Papers

Originally shared in our June 2026 Top of Mind Newsletter. In this insightful paper, authors Salim Ismail and Ted Shelton revisit a classic economics question — why do companies exist at all? — through the lens of AI. Their answer cuts against the doom narrative: AI dramatically lowers the cost of coordination, but it doesn’t make organizations obsolete. It redefines them as “containers for trusted agency.” As more tasks get automated, what determines value is…

Originally shared in our March 2026 Top of Mind Newsletter. While finding personal meaning fuels the drive of an entrepreneurial mindset, our educational systems must provide the framework to channel that drive into real-world outcomes. A recent research paper examines the critical, yet often fragmented, role of entrepreneurship education within U.S. Career and Technical Education (CTE). Despite widespread recognition of its value for workforce preparation, a systematic review of over 15 years of research reveals a persistent gap in…

Originally shared in our December 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. Is “doing nothing” actually a form of high-performance computing? A groundbreaking 2025 study University of Utah Health neurosurgeon Ben Shofty, MD, PhD, suggests yes. For years, neuroscientists have observed that the network of brain regions known as the “Default Mode Network” (DMN) lights up when we daydream or zone out. But until now, its purpose was debated. Using direct neural mapping, Shofty and team have now begun to understand that the DMN…

Originally posted in our July 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. This study from the Small Business Institute Journal explores how entrepreneurs develop resilience and engage with a variety of adverse situations. Through their findings, they identify three “waves” of resiliency. The first wave is defined as resilient qualities, shaped by character and circumstances. The second wave, the resiliency process, focuses on how entrepreneurs consciously and unconsciously interpret challenges to develop resiliency, regardless of personality traits. The third wave,…

Originally posted in our January 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. Ongoing research published in the working paper Learning to See the World’s Opportunities* underscores how visualization skills enhance entrepreneurial success for any individual. Entrepreneurs who actively engage in positive mental imagery improve their financial stability, creative problem-solving, and access to credit. However, not everyone has equal access to this skill—past hardships and trauma can limit one’s ability to visualize a positive future. But, like any skill,…