Adam Grant

Specialist in organizational psychology, focusing on originality, motivation, non-conformity, generosity, meaningful work, and success.

RANKED THINKER

Ranked #6 in 2021.

Previous positions:

#10 (2019), #8 (2017) and #25 (2015).

FAST FACT

Named an All-American springboard diver in 1999.

FAST FACT

Named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2015.

Ideas

Grant studies how we can find motivation and meaning and lead more generous and creative lives. He has identified three groups of people – givers, takers, and matchers. Givers are inclined to give their favours generously, while matchers look for a quid pro quo and takers help others only if there is something in it for them. Grant’s continuous research focuses on personality traits, leadership, collaboration, culture, and organizational change.

Bio

Grant was tenured at Wharton while still in his 20s, became Wharton’s youngest full professor, and has received the Excellence in Teaching award for every class he has taught. Before taking up a career in academia he was the advertising director at Let’s Go Publications and a professional magician. He earned his PhD in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan, completing it in less than three years.

Content

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy (with Sheryl Sandberg, Knopf, 2017); Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World (Penguin, 2017); Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success (W&N, 2013); In the Company of Givers and Takers (Harvard Business Review, April 2013).

NATIONALITY: American

Media picks

Verdict

“Adam Grant is one of the great social scientists of our time.“

Susan Cain, author of Quiet

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with the latest and greatest ideas in business, management, and thought leadership.

*mandatory field

Thinkers50 will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide news, updates, and marketing. Please confirm that you agree to have us contact you by clicking below:


You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at . We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Thinkers50 Awards Gala 2023

Join us in celebration of the best in business and management thinking.