The Future of Leadership and People Analytics
Exploring the evolving role of leadership and the impact of data-driven decision-making in management
The Next 10 Years of People Analytics
2023
Speakers:
Dawn Klinghoffer – Vice President, HR Business Insights, Microsoft
Prasad Setty – Former Vice President for People Analytics, Google
Moderator: Matthew Bidwell – Professor of Management at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Faculty Co-Director, Wharton People Analytics
Dawn Klinghoffer and Prasad Setty share their vision for the future of people analytics, emphasizing the evolution towards more integrated and scalable HR data solutions. They highlight the growing capability within HR to leverage data for decision-making, the importance of understanding organizational context, and the need to navigate the increasing complexity of privacy and AI regulations. The conversation also touches on the necessity for diverse skill sets in people analytics, including data science, business acumen, and product management, to drive actionable insights and foster organizational health.
Using Data Analytics to Empower Walmart's Frontline Workforce
2024
Speakers:
Marty Autrey – Vice President, Total Rewards & People Analytics, Walmart
Peter Cappeli – George W. Taylor Professor, Professor of Management, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Director, Wharton Center for Human Resources
Marty Autrey, EVP and Chief People Officer at Walmart, and Peter Capelli discuss how the world’s largest private employer uses people analytics to support its 2.1 million associates. By analyzing data on everything from promotions and retention to soliciting associate feedback, Walmart gains insights to improve the employee experience at the local level. Autrey emphasizes using data to identify opportunities, make better decisions, implement changes to benefit associates and the business, and provide career growth for hourly workers.
Decision-Making and Leadership Strategy
Examining how leaders make decisions, shape workplace culture, and drive organizational success
Better Decision-Making
2019
Speakers:
Richard Thaler – American Economist, Author, Charles R. Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Cade Massey – Practice Professor, Wharton School’s Operations, Information and Decisions Department
Richard Thaler discusses the importance of analytics in enhancing decision-making processes within organizations, highlighting the underutilized potential in HR. Thaler’s insights advocate for a more data-driven approach in managing human resources, tapping into his Nobel Prize-winning work in economics and its implications for people analytics.
Nine Lies About Work
2019
Speakers:
Adam Grant – The Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management, Wharton School, Organizational Psychologist, #1 NYT bestselling author of “Think Again”, Host of the TED podcast “WorkLife”
Marcus Buckingham – Bestselling Author, Researcher, and Talent Expert
Adam Grant and Marcus Buckingham debunk common workplace myths in “Nine Lies About Work” and challenge the effectiveness of traditional feedback, the concept of company-wide potential, and critique the standard measures of leadership effectiveness. By advocating for a more individualized approach to strengths and performance, they suggest a shift towards recognizing unique contributions and fostering genuine engagement and growth.
CEO Analytics: Unveiling Leadership Qualities for Success
2018
Speakers:
Elena Botelho – Author of The CEO Next Door and Partner at ghSMART
Steven Kaplan – Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Maryellen Reilly – Deputy Vice Dean, Admissions, Financial Aid & Career Management, The Wharton School
Elena Botelho and Steven Kaplan dissect the essence of successful CEOs, debunking traditional notions of leadership with robust data. Their research reveals that beyond charisma, CEOs thrive on decisiveness, adaptability, reliability, and the ability to engage for impact. Surprisingly, execution skills, rather than interpersonal abilities, are paramount for high performance. This keynote underscores the importance of data-driven insights to understanding what makes CEOs excel in the volatile business landscape.
Applying Analytics in Leadership, Sports, and Business
Discussing trends in leadership, management, and organizational success
Winning with Analytics: Jeff Ma on Data-Driven Decision-Making
2017
Speaker:
Jeff Ma – Founder and CEO of tenXer
Cade Massey – Practice Professor, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Faculty Director, Wharton People Lab
Jeff Ma’s keynote conversation explores how analytics influences decision-making in sports and business, drawing from his experiences with blackjack and startups. He underlines the importance of data-driven strategies and the challenge of fostering an analytics culture within organizations. Ma’s perspective showcases the transformative impact of analytics across sectors, emphasizing the need for intrinsic motivation and data literacy in achieving success.
