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# Arar Han

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://ararhan.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Case Studies](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/case-studies/): Browse abstracts and ordering information for case studies written and published by faculty at Stanford GSB.
- [On Iconoclasts and the Compass of Patient Capital](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/on-iconoclasts-and-the-compass-of-patient-capital/): Most turnarounds follow a basic playbook. Load up with debt. Cut overhead. Narrow the offering. Squeeze suppliers. Raise prices. Acquire competitors. Exit.
- [Asian American X](https://ararhan.com/media/books/asian-american-x/): This collection, Asian American X, is an essential and vibrant snapshot of a generation navigating the complex intersection of cultures. Edited by Arar Han and John Hsu, and written by young Asian Americans, the book captures the dynamic and often-conflicting feelings that arise from straddling both Asian and American heritage. Far from a singular narrative, these coming-of-age essays illuminate the joys and struggles of forming an identity within one of the nation's fastest-growing demographic groups. It's a powerful statement on what it means to be young, American, and culturally connected in the early twenty-first century.
- [Can do, can’t do, will do, won’t do Outcomes of a 360 feedback process](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/can-do-cant-do-will-do-wont-do-outcomes-of-a-360-feedback-process/): Article written by Arar Han on Fast Company
- [4 Ways to Help Your Entry-Level Hires Thrive in the Workplace](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/4-ways-to-help-your-entry-level-hires-thrive-in-the-workplace/): Article written by Arar Han on Entrepreneur
- [Your Employees Don’t Know Your Pain](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/your-employees-dont-know-your-pain/): Article written by Arar Han on Inc
- [Here’s How to Manage an Unresponsive, Virtual Employee](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/heres-how-to-manage-an-unresponsive-virtual-employee/): Article written by Arar Han on Inc.
- [Five Tips For Hiring Expat Americans](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/five-tips-for-hiring-expat-americans/): The digital nomad revolution is in full swing, and talented Americans can be found all over the world. They tend to be college educated, with a variety of skills, including global travel, and often have a dose of worldly practicality that makes them easy to work with. How do you find the ones who are right for your organization? Here are some of my tips from a year of hiring expats in Asia.
- [How To Become Indispensable When Starting Your Career](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/how-to-become-indispensable-when-starting-your-career/): Article written by Arar Han on Forbes
- [Expert Panel: 20 ways to build a resilient company culture in uncertain times](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/20-ways-to-build-a-resilient-company-culture-in-uncertain-times/): Extracted from: 20 ways to build a resilient company culture in uncertain times published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 07-02-2025
- [Expert Panel: 15 tips for launching a customer loyalty program](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/15-tips-for-launching-a-customer-loyalty-program/): Extracted from: 15 tips for launching a customer loyalty program published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 05-30-2025
- [My daughter Edy is beautiful.](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/my-daughter-edy-is-beautiful/): My daughter Edy is beautiful.
- [A Good Letter is Hard to Write](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/a-good-letter-is-hard-to-write/): I’m a graduate of one of the toughest MBA programs to get into. It might still be the most selective program out there. Of course I didn’t know whether or not I’d get in when I applied. I just put together the best application I could.
- [Second acts for Korean women: When the kids go off to college](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/second-acts-for-korean-women-when-the-kids-go-off-to-college/): Among the many ride hailing apps in Korea is one I like in particular. It runs newer vans and sedans, and has a reputation for vetting and retaining well-mannered drivers. Even among the stiff competition that is everything K, it stands out. I always look there first for our airport rides, and I associate the clean white Starias that pull up with comfortable and reliable transport.
- [Expert Panel: 18 spring cleaning tasks to refresh and refocus your business](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/18-spring-cleaning-tasks-to-refresh-and-refocus-your-business/): Extracted from: 18 spring cleaning tasks to refresh and refocus your business published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 04-25-2025
- [20 ways businesses adapt to industry changes without losing momentum](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/20-ways-businesses-adapt-to-industry-changes-without-losing-momentum/): When external pressures force internal change, how you respond can either protect or reshape your brand, operations, and client relationships.
- [The Daechi Moms in Seoul: the Power and Peril of Parental Lemming Behavior](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/the-daechi-moms-in-seoul-the-power-and-peril-of-parental-lemming-behavior/): I’m in Seoul right now and I’m a mom. But from what I gather, I’m not a Seoul mom. Seoul moms are… hard to describe. At least in a fair way. You can describe anyone in a judgey way. Understanding is much harder.
