Steve Tadelis

In this discussion, Katie Johnson, a data scientist, shares her challenging shift from contributing individual work to managing a team. Kelly Hsu, a Yale finance professor, dives into the Peter Principle, explaining how capable employees can falter in managerial roles. Steve Tadellis, an economics professor, discusses the significant impact of managers on employee productivity and satisfaction. Together, they explore the dynamics of ineffective leadership, the pressures of management, and how organizational promotion practices contribute to the prevalence of bad bosses.

Katie Johnson, a data scientist turned manager turned freelancer, shares her journey navigating the challenges of leadership. Kelly Shue, a finance professor, discusses the Peter Principle — the tendency for capable employees to be promoted into ineffective managerial roles. Steve Tadelis, an economics professor, emphasizes the significant impact that managers have on employee success and productivity. Together, they explore why firms perpetuate this cycle of promoting incompetence and how rethinking promotions could reshape organizational dynamics.

Steve Tadellis, a marketing expert from UC Berkeley, and Tim Huang, a research fellow with insights into the attention economy, delve into the world of digital advertising. They tackle the effectiveness of digital ads versus traditional TV, revealing surprising truths about ad spending and consumer behavior. The discussion highlights challenges in quantifying success and skepticism around the industry's claims of engagement. They also explore the risks of a potential digital-ad bubble and emphasize the need for diverse economic strategies in marketing.