The Power of Analytics in Sports & Business: A Conversation with Adam Silver & Dan Pink
2017
Speakers:
Adam Silver – NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO
Daniel Pink – Five-time New York Times bestselling Author, and Public Speaker, Thought Leader
In this interview, Adam Silver and Dan Pink explore the growing role of analytics in enhancing player performance, refining team strategies, and improving decision-making across the organization. Silver shares how the NBA utilizes data to optimize performance and operations, while Pink adds a broader perspective on how data can help organizations make smarter, more informed decisions. Together, they highlight the transformative impact of analytics in both sports and business contexts.
Leveraging People Analytics for Business Success: A Conversation with Peter Fasolo
2014
Speakers:
Peter Fasolo – Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Johnson & Johnson
Nancy Rothbard – David Pottruck Professor, Professor of Management, Deputy Dean, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
Nancy Rothbard interviews Peter Fasolo, Chief Human Resources Officer at Johnson & Johnson, about their people analytics function. Fasolo details how they leverage data and evidence to guide workforce decisions on recruiting, performance management, engagement, health and wellness while linking those interventions to business outcomes like innovation and revenue.
Research and Innovation in Leadership
Exploring groundbreaking research on leadership effectiveness, feedback, and monitoring in management
Predictive Analytics & Behavioral Science: Oliver Hauser’s Award-Winning Research
2018
Speaker: Oliver Hauser – Research Fellow, Harvard University
Oliver Hauser’s award-winning research, conducted with Harvard University and Deloitte, is presented at the 2018 Wharton People Analytics Conference. Focusing on unemployment fraud in New Mexico, Hauser’s team used machine learning to identify high-risk individuals, followed by randomized controlled trials to test interventions. Their findings highlight the effectiveness of tailored messages, particularly those leveraging social norms, in encouraging ethical behavior, underscoring the importance of predictive analytics combined with behavioral interventions.
My Manager Moved! The Effects of Supervisor Mobility on Subordinate Career Outcomes
Bidwell, M., Baek, M., & Keller, J. R. (2021)
The departure of a manager disrupts established relationships, potentially harming trust and support, which might lead to lower financial rewards for subordinates. However, it also opens up opportunities for promotions across different groups, as it breaks “relational inertia.” The study, based on healthcare firm data, shows these career dynamics are more pronounced when managers had longer relationships with their subordinates, attributing the decrease in rewards more to lost sponsorship than to a drop in performance.
Taking Your Team Behind the Curtain: The Effects of Leader Feedback-Sharing and Feedback-Seeking on Team Psychological Safety
Coutifaris, C. G. V., & Grant, A. M. (2020)
This study investigates the effects of leaders’ feedback-sharing and feedback-seeking on team psychological safety. It found that leaders sharing feedback about their own performance significantly boosts team psychological safety by demonstrating vulnerability and trustworthiness. However, merely seeking feedback from the team does not have the same enduring positive impact on psychological safety.
It’s the Thought that Counts: How Manager’s Beliefs Shape the Effects of Monitoring
Bidwell, M., & Burton, D. M. (2007)
This article explores how managers’ beliefs about their subordinates’ motivations—whether they are seen as intrinsically or extrinsically motivated—affect the implementation and outcomes of monitoring practices. It reveals that monitoring can have a positive impact on job satisfaction and engagement if managers view their employees as intrinsically motivated, rather than merely working for financial rewards. The study calls for a nuanced approach to employee supervision that considers the underlying beliefs managers hold about their teams.
Affect and Managerial Performance: A Test of the Sadder-but-Wiser vs. Happier-and-Smarter Hypotheses
Staw, B. M., & Barsade, S. (1993)
The study by Sigal Barsade and Donald Gibson investigates how managerial affective traits and states influence performance. They explore competing hypotheses, testing whether negative affect aids performance by promoting attention to detail or if positive affect improves it by broadening cognition and buffering stress. Analyzing data from 102 managers, they find that pleasant mood positively correlates with performance, while trait negative affectivity (NA) has a negative correlation. High-NA managers receive lower scores, particularly from subordinates.
The Unbearable Lightness of Meetings
Grant, A. (2012)
This article examines the pervasive issue of unproductive meetings and presents strategies for making them more effective. By sharing anecdotes and research findings, the piece highlights techniques such as the Job Crafting Exercise™, which helps individuals reallocate their time and redefine their roles to align better with their strengths and passions. Practical solutions for reducing meeting times and enhancing focus, like the standing meeting format, are also discussed, showcasing their positive impact on efficiency and satisfaction.
