Professor Dr. Modupe Akinola

Biography

Modupe Akinola is the Barbara David Zalaznick Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and the Faculty Director of the Bernstein Center for Leadership and Ethics. With a focus on leadership and organizational behavior, Akinola explores the stress-induced challenges within workplaces that are characterized by hectic environments and low-status attributes. Her multi-method research approach includes behavioral observations and physiological measurements to study how stress interacts with cognitive performance, as well as strategies for enhancing workforce diversity. Before entering academia, Akinola gained experience in professional services at Bain & Company and Merrill Lynch. She holds multiple degrees from Harvard University, including a PhD obtained in 2009, and has published extensively on topics related to stress, leadership, and organizational dynamics. Akinola is committed to increasing diversity in organizational settings and examining the biases that impact recruitment and retention of minority groups. Her academic career began at Columbia Business School in 2009, where she has been a pivotal figure in advancing research and education on ethical leadership and organizational effectiveness.

Research Interests

Experience