Archive Posts
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In the News: Andy Babula on Rising Housing Prices in Minnesota
In the NewsAndy Babula, finance professor and director of the real estate program at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business, spoke with Minnesota Star Tribune about how home prices in Minnesota are climbing faster than incomes, putting homeownership – once a key symbol of middle-class stability – beyond reach for many residents. From the article:... In…
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In the News: Erica Diehn on the Human Toll of Impersonal Layoffs
Business & LawErica Diehn, associate professor of management and leadership in the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business, spoke with the Minnesota Star Tribune about the growing trend of impersonal layoffs as companies like Target turn to remote and systematized approaches. Diehn explained that virtual terminations can heighten job insecurity, erode trust and have lasting effects on… -
In the News: Andy Babula Discusses the Minneapolis Office Market
In the NewsAndy Babula, finance professor and director of the real estate program at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business, offered insight into the dramatic shifts reshaping Minneapolis’ downtown office market. Following the steep discount sale of Wells Fargo Center, Babula weighed in on what the deal signals for future property values and the… -
More Than Logic: Why Emotional Intelligence Drives Better Decisions
Tommie ExpertsImagine this: A longtime customer calls your office, frustrated and on edge. A delivery was late, a detail was missed, and now they’re questioning whether your team can be trusted to handle their account. The technical solution is straightforward. You can rush a replacement shipment, apply a discount, and fix the immediate error. But, the… -
New Study Abroad Program Explores the Coffee Supply Chain From Bean to Cup
Business & LawAs a fleet supervisor, Chuck Primas Jr. spends his workdays making sure products get where they need to be safely and on time. In his current role at Ruan Transportation, one of the largest family-owned transportation companies in the country, he oversees operations for a team of drivers and manages scheduling, compliance, and logistics. “Supply… -
South Africa to St. Thomas: Why This Fashion Entrepreneur Pursues an MBA
Business & LawBorn in Botswana and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jessica Khupe ‘26 MBA has family ties to the University of St. Thomas dating back to the early 1990s. Her uncle, Dr. Keith Bothongo ’92, earned both his MBA and master’s in international management degrees at St. Thomas before founding Bothongo Group in Sandton, South Africa,… -
The Connection Between Excellent Communication and Emotional Intelligence
Tommie ExpertsEffective and exceptional leadership is powered by communication, and communication is deeply intertwined with emotional intelligence (EQ). For emerging leaders navigating newly expanded responsibilities, recognizing this connection is essential. And for experienced leaders, it’s a powerful reminder that how we communicate evolves alongside our self-awareness and emotional insight. In a recent course that I taught… -
In the News: Stefanie Lenway on Tariffs Impacting Minnesota
In the NewsStefanie Lenway, former dean of the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas, spoke to Twin Cities Business on how tariffs impact Minnesota businesses. From the story: Tariff whiplash impedes reliable business planning and long-term investment. The result is about as complicated as a game of chess. ... “All these interventions from… -
In the News: Christopher Wong Michaelson on the Effectiveness of Boycotts
In the NewsUniversity of St. Thomas Opus College of Business Professor Christopher Wong Michaelson spoke to Mpls.St.Paul Magazine about recent consumer boycotts aimed at major corporations – including Target – and the complex factors that determine whether such actions succeed. From the story: Standing in line at Costco recently, an acquaintance looked at her watch. She’d spent… -
Students Turn Ideas Into Action at Fowler Global Social Innovation Finals
Business & LawUniversity of St. Thomas hosts international student competition focused on solutions to the world’s toughest social and environmental challenges. Seeing discarded clothing clog up rivers in Ghana inspired Natalie Larson ’26 and Noah MacDonald ’26 to create change. That change led to these social entrepreneur students becoming finalists in the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge…