At the Carson College of Business Power Breakfast, featured speaker Rachel Ruggeri described the values that have helped guide her life and leadership as the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Starbucks. In sharp contrast with the sea of dark business suits in the room, the WSU alumna’s light blue dress patterned with vibrant tropical plants and birds was the first clue to her regard for individuality.

When she worked as a hostess, just the simple act of seating people during their special afternoon or evening out at a restaurant brought Carson College of Business alumna Elizabeth Jackson joy and sparked her interest in a hospitality business management career.

An introductory business class during her first semester at WSU helped her learn more about hospitality career options, and she became more excited about a future in hospitality.

In collaboration with Central Washington University and accounting firm KPMG, the Carson College of Business developed the Intern Leadership Summit in Seattle this past spring benefiting more than 30 students from 10 institutions across the state.

Stephen Lee is a people person. As a scholar and researcher, he’s most interested in studying the nuances of workplace behaviors—from cooperative and supportive to gossipy and self-absorbed. For himself, he prefers a collegial work environment, which is what drew him to Carson College’s Department of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship.

When Jake and Emily Stevens signed up to study abroad in Greece in 2016, they certainly expected the experience to be life-changing, but they couldn’t have known they were about to meet their future spouse.

WSU researchers are studying the role of “prolific inventors,” also known as star scientists with a lot of experience and success in creating new products. These people are often seen as experts in their field and can hold influence within their company and in the wider business community.

We’ve all heard the age-old saying “the customer is always right.” However, in recent years, an emerging field of research has delved into the rise of customer incivility and misbehavior, commonly referred to as the “dark side of customer behavior.”

Amrita Lahiri, assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the Carson College of Business, was recently named corecipient of the 2022 Helena Yli-Renko Research Impact Award from the Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.

As an integral part of Washington’s research-oriented, land-grant institution, the Carson College of Business creates value for business and academic communities by hosting the annual Power Breakfast, Business Technology Symposium, and Walton Lecture events, along with industry speakers throughout the year. In 2022, a mix of globally competitive business leaders and entrepreneurs shared their professional insights through Carson College panels and lectures.