Contributions - Arar Han

Case Writing

Selected teaching cases coauthored by Arar Han, with coauthors, publication details and original institutional sources.

Selected teaching cases and case notes coauthored by Arar Han. The original institutional records identify each work and its authors.

Facebook 2012

William Barnett and Arar Han · Stanford Graduate School of Business · 2012 · Case E468.

Read the Stanford catalog record.

Note on Hiring

Arar Han, Neel Bhatia, R. Ellis and J.P. Flaum · Stanford Graduate School of Business · 2011 · Case E416.

Read the Stanford catalog record.

Levendary Café: The China Challenge

Christopher Bartlett and Arar Han · Harvard Business School. The case received the 2013 award in the Economics, Politics and Business Environment category.

Read Harvard Business School’s award announcement.

These publications are part of Arar’s work studying business and management decisions. Her ownership and operating experience is documented separately.

Return to Writing & Ideas.

Expert Panel: 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

To thrive through disruption, leaders must develop cultures grounded in trust, communication, and purpose.

Uncertainty is inevitable in today’s business landscape, thanks to economic volatility, leadership changes, and global disruptions. But while instability can rattle even the strongest organizations, resilient cultures rise above the noise.

The foundation for resilience is laid long before a crisis hits through clear values, transparent leadership, and strong interpersonal trust. To understand how today’s executives create adaptable, cohesive, and confident teams in unpredictable times, 20 Fast Company Executive Board members share their top strategies for cultivating resilience across their organizations.

Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

STAY THE COURSE.

Build resilience by staying the course. Times are uncertain all the time. It’s just that some times feel more uncertain than others. Focus on the things that have always mattered and work on satisfying the customer more than ever. When the times change, the feeling will fade - before it returns again.

Expert Panel: 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

If you’re struggling with employee morale, these tips can help you spot a disengaged team member and reignite thIf you’re looking to build a successful loyalty program, these practical tips can help you make it worth your customers’ while - and yours.

For businesses, loyalty programs are a great way to encourage repeat purchases and strengthen customer relationships. Yet, launching a successful one takes more than offering discounts or points.

The best programs are designed with the customer in mind - what they value, how they interact with your brand, and what makes them feel genuinely appreciated. To help, 15 members of Fast Company Executive Board discuss what it takes to build a loyalty program that drives not only sales, but genuine customer engagement.

Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

CONSIDER THE CUSTOMER’S SIDE OF THE INTERACTION.

Think about how it feels for your customer. Will they find the rewards you offer and the commitment you ask of them to be a good value exchange? Too many loyalty programs make perfect sense for the vendor and ask too much of the customer. This means that in the end, it won’t work out for you either.

Expert Panel: 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

IDigital and physical clutter can quietly derail focus and productivity. This season, take some time to “spring clean” your work environment.

From outdated tools to bloated workflows, the buildup of unnecessary tasks and information can make it harder to prioritize what really moves the business forward. A thorough, thoughtful spring cleaning routine helps leaders streamline operations, sharpen team focus, and create space for more intentional, high-impact work.

Below, 18 members of Fast Company Executive Board share some must-do spring cleaning tasks for the workplace. From cleaning up your tech stack to auditing your workflows, these activities can set your business up for success for the rest of the year.

Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

REVIEWING PAID BILLS

It’s tedious and time-consuming, but it’s worth the effort in every organization to annually go through every single paid bill and determine whether it’s a needed expense. Especially nowadays, with recurring software expenses, the potential to have expense creep is decently high. - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

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.

Every business encounters moments when the industry shifts demand a fast, thoughtful response. Whether it’s a regulatory change, market disruption, or evolving client expectations, adapting effectively is rarely straightforward.

If you’ve faced this kind of pressure, you know how complex it can be to make operational changes while maintaining trust and continuity. To that end, Fast Company Executive Board members discuss real-world challenges companies have faced and how they’ve adjusted without compromising their brand or service quality.

ENCOURAGE YOUR EMPLOYEES TO STAY CREATIVE AND RESOURCEFUL.

Lately, the biggest challenge has been to keep our employees from turning into ChatGPT operators instead of the creative, resourceful and whole people we hired. The temptation they have to ask AI to do all kinds of tasks is tremendous, and many are succumbing to that urge. I hope they return to being human beings soon. If all they do is regurgitate ChatGPT, we can probably ask a bot to do that. - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies work, you’ve got an issue. The solution is to ask, “Why are you late? What’s going on?” - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

Extract from: 20 ways businesses adapt to industry changes without losing momentum published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 04-16-2025

11 ways introverted leaders can strengthen remote work relations

Building bridges behind your screen is easier than you think.

