Features

Jan
24
2024
By Anna Song
New Chinese Style Tea House: A Pathway from Tradition to the Public?

New Chinese Style Tea House: A Pathway from Tradition to the Public?

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Anna Song Photo By Anna Song This past summer, I returned to China and encountered a type of tea house called “Xin Zhong Shi (新中式),” which literally translates to “New Chinese Style.” I landed in Shanghai, a city that embodies a richer coffee culture rather than tea culture. However, there are also a decent amount of “New Chinese Style” tea houses in Shanghai. In this article, I present two case studies of “New Chinese Style” tea houses in Shanghai and analyze their similarities and differences. KAIJI: A Café That Sells Tea Before visiting the physical site, I followed KAIJI on…
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Jan
21
2024
By Isabella Yalif
The Meteoric Rise of the Celsius Energy Drink

The Meteoric Rise of the Celsius Energy Drink

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Isabella Yalif Photo By Isabella Yalif 14,538: the number of Celsius cans that Vanderbilt has purchased for distribution in just fall of 2023. Daily life experiences reflect this astoundingly high number though, as these days, it’s impossible to walk on campus for five minutes and not pass someone holding a can of Celsius. What is this mega-popular drink though? How did it get so big? And what does the future entail for David as he takes on the Goliaths of the energy drink market? What is Celsius? Celsius is a healthy energy drink with no high fructose corn syrup, artificial…
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Nov
13
2023
By Madison Keezer
Claudia Goldin’s Nobel Prize: What Does it Mean for Women?

Claudia Goldin’s Nobel Prize: What Does it Mean for Women?

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monkeybusinessimages via iStockphoto By: Madison Keezer In the heart of Boston's Financial District, one startling statistic echoes among the glass walls of corner offices: a 2019 U.S. Census Poll reports that a female financial manager earns, on average, $33,667 less than their male counterparts. This is not an isolated case, and at the Harvard University Department of Economics just across the Charles River, Claudia Goldin has helped to uncover the factors underlying this trend. For her research regarding the driving forces of gender gaps in labor force participation and wages, the Nobel Prize Committees have awarded Claudia Goldin the 2023…
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Sep
10
2023
By Claire Chen
The Populist Revival of the Islamic Banking Movement

The Populist Revival of the Islamic Banking Movement

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iStock Photo By Claire Chen Islamic banking is on the rise. Recent estimates suggest that the industry can expect a 10 percent growth rate over the next year, part of its broader transformation from a niche cultural product to a mainstream commodity part of the broader ethical finance movement. A prevailing interpretation of Islamic banking considers it as simply another alternative in the consumer banking market. It is here that much of the discourse is centered: Islamic banking appears to be an individual moral statement that the savvy consumer chooses among a variety of products. At the same time, the…
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Apr
19
2023
By Yinghan Du
Interview on Economic Status and Agricultural Sector of Argentina

Interview on Economic Status and Agricultural Sector of Argentina

All Posts, Economy and Government, Features
By Yinghan Du Professor Ana Regina Andrade is a Principal Senior Lecturer in Economics in the Department of Economics at Vanderbilt University. Her academic interest is developmental economics and the Latin American economy. Professor Andrade, and a team of graduate students, visited Argentina for an economic field trip in the spring of 2023. In the first part of this interview, she described the general economic history of Argentina and the status of this economy with an emphasis on the agricultural sector. Yinghan To begin with, could you please provide some general background information about the economic status of Latin America…
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Dec
02
2022
By Ilana Drake
<strong>Young Entrepreneurs Give Advice On Attaining Success</strong>

Young Entrepreneurs Give Advice On Attaining Success

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By Emmie Wolf-Dubin and Ilana Drake This article is originally published by YR. Media and is republished by VBR. A recent entrepreneurship conference, 3698, in Nashville highlighted learning more about business ownership and the importance of advocacy.  Emmie Wolf-Dubin and Ilana Drake had the chance to pick the brains of several young frontrunners in finance and investing.  Borrego & Bendel Corporation CEO Nick Borrego shared an important tip from his father, “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and you’ll grow into that world.”  The reasoning — becoming an entrepreneur has a number of challenges.  “Don’t forget to follow…
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Oct
29
2022
By Iris An
<strong>Pleasant Vineyard: A Story of Sweetness, Passion, and Unwavering Patience</strong>

Pleasant Vineyard: A Story of Sweetness, Passion, and Unwavering Patience

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By Iris An  (All pictures taken by the author and used with permission from Dr. and Mrs. Yao unless otherwise cited)  Pleasant Vineyards is located at 2018 Les Robinson, Columbia, Tennessee, at the foot of the picturesque Theta hills. The lovely 27-acre property features 11 acres of grapes, gorgeous views, quiet picnic spaces, and plenty of free parking. The Pleasant Vineyard, which is open every weekend for muscadine U-pick, wine tastings, and wine purchases, has hosted a great number of muscadine lovers and introduced this unique grape to a wider audience. This beautiful vineyard is owned by Dr. Jie Yao,…
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Oct
23
2022
By Iris An
<strong>A Niche Market in Asian-style Bakeries: Sweet Dreams Bakery & Bubble Tea</strong>

A Niche Market in Asian-style Bakeries: Sweet Dreams Bakery & Bubble Tea

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By: Iris An  (All images are provided by Sweet Dreams Bakery & Bubble Tea, used with permission)  YiMemg Wang is the owner of Sweet Dreams Bakery & Bubble Tea, a bakery on Cool Springs Blvd., in Franklin, Tennessee, which specializes in pies, cheesecakes, egg tarts, breads and bubble tea. In this interview, YiMeng shared her story of establishing her own business and the most essential factors and long-term strategies in the food service industry from her unique perspective.  (more introduction of YiMeng's fantastic bakery is below this article!) IA: What made you decide to establish your own business?  YM: My…
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Sep
26
2022
By Iris An
Starbucks’s ambitious plan in China: reflecting and expanding a business class reading

Starbucks’s ambitious plan in China: reflecting and expanding a business class reading

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By Iris An Sitting in the 21st Avenue coffee shop with my pumpkin spice latte, I opened my next week’s reading assignment for BUSA 3710 and found myself staring at six articles about Starbucks—in a Starbucks (the irony of this weekend study mode  was not lost to me). As its name indicates, BUSA 3710: Corporate Valuation is a course introducing the methods of intrinsic, relative, and contingent valuation. Like Aswath Damodaran, the “dean of valuation,” once said, “A craft is a skill that you learn by doing. The more you do, the better you get.” Valuation is a craft that…
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