Adam Grant Coming to the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business

January 9, 2017

New York Times bestselling author will speak on how original thought can create trailblazers in upcoming lecture series

The University of Michigan’s Center for Positive Organizations has announced the first speaker of the Winter 2017 Positive Links Speaker Series. Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author and professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, will present “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World,” on January 11, 4:00-5:30 p.m. at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Grant will talk about how individuals can master the art of championing new ideas and how to build inclusive and transparent organizational cultures. His presentation is based on his most recent book, Originals, which explores the ways leaders can champion new ideas and leaders can fight groupthink. He is also the author of Give and Take, which provides insight on how we interact with one another when exchanging value and the element of reciprocity.

“I’m excited for my return to Ann Arbor to speak to the Michigan Ross and Center for Positive Organizations community,” said Grant. “The work they are doing complements my own — that to survive and thrive, organizations need original thinking. We need to better champion new ideas and build cultures that welcome diverse perspectives and honest feedback.”

A Michigan native and U-M alum, Grant teaches courses on leadership, organizational behavior, teamwork and negotiation, and is the youngest tenured professor at Wharton. In addition to his academic career, Grant is a regular op-ed contributor to The New York Times and has done consultant work for Google, Disney Pixar, Goldman Sachs and other major companies. He is currently working on his third book with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg called Option B, which provides insight on building resilience and finding meaning in the face of adversity.

Positive Links is a speaker series hosted by the Center for Positive Organizations, the leading research hub focused on the leadership, strategies, systems, culture, and practices of high-performing organizations that enable people to be their best selves in the workplace. The 2016-17 Positive Links Speaker Series is supported in-part by University of Michigan Learning & Professional Development, Sanger Leadership Center, Tauber Institute for Global Operations, Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, and Diane and Paul Jones (MBA ‘75).