Olin Business School

After a year of planning, the Bear-y Sweet Shoppe opened Jan. 12 on Gregg Walkway on the South 40 at Washington University in St. Louis. The business is supported by the innovative Student Entrepreneurial Program (StEP), which has provided resources and guidance since 1999. The shop is the first StEP business to sell food, use crowdfunding and to be founded exclusively by women.

In 2014, Washington University continued to play a major role in the St. Louis community while students and alumni made their mark on campus. Among the stories were the debut of the $80 million Lofts of Washington University, a continued investment in Cortex, the innovation district, and two unforgettable alumni.

​Washington University researchers worked in the local community and across the globe in 2014 to better understand our bodies, our minds and our cultures.

When it comes to holiday gift-giving, we all know it’s the thought that counts. But there is such a thing as giving it too much thought, at least when it comes to picking out a gift card, according to Robyn LeBoeuf​, PhD, associate professor of marketing in the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Sadie Pierce (left) and her partner, Lilly Leyh, became the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Missouri earlier this month. Leyh is set to graduate in May with master’s degrees in social work and business administration, and Pierce is a recent alum of the Brown School.

Jill Lustberg, associate director of development for Olin Business School in Alumni & Development Programs at Washington University in St. Louis, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, at her home after battling cancer for more than five years. She was 43.

​Ten finalists in the 2014 Olin Cup Competition​ are offering novel solutions to real-world challenges and will vie for $70,000 in seed money to start a new company. The Olin Cup is sponsored by the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis.

Knight Hall and Bauer Hall are the latest buildings at Washington University in St. Louis to earn LEED Gold certification for their green design and construction. Home to Olin Business School, Knight and Bauer halls feature locally sourced and recycled materials, high-tech glass and an innovative layout that fosters collaboration.

Election Day is difficult for many political candidates. But it’s no picnic for their supporters either. A new study co-authored by Olin Business School’s Lamar Pierce, PhD, shows just how tough election days can be. The study finds that winning elections barely improves the happiness of those from the winning political party.

The business of sports, said Joseph S. Lacob (left), co-executive chairman and CEO of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, isn’t just fun and games. Future successful sports industry leaders must be innovative thinkers with a solid foundational business background, like the new minor in the business of sports at Olin Business School, a program he is helping launch with a $1 million gift.