- [11 ways introverted leaders can strengthen remote work relations](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/11-ways-introverted-leaders-can-strengthen-remote-work-relations/): Building bridges behind your screen is easier than you think.
- [14 must-have biz tools and strategies for SMB success](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/14-must-have-biz-tools-and-strategies-for-smb-success/): Owning and operating a small business is not for the faint of heart—it’s often overwhelming. However, placing the right industry tools at your fingertips will simplify the daily workflow and set the business up for long-term success.
- [How can company leaders navigate global conflicts?](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/how-can-company-leaders-navigate-global-conflicts/): Apply these 9 strategies to stay agile in the face of trade and regulatory shifts.
- [Breaking ground in a small community? Here are 9 factors to consider](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/breaking-ground-in-a-small-community-here-are-9-factors-to-consider/): Being short-sighted on your business plans may dampen community relations and deter a positive brand reputation.
- [Expert Panel: 20 tips to boost employee wellness and lower absentee rates](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/20-tips-to-boost-employee-wellness-and-lower-absentee-rates/): Extracted from: 20 tips to boost employee wellness and lower absentee rates published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 01-27-2025
- [EXPERT PANEL: 20 business leaders share their best advice for the next generation](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/20-business-leaders-share-their-best-advice-for-the-next-generation/): Extracted from: 20 business leaders share their best advice for the next generation published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 01-16-2025
- [20 signs of staff disengagement and how to address them](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/20-signs-of-staff-disengagement-and-how-to-address-them/): If you’re struggling with employee morale, these tips can help you spot a disengaged team member and reignite their motivation.
- [Expert Panel: 20 signs of staff disengagement and how to address them](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/20-signs-of-staff-disengagement-and-how-to-address-them-2/): Extracted from: 20 signs of staff disengagement and how to address them published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 01-16-2025
- [Hey Nordy’s, you’re losing me](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/hey-nordys-youre-losing-me/): Nordstrom's loyalty program used to be simple and friendly. Every 2,000 points earned, a "Nordstrom Note" in $20 increments would show up in the mail. A few times a year, Nordstrom would let members earn double or triple points on their purchases.
- [Helping a fellow shopper (Bed Bath & Beyond)](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/helping-a-fellow-shopper-bed-bath-beyond/): Yesterday morning, I got an email from Bed Bath & Beyond asking me to answer a question a customer had asked about an item I bought.
- [Wait, you WANT me to go to Amazon? (Williams-Sonoma)](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/wait-you-want-me-to-go-to-amazon-williams-sonoma/): I have been trying to shop bricks and mortar retail more. Honestly, when the store is well curated, well organized, and staffed with well trained people, it's a wonderful experience. I'm also trying to not shop on Amazon.com when I have good alternatives. Some reasons are found in this rather long first hand account.
- [Where has my RPU gone? (United 1K travails)](https://ararhan.com/publications/articles-by/united-1k-challenges/): United has an increasing array of rules for passengers and people who are part of their MileagePlus program. I get the impression that sometimes, they're a little too hard for the various teams at United to keep up with.
- [Farewell Shipt](https://ararhan.com/uncategorized/farewell-shipt/): Last week, I quit Shipt.
