Olin Business School

Facebook’s initial public offering (IPO) filing shows real numbers for profit and revenues, which are likely to drive a valuation that could be as high as $100 billion.This astronomical number does require some aggressive assumptions about future growth, but the high valuation may be more justified than for other internet companies, says Mark T. Leary, PhD, assistant professor of finance at Washington University’s Olin Business School.

Can’t get enough Elton John, Weego the dog, Matthew Broderick or babies in slingshots? Plan to relive all your favorite Super Bowl commercials during the annual SuperAd Bowl, sponsored by the Olin Marketing Association, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 in the Knight Executive Education Center.

American Airlines’ plan to lay off more than 13,000 employees and eliminate all four of its pension plans as part of its bankruptcy reorganization could eventually spell the end of the airline and leave its pilots with dramatically reduced pensions, say two experts at Washington University in St. Louis.

In a move reflecting the wave of entrepreneurial activity happening in the region, an unprecedented three teams were selected to receive up to $50,000 each at the annual Olin Cup awards ceremony Feb. 1. The annual competition is sponsored by the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington University in St. Louis.

Nine finalists were selected Jan. 26 to compete for more than $125,000 in grants in April at the 2011-12 YouthBridge Social Enterprise and Innovation Competition (SEIC) at Washington University in St. Louis. The competition is a joint partnership between the YouthBridge Community Foundation and WUSTL’s Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble’s move to lay off some 1,600 employees globally, many in the marketing area, foretells a trend in which more companies will move their advertising dollars from traditional to digital media, says a marketing expert at Washington University in St. Louis.

Marking his first day as CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA), Joe Reagan will discuss “Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Creating the Future Economy” during the annual Olin Cup awards ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, in Simon Hall’s May Auditorium on Washington University in St. Louis’ Danforth Campus.

Last year’s hit Super Bowl ad, a Volkswagen spot featuring a boy dressed as Darth Vader, was unique in that it was actually released before the game. This year, nearly all ad agencies are expected to run previews of their commercials before the Feb. 5 Super Bowl on YouTube and other sites, leading a marketing expert at Washington University in St. Louis to question the wisdom of running a television ad at all.

Talent contests are abundant these days. Whether it’s singing, dancing or cooking, it seems someone is always on the lookout for the next “super star.” WalMart Stores, Inc., have even entered the fray, announcing a reality-show like plan to find the next “it” product, a move an innovation expert at Washington University in St. Louis applauds.

As another presidential election year gets under way, defining and determining what makes a great leader is on the minds of many voters and politicians. A new and innovative course at Olin Business School, “Defining Moments: Lessons in Leadership and Character from the Top,” examines this question by allowing students to interact with top leaders in the corporate world who exemplify both integrity and excellence.