about some solutions, and how the Eccles School is working to prepare women – and all students – for a more successful and equitable workplace experience.

With us today is Katie Abby, Special Advisor to the President of the University of Utah and Assistant Dean of Business Career Success and Corporate Outreach at the David Eccles School of Business. An experienced staffing executive, Katie graduated from the U in 1984 and, i...