- [My last trip to Toys’R’Us – RIP](https://ararhan.com/uncategorized/my-last-trip-to-toysrus-rip/): I paid for my purchases - a large box of overnight Huggies for my toddler, and two large Lego Duplo sets we don't need - with $110 from a gift card, and $15 from a credit card. I felt a little relieved to use up the gift card before the 30-day deadline, when gift cards would lose their value. As the clerk accepted my payments, my husband and I continued our running debate about the Toys'R'Us bankruptcy. What assets would be valuable to a company like Amazon. What could have been done to save TRU. As we collected our three boxes and turned to leave, the clerk quietly asked a question: "Why don't people come in to shop anymore? I don't get it." I felt immediately sympathetic and a little bad. The most I had to lose in the TRU bankruptcy was $110 of unused gift card currency and some nostalgic value. This poor woman was about a month away from losing her job. "It's convenient," I said somewhat apologetically. "It all just shows up on your doorstep." She looked genuinely confused. "But how can you buy everything without seeing it first? Like I once ordered shoes online and when they came I didn't like them so I took them back to the store." She had a point. Most things that we have not already selected are better purchased in person or at least not on Amazon.com. A good buyer and merchant team can provide an excellent selection of tempting options at retail - although US retail has only a few fleeting examples where this happens at scale. I wished her good luck, and we left the store - the whole chain - for ever. I am regretful. I accepted the woman's premise that Amazon is the reason for TRU's demise. That's not the whole story though. Amazon was clearly a formidable competitor that TRU wasn't able to effectively counter. But TRU had its hands tied long before Amazon became a powerful seller of toys. TRU was saddled with a tremendous debt load so that it could be a cash machine for its new owners. There was little room for reinvestment or change under private equity owners Bain Capital, KKR, and Vornado, even if TRU had had good leadership (which unfortunately, large retail chains often do not). So when the tides of change in mass retail came in more quickly in recent years, TRU could not respond. That's why it is dying. That's also why Nine West filed for bankruptcy on April 6. And Claire's in March. The list goes on. I get why private equity bought these large retail chains, and why the banks let them put so much debt on them. It's easy to view retail stores as cash machines. They generate lots of cash. If management is skilled at optimizing their inventory and cash, retail companies can benefit from paying their bills after they have already collected payment from customers. But like most organizations, for profit or not, they have to keep up with the times to remain strong. Saddling them with huge debt and taking all their cash makes it hard for them to change and grow. That's the story that I wish I could have told our cashier. But if I had, I doubt it would actually have been very helpful. Virtually nobody can reverse the tide. There are many more bankruptcies to come. And the folks who are causing them get to walk away while the folks at the registers lose their jobs. That's just not right. --
For further reference, Business Insider provides good overviews: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-toys-r-us-is-closing-stores-2018-3
http://www.businessinsider.com/brick-and-mortar-retail-private-equity-debt-financing-lbo-2017-8
- [“Your Platinum Elite Benefits Have Arrived”](https://ararhan.com/uncategorized/your-platinum-elite-benefits-have-arrived/): Marriott International mailed out Elite tier notices for 2018. I'm short of the 75 nights required for Platinum, but was granted the level anyhow. I appreciate it, Marriott!
- [Happy Birthday, John the Elder](https://ararhan.com/uncategorized/happy-birthday-john-the-elder/): On August 14, 2012, I lost a friend and mentor to complications from cancer. John E. Cawthorne not only saw me safely through my late teens and all of my twenties, but he also understood me well and encouraged me to be who I am. I didn't always know who I am. I was shaped throughout college by my various run-ins with the establishment, the Black Student Forum in particular. I always said what I thought, and when I got in trouble for it, John would stand by me and help me feel rooted in my own perspective. I am deeply thankful for his influence. I would not have had the courage to be me in those days without his loving and active presence.

## Pages
- [Articles Contributed By Arar Han](https://ararhan.com/articles/articles-contributed-by-arar-han/)
- [Book](https://ararhan.com/book/)
- [Arar Han’s Credentials & Affiliations](https://ararhan.com/arar-hans-credentials-affiliations/): Credential/Affiliation
- [Sabot Family Companies](https://ararhan.com/sabot-family-companies/): Sabot Family Companies is a holding company founded in 2016 by Shayne Fitz-Coy and Arar Han. The company is headquartered in Stanford, California, and operates in multiple industries including business services, healthcare, education, and software. Sabot Family Companies is known for building growing companies and has a strong focus on innovation through continuous improvement. 
- [About Rustic Pathways](https://ararhan.com/about-rustic-pathways/): Rustic Pathways is a premier student travel company that provides educational, cultural, and adventure trips for teenagers and school groups. Founded in 1983 in Australia, the company’s mission is to empower students through transformative travel that fosters personal growth, leadership, and social impact. Rustic Pathways’ programs, which include service, adventure, and cultural immersion, are offered in over 38 countries. They focus on creating life-changing experiences while contributing to sustainable community development.
- [Companies Founded](https://ararhan.com/companies-founded/): Motivated by a passion for building ventures that create enduring value, Arar Han has founded and nurtured a portfolio of companies that address significant challenges. Her leadership is key in guiding businesses that pioneer cutting-edge technological solutions, foster sustainable urban development, and redefine financial accessibility. Each company is a direct reflection of her core commitment to innovation and positive impact.
- [Articles](https://ararhan.com/articles/)
- [Recent Posts](https://ararhan.com/posts/): Recent Posts
- [Homepage](https://ararhan.com/): Arar Han believes in the power of hard work, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to quality. Her career has been shaped by partnering with values-driven leaders who prioritize both customer value and team integrity.
- [About Arar Han](https://ararhan.com/about-arar-han/): Co-founder at Sabot Family Companies