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In today’s fast-paced workplace, taking breaks has become both a necessity and a challenge. While organizations encourage employees to pause for coffee, lunch, or short walks, the effectiveness of those breaks often falls short.

When Naren Agrawal steps into his role as interim dean of the Leavey School of Business on January 1, 2026, it will mark both a familiar homecoming and a new chapter in leadership for the School.

A Louis Vuitton boutique in Bermuda is about as far from a research lab as you can get. Yet that’s exactly where Oksana Komarova stood, running a luxury storefront and selling $3,000 handbags to tourists.

As a leader in Apple’s global business planning function, Leavey alumna DeAnna Kneis sits at the intersection of strategy and execution. The challenge of identifying strategic growth opportunities while executing across multiple teams keeps Kneis motivated to make an impact.

During his four years at Leavey, Dean Ed Grier helped reshape curriculum, elevate leadership studies, expand global and corporate partnerships, and guide the school through the return from remote learning. Now, as he steps into retirement, he reflects on the moments and milestones that helped set Leavey on a strong path forward.

From managing food service operations to overseeing global facilities for Fortune 500 companies, alum Anne Moser has navigated every major career pivot with grit, clarity, and a knack for turning challenge into opportunity.

Guo’s research highlights why unemployment insurance reform must address funding, not just benefits. Her analysis shows that expanding the taxable earnings base could strengthen state trust funds, reduce federal borrowing, and create a fairer balance between employers - making the system more equitable for workers and more resilient in future downturns.

From Coast Guard aviation to NSA intelligence to Marine Corps counterintelligence, Sam Hickey, Josh Michael, and Cody Boleyn brought decades of service - and very different paths - to the same Executive MBA cohort at Leavey.

Assistant Professor Amber Xiaoyan Liu’s research uses data-driven modeling to help universities anticipate surges in mental-health needs after campus crises—offering smarter, more compassionate ways to respond.

In a large-scale study, economist Adrien Bouguen finds that mindset programs improve student outcomes—but their greatest power comes when paired with broader, long-term education reforms.