Where Great Leaders Earn Their Stripes
Grant, A. (2013)
This article explores the essential qualities and experiences that shape effective leaders. It emphasizes that great leadership is often forged in challenging situations where leaders must make tough decisions and inspire others. The piece highlights various leaders who have demonstrated resilience, vision, and empathy, and discusses how these traits are critical for navigating complex challenges and driving organizational success.
Developing Leadership Skills and Workplace Culture
Exploring leadership approaches, trust, equity, and effective management strategies
Learning How to Keep Learning, and The Magic of the S-Curve
April 28, 2022
Guest: Whitney Johnson – CEO of Disruption Advisors, Author of “Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company”
Whitney Johnson shares insights on leveraging the S curve of learning for personal and professional growth, emphasizing the importance of embracing change and continuous learning to achieve success.
Compassionate Leadership
February 17, 2022
Guest: Marissa Afton – Partner & Head of Global Accounts at Potential Project, Speaker, Author & Expert in Leadership Development, Mindsets, & Culture Transformation
In this conversation, Marissa Afton discusses “Compassionate Leadership: How to Do Hard Things in a Human Way.” Afton, from Potential Project, shares her insights on compassionate versus empathetic leadership, emphasizing the importance of intention and the distinction between empathy and compassion in leadership. Together, Laura and Marissa explore the impact of leadership mindset, gender, and age on compassion and wisdom, underlining the significance of cultivating these traits for effective leadership.
Redefining Power in Corporate America
March 3, 2022
Guest: Deepa Purushothaman – Author of “The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America”
Deepa Purushothaman discusses her book “The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America.” With over 20 years at Deloitte and as co-founder of nFormation, she shares insights on navigating corporate America as a woman of color, emphasizing the importance of community, and challenging systemic biases.
Disrupting Bias
May 13, 2021
Guest: Kim Scott – Author of “Just Work: Get Sh*t Done, Fast & Fair”
Kim Scott discusses “Just Work: Get Sh*t Done, Fast & Fair,” offering actionable strategies to address workplace injustice. Scott delves into bias, discrimination, and bullying, providing insights on becoming effective allies and creating inclusive environments. In her conversation with Laura, she covers personal experiences, systemic challenges, and the importance of recognizing one’s role in both perpetuating and combating workplace inequities.
The Power of Trust – and the Willingness to be Vulnerable
November 18, 2021
Guest: Sandra Sucher – Author of “The Power of Trust”
Sandra Sucher discusses the importance of trust in organizations, exploring its role in leadership and company culture. Drawing from her book “The Power of Trust,” Sucher provides insight into how companies and leaders build, lose, and regain trust.
Walking the Talk: How to Have Productive Conversations About Identity, Race, and Allyship at Work
June 18, 2020
Guest: Stephanie Creary – Assistant Professor of Management & organizational behavior scholar, The Wharton School
Wharton Professor and identity and diversity expert Stephanie Creary joins Laura to share practical advice for productively talking about race and advancing allyship at work – including the role of leadership in changing culture and establishing new norms, tips managers can use to translate their organizations’ aspirational D&I statements into concrete actions, and Professor Creary’s frameworks for engaging in difficult conversations across difference to educating ourselves and others.
Inspiring and Mentoring Women of Color in Tech
June 25, 2020
Guest: Suzanne Tedrick – Microsoft Technical Trainer, Infrastructure Specialist, Azure – Enterprise, Author of “Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators”
Suzanne Tedrick shares her journey from financial services to tech, emphasizing the need for role models, mentoring, and sponsorship to support women. Tedrick’s work with organizations like Black Girls Code and IBM’s P-TECH initiative showcases her commitment to diversity and inclusion in tech.
Empathy, Trust, and Radical Respect: Power Moves for Team Success
July 2, 2020
Guest: Frances Frei – Professor of Technology and Operations Management, Harvard Business School, Author of “Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You”
Frances Frei discusses how empathy and trust can transform work environments, moving beyond inclusion to authentic belonging. She emphasizes the importance of empowering teams to unlock their potential.