Introverted leaders often thrive in quiet, reflective environments, but the challenge of leading remote teams may sometimes feel cumbersome. In a fully virtual company where in-person interactions are limited, creating a sense of community and connection is essential, but engagement is still incredibly difficult for those who prefer to keep their head down, letting their work speak for itself.

However, when introverted leaders need to step out of their comfort zones, there are strategies they can apply to foster a stronger, more interactive virtual team. If you consider yourself an introvert and are trying to establish better points of contact with your virtual team, the leaders of Fast Company Executive Board each share their best practices for building a stronger digital community, creating more deliberate, thoughtful, and personal connections on the job.

USE WRITING AS YOUR VEHICLE OF TEAM COMMUNICATION.

Introverted leaders are lucky to be in a virtual environment! Choose when to engage with others and conserve your energy in the meantime. And when you do engage, consider using writing instead of the video conferences that everyone expects. Communities are built when people feel known and valued. You can build that in writing just as well as on camera. - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

Extract from: 11 ways introverted leaders can strengthen remote work relations published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 04-10-2025

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.

Digital technology can help small business executives automate their tasks, enhance productive collaboration, and prioritize their goals in the grand scheme. Here, 14 leading Fast Company Executive Board experts share their business hacks to streamline their department responsibilities, improve work-life balance, or increase industry growth and knowledge.

POST-IT NOTES AND PENS

Believe it or not, I still use Post-its and pens. It’s easy to ignore what’s going on in my myriad apps and tools that are designed to manage my work. All I have to do is avoid my phone! But the humble sticky note placed in a prominent spot, be it the bathroom mirror or my car dashboard, keeps me attuned to the most important stuff in my day. - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companiesanies

Extract from: 14 must-have biz tools and strategies for SMB success published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 03-20-2025

How can company leaders navigate global conflicts?

Apply these 9 strategies to stay agile in the face of trade and regulatory shifts.

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, business leaders constantly navigate a complex landscape shaped by global tensions, trade disruptions, and shifting regulatory requirements. With geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuating policies creating added obstacles, staying ahead of the curve is difficult but crucial.

To operate successfully through turbulent times, adaptability and strategic foresight are the key ingredients for business health. Here, nine experts from Fast Company Executive Board offer their insights on how to thrive amid these everchanging international dynamics and ensure long-term success despite the challenges.

REMAIN CLOSE TO YOUR ALLIES.

Stay close to your counterparties. Even if regulations change, tariffs take hold, and the whole world seems to be harder to navigate, you’re still dealing with real people on the other side. They have a vested interest in continuing to do good business with you, as do you. Keep those people close, and you’ll all get through the changes together. - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companieswork, you’ve got an issue. The solution is to ask, “Why are you late? What’s going on?” - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

Extract from: How can company leaders navigate global conflicts? published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 03-05-2025

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.

A brand’s partnership with a new community of interest can easily go south if the company’s leaders are not transparent about their true intentions of moving into the area. However, when the focus is community over profits, and there is consistent communication with active listening between corporate representatives and community residents, it will likely be a positive opportunity for everyone the project will impact.

Below, nine leading experts from Fast Company Executive Board discuss how and why business organizations must tread lightly when bringing “economic development” to a small city or town.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE ECONOMIC BALL.

Stay focused on what makes economic sense for your company and the local area. Don’t overreach, and don’t overpromise. Your best intentions can go painfully awry if you take your eye off the economic ball. - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companiesrk, you’ve got an issue. The solution is to ask, “Why are you late? What’s going on?” - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

Extract from: Breaking ground in a small community? Here are 9 factors to consider published on FAST COMPANY EXECUTIVE BOARD | 02-28-2025

Expert Panel: 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

If staff members are unhappy and burnout, lean into these expert strategies to increase their morale and strengthen team relations.

Employee workplace winter blues are more common than not - especially after the holiday season ends and spring seems so far off. But if employee disengagement continues to linger, or workflow patterns are lagging, there may be more going on than meets the eye that a leader must address.

Employee wellness should actually begin from the top down, with leadership teams demonstrating their commitment to improving the entire organization’s culture. To encourage a positive mindset and regain trust, 20 Fast Company Executive Board members each share a strategy to promote employee wellness and reduce absenteeism on the job.

Arar Han, Sabot Family Companies

HOST EARLY MORNING MANAGER COFFEE CHATS.

I’ve noticed that people aren’t absent on town hall days when senior management speaks directly to the whole team. So a great way to encourage engagement while reducing absenteeism is to host manager coffees about half an hour before the typical start of a workday. Managers can rotate and offer this perk for those willing to show up a little early to talk shop. As a bonus, you can serve coffee too. - Arar Han, Sabot Family Companiesve got an issue. The solution is to ask, “Why are you late? What’